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
Analysis and Partial Differential Equations Unit
The mission of the Analysis and PDE unit is to reveal and analyze the mathematical principles reflecting natural phenomena expressed by partial differential equations and advance the boundar...
Ugur Abdulla
Professor
Applied Cryptography Unit
The Applied Cryptography Unit investigates the design and analysis of modern cryptographic primitives and schemes used to protect the confidentiality and integrity of data – at rest, being communicated or computed upon – both in the classical and the quantum settings. Particular areas of interest include the design and analysis of quantum / post-quantum cryptography schemes, the algebraic cryptanalysis of symmetric and asymmetric key algorithms, as well as the design and analysis of primitives for privacy-preserving cryptographic mechanisms.
Carlos Cid
Professor (Adjunct)
Astrophysical Big Bang Group
Our group focuses on unveiling lots of mysteries surrounding astrophysical explosive phenomena such as supernovae (SNe) and gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). SNe and GRBs are the most powerful explosions in the universe, yet very little is known about their explosion mechanisms. These astrophysical big bangs fascinate us with their unknown physics and puzzling astronomical phenomena such as gravitational waves, neutrinos, nucleosynthesis, non-equilibrium ionization, ultra-high-energy cosmic rays. Through our theoretical and computational approaches, we strive to reveal the complete pictures of these explosions and provide the-state-of-the-art physical interpretations for current, cutting-edge observations and useful predictions for future observations by next-generation astronomical observatories.
Shigehiro Nagataki
External Professor
Biodiversity and Biocomplexity Unit
The Biodiversity and Biocomplexity Unit explores how ecological and evolutionary processes generate and sustain biodiversity, and how those processes are being altered by human activities.
Evan P. Economo
Professor
Biological Complexity Unit
The Biological Complexity Unit studies how biophysical systems, ranging from subcellular circuits to cellular populations, can function despite being subject to random fluctuations.
Simone Pigolotti
Professor
Biological Nonlinear Dynamics Data Science Unit
The biological nonlinear dynamics data science unit investigates complex systems explicitly taking into account the role of time. We do this by instead of averaging occurrences using their statistics, we treat observations as frames of a movie and if patterns reoccur then we can use their behaviors in the past to predict their future. In most cases the systems that we study are part of complex networks of interactions and cover multiple scales. These include but are not limited to systems neuroscience, gene expression, posttranscriptional regulatory processes, to ecology, but also include societal and economic systems that have complex interdependencies. The processes that we are most interested in are those where the data has a particular geometry known as low dimensional manifolds. These are geometrical objects generated from embeddings of data that allows us to predict their future behaviors, investigate causal relationships, find if a system is becoming unstable, find early warning signs of critical transitions or catastrophes and more. Our computational approaches are based on tools that have their origin in the generalized Takens theorem, and are collectively known as empirical dynamic modeling (EDM). As a lab we are both a wet and dry lab where we design wet lab experiments that maximize the capabilities of our mathematical methods. The results from this data driven science approach then allows us to generate mechanistic hypotheses that can be again tested experimentally for empirical confirmation. This approach merges traditional hypothesis driven science and the more modern Data driven science approaches into a single virtuous cycle of discovery.
Gerald Pao
Assistant Professor
Biological Physics Theory Unit
While physicists have long searched for universal laws that explain the nature of matter and energy, until recently the complexity of biological systems proved daunting. The Biological Physi...
Greg J Stephens
Associate Professor (Adjunct)
Cognitive Neurorobotics Research Unit
The Cognitive Neurorobotics Research Unit is dedicated to investigating the principles of embodied cognition by conducting experimental studies in synthetic neurorobotics. The primary goals of our research are to understand:on how innate structures can be leveraged to develop cognitive constructs through iterative but limited behavioral experiences; how primary intersubjectivity in social cognition can be formed through enactive and contextual interactions with others; and how subjective experiences such as consciousness and free will can be scientifically and phenomenologically explained. In addition, our developmental neurorobotics approach is intended to uncover the underlying mechanisms of neurodevelopmental disorders, such as schizophrenia and autism. Through these researches, we can expect to deepen our ontological understanding of human beings, rather than simply creating another smart machine-learning robot.
Jun Tani
Professor
Complex Fluids and Flows Unit
We study multiscale and multiphysics problems related to fluid dynamics by numerical simulations. Our research is focused on turbulence, non-Newtonian fluids and multiphase flows.
Marco Edoardo Rosti
Assistant Professor
Complexity Science and Evolution Unit
The CSE Unit analyzes the dynamics of complex adaptive systems, focusing on behavioral dynamics shaping social systems, eco-evolutionary dynamics shaping ecosystems, and their interactions.
Ulf Dieckmann
Professor
Continuum Physics Unit
Continuum Physics Unit members carry out theoretical and experimental research in the mechanics of continuous media, including cellular materials, granular materials, and complex fluids with...
Gustavo Gioia
Professor
Electronic and Quantum Magnetism Unit
We study topics of electron correlation in physics and materials science, such as emergent phenomena at quantum phase transitions, spin frustration and excitation, and Fermi surface evolution.
Yejun Feng
Associate Professor
Embodied Cognitive Science Unit
We are developing theoretical and experimental projects in cognitive science, guided by the hypothesis that agent-environment interaction is an essential part of mental activity.
Tom Froese
Assistant Professor
Experimental Quantum Information Physics
The Experimental Quantum Information Physics Unit carries out experimental studies on highly controllable quantum systems. A particular research emphasis is put on the development of ion tra...
Hiroki Takahashi
Assistant 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
Fluid Mechanics Unit
The Fluid Mechanics Unit uses theory, experiments, and simulations to seek simple insights into complex flows in nature and engineering.
Pinaki Chakraborty
Professor
Future-Proof Cryptography Unit
The Future-Proof Cryptography Unit studies Multi-Party Computation, Fully Homomorphic Encryption, Verifiable Computation and Cryptanalysis and how these are affected by quantum computers.
Najwa Aaraj
Professor (Adjunct)
Gravity, Quantum Geometry and Field Theory Unit
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...
Reiko Toriumi
Assistant Professor