Research Units

Analysis of partial differential equations is a very rich mathematics subject, which is broadly applied in a large variety of fields of science. It is particularly important to study nonlinear PDEs that arise in geometry and many related areas. The Geometric Partial Differential Equations Unit aims to develop new analytic methods to understand behavior of solutions to various geometric evolutions and explore solvability of nonlinear equations in general geometric settings such as sub-Riemannian manifolds and metric spaces. Our research is motivated by numerous applications in material sciences, crystal growth, image processing and is also closely connected with topics in optimal control, game theory and machine learning, etc.

Geomimicry, Emergence, and Meta Soil Unit re-imagines soil as adaptive matter. We learn nature's microscopic design rules to engineer "meta soils" with tailored composition and function.

The Gravity, Quantum Geometry and Field Theory Unit’s research interest lies in revealing the quantum nature of spacetime. Geometrical aspects of gravity, manifested in General Relativity, h...

The Human Developmental Neurobiology Unit investigates the nature and causes of ADHD, including reward sensitivity, translating this information into empirically supported treatments.

We use the genomes of Neandertals and Denisovans, the closest evolutionary relatives of present-day humans, to identify genomic variants that are unique to modern humans.

The Information Theory, Probability and Statistics Unit performs theoretical research at the intersection of the fields described in the name with applications to various areas that include Estimation Theory, Computational Biology, Hypothesis Testing, etc.

The Integrated Open Systems Unit aims to understand the fundamental principles that govern open, complex systems and apply such knowledge for real-world applications

Our unit employs theory-informed experiments, genetics, and mathematical models to identify how species interactions vary over time and space to influence ecosystem dynamics and functioning.

We study interactions between small particles, such as atoms, and laser light using nano-optics tools, to better understand light’s influences on dynamics.

In the machine learning and data science (MLDS) unit, we focus on developing fundamental machine learning algorithms and solving important scientific problems using machine learning. We are currently interested in statistical modeling for high-dimensional data including kernel and deep learning models and geometric machine learning algorithms, including graph neural networks (GNN) and optimal transport problems. In addition to developing ML models, we focus on developing new machine learning methods to automatically find a new scientific discoveries from data.

Theory-driven research on macroevolution, biodiversity, and evolutionary patterns across space and time, integrating fossils, fishes, biomechanics, phylogenies, and models.

The MB-OpenQS Unit theoretically explores hybrid many-body quantum systems composed of strongly interacting matter and light.

The Marine Biophysics Unit examines how ocean currents affect the marine life of hydrothermal vents and coral reefs around Okinawa.

The Marine Climate Change Unit aims to understand how coral reef fish respond to human society driven environmental changes such as climate change, heatwaves, overfishing, and urbanization.

Most coral reef fishes have an incredible colors but why and how do they appear ? We use clownfish as a model we decipher the origins of the colors and how the fish are using them.

Exploring marine genomic diversity helps understanding organism responses to environmental change in the past and future, both in terms of large-scale evolution and within their ecosystems.

The Marine Physics and Engineering Unit advances the forecast of ocean dynamics and the development of hydrodynamic disaster mitigation alternatives, paving the way for novel ocean technologies.

The Marine Structural Biology Unit uses cryoelectron tomography and single particle cryoelectron microscopy to understand various aspects of coral biology in unprecedented detail.