Faculty and Research Units
OIST research units take a cross-disciplinary approach to research, and the PhD program encourages students to explore the intersections of disparate fields of science and technology. Find the research unit of your interest below.
Faculty and Research Units
Find a Faculty Member or Research Unit
Cell Proliferation and Gene Editing Unit
Every day, millions of cells in our body divide to maintain essential tissue functions. Errors in cell division can lead to developmental disorders or cancer. The research of the unit is focused on molecular mechanisms of cell divison and quality control in normal and cancer cells to understand tumor-suppressive mechanisms and identify biomarkers that confer a cancer-specific vulnerability to chemical drugs. The unit combines high throughput imaging, gene editing and genome wide screens to open new avenues for therapeutic development.
Franz Meitinger
Assistant Professor
Cell Signal Unit
Using a mouse model, the Cell Signal Unit explores the cause of various diseases that include cancer, neuronal disorders, immunological diseases, and diabetes/obesity at the molecular level....
Tadashi Yamamoto
Professor
Chemistry and Chemical Bioengineering Unit
The Chemistry and Chemical Bioengineering Unit develops methods and strategies for the construction of organic molecules that contribute to biomedical research and drug discovery.
Fujie Tanaka
Professor
Coordination Chemistry and Catalysis Unit
The Khusnutdinova Unit is interested in designing transition metal-based catalysts for efficient chemical transformations and in the development of stimuli-responsive materials.
Julia Khusnutdinova
Associate Professor
Femtosecond Spectroscopy Unit
Utilizing cutting-edge time-resolved techniques, including ultrafast PEEM and ARPES, the Femtosecond Spectroscopy Unit explores extreme light-matter interaction on the nanometer and femtosecond scale.
Keshav M. Dani
Professor
Light-Matter Interactions for Quantum Technologies Unit
We study interactions between small particles, such as atoms, and laser light using nano-optics tools, to better understand light’s influences on dynamics.
Síle Nic Chormaic
Professor
Marine Structural Biology Unit
The Marine Structural Biology Unit uses cryoelectron tomography and single particle cryoelectron microscopy to understand various aspects of coral biology in unprecedented detail.
Oleg Sitsel
Transitional Assistant Professor
Membrane Cooperativity Unit
We develop methods for single-molecule imaging and analysis, and apply them to unravel the mechanisms by which the cellular plasma membrane perform signaling and synaptic transmission.
Akihiro Kusumi
Professor
Model-Based Evolutionary Genomics Unit
The Model-Based Evolutionary Genomics Unit works at the crossroads of computational and evolutionary biology. Our long-term goal is to achieve an integrative understanding of the evolution of Life on Earth and the origins and emergence of complexity across different biological scales, from individual proteins to ecosystems. To move towards this goal, we develop and apply model-driven evolutionary genomics methods to reconstruct the Tree of Life and the major evolutionary transitions that have occurred along its branches.
Gergely János Szöllősi
Associate Professor
Molecular Cryo-Electron Microscopy Unit
The Molecular Cryo-Electron Microscopy Unit investigates the structure of macromolecular complexes with an emphasis on viruses, ion channels, and membrane proteins. The unit seeks better und...
Matthias Wolf
Professor
Nonlinear and Non-equilibrium Physics Unit
We work in experimental nonlinear, non-equilibrium and soft matter physics. Our current research focuses on fluids, granular media, fluctuations in renewables and quantitative life sciences.
Mahesh Bandi
Professor
Nucleic Acid Chemistry and Engineering Unit
Nucleic acids DNA and RNA are fundamental building blocks of life. These biomolecules display remarkable chemical functions such as information storage, catalysis, and molecular recognition....
Yohei Yokobayashi
Professor
Organic Optoelectronics Unit
The Organic Optoelectronics Unit explores the optical and electrical properties of organic molecules and their applications for optoelectronic devices.
Ryota Kabe
Assistant Professor
Organic and Carbon Nanomaterials Unit
We explore syntheses of novel functional organic and carbon nanomaterials, using the techniques of organic chemistry, aming at elucidation of their properties and various applications.
Akimitsu Narita
Assistant Professor
Protein Engineering and Evolution Unit
The Protein Engineering and Evolution Unit applies chemical approaches, evolutionary methods and protein engineering to study and manipulate protein functions.
Paola Laurino
Associate Professor
Quantum Materials Science Unit
We explore novel physics, leads to future nano-electronics and nano-spintronics, and design novel charge, spin, orbital, and/or phonon states in a variety of engineered quantum materials.
Yoshinori Okada
Associate Professor
pi-Conjugated Polymers Unit
We work on creating synthetic methods for polymer semiconductors and the development of new materials for use in organic electronics (e.g., OLEDs, stretchable devices, bioelectronics).
Christine Luscombe
Professor