People — The Yoo lab

We are currently recruiting highly motivated postdocs and graduate students to our lab! Funded positions are available for both. Please send email to Sa Kan.

現在、私たちと一緒に研究をすすめる研究員・大学院生を募集しています。研究員はもちろん大学院生も給与がでる待遇です。興味があれば Sakanにメールしてください。

Sa Kan Yoo

I went to Kobe University School of Medicine in Japan and learned perspectives in human medicine. Although I was not a great student on the wards, it was extremely lucky that I could get intensive training of cell biology at Dr. Yasuhiro Minami’s lab. I pursued approaches of performing cell biology in vivo using zebrafish at Dr. Anna Huttenlocher’s lab during my Ph.D study at University of Wisconsin-Madison. I investigated how cells respond to tissue injury in zebrafish. As a postdoc, I joined the Hariharan lab of UC-Berkeley, being attracted to advanced genetics in Drosophila. I investigated mechanisms of tissue repair and oncogenic stress using Drosophila and zebrafish. I started my lab at RIKEN Kobe in July 2015. My long-term goals are to obtain fundamental insights in biology and to develop great, independent scientists. I think about research 24/7 and forgot how to relax. It’s an incurable disease. Please help.

神戸大の医学部在学中に、南康博ラボで、実験をして、研究の面白さを知りました。そのあと、UW-MadisonのAnna Huttenlocherラボで、ゼブラフィッシュを使い、免疫細胞・上皮細胞の傷への応答を研究をして、PhDをとりました。ポスドク先のUC-BerkeleyのHariharanラボでは、主にハエを使って、組織修復と癌ストレスの研究をしました。2015年7月に、理研神戸キャンパスのCDB内にラボを立ち上げました。８年ぶりの日本で（2015年現在）、色々新鮮なことが多いのですが、楽しみながらやっていきたいです。ラボでは、ナイスなサイエンスをするのと同時に、グレイトなサイエンティストを育てることを目標とします（正確には、サイエンティストが育つような環境を提供する）。

sakan.yoo@riken.jp

Twitter in English

Twitter in Japanese

Tomomi Takano

I entered the graduate school of science at Kobe University after I had worked at a company, because I was fascinated with impressive biological phenomena. I studied a brain function (phototaxis) using planarians during my Ph.D study. After I obtained Ph.D, I studied organogenesis using C.elegans as a technical staff and a postdoc. Now, this is my first time to use Drosophila and zebrafish. I think this is a great opportunity to explore a new field while getting new skills. In my free time, I enjoy going to the beautiful sea.

神戸大学理学部で生物学を学び、博士課程ではプラナリアの脳と負の走光性の関わりを研究していました。その後、線虫を使ったRNAiスクリーニングや遺伝学を使って器官形成の研究にたずさわりました。今回ハエとゼブラフィッシュを使った研究は初めてで、技術を学びながらこれまで研究したことがなかった新しい分野の研究にたずさわれる素晴らしい機会だと思っています。休暇には、海へ行くのを楽しんでいます。

tomomi.takano@riken.jp

Mihoko Katayama

I joined the lab in September of 2017. I studied science at a university but I'm learning biology for the first time. I will do my best.

実験アシスタントとしてラボにきた片山みほ子です。大学は理系でしたが、生物分野は初めてのことだらけです。精いっぱい仕事に打ち込みたいと思います。

Keiko Fukumoto

My name is Keiko FUKUMOTO, and I’m an assistant of the Yoo laboratory. "Keiko" is one of the popular names for the children of the baby boomers, but it's rare to use the Chinese character "敬 (Kei)" which represents the reverence/respect. My parents told me that they decided to use it because they wanted me to respect others and also to be respected by them. I also have several career experiences, but my longest career was at USJ (Universal Studio Japan). I was an opening member of Guest Services, and after a few years, I joined the management team there, and I got a chance to learn administrative duties. This is my third time to work at the research institutes, and I had worked as an assistant at Riken once before. I luckily got a chance to join the Yoo laboratory this time, and I would like to contribute myself to the laboratory to the fullest.

アシスタントの福本敬子です。ケイコは団塊ジュニアでは比較的多い名前ですが、この漢字を使う人は珍しいとよく言われます。「人を敬い、又、人から敬われる子に育つように」と言う思いで命名したのだと両親から聞いています。仕事も様々な業界業種で経験を積みましたが、最も長く勤めたのはUSJで、インフォメーション業務を始め最終的にはマネージメントチームの一員として多岐にわたるお仕事も任せて頂きました。又、研究所でのお仕事は今回で3度目となり、理研には以前も一度お世話になりました。この度は秘書系アシスタントとしてYoo研究室とご縁を頂きましたが、今までに培った経験を活かして皆様が研究に専念出来るよう寄与して参ります。

Motohiro Morikawa

I love and enjoy science. I'm looking forward to finding out something really new! In my personal life, I love black tea and watching motorsport.

サイエンスが好きで、楽しんでいます。何か本当に新しい発見をできることを期待しています。趣味は、紅茶とモータースポーツ観戦です。

Rahul Parit

I joined the Yoo Lab in 2023. I completed my master’s studies at Madurai Kamaraj University and further worked as a research fellow exploring the physiology and molecular mechanisms of monogenic disorders. Currently, my PhD research focuses on unraveling the intricacies of a unique cell death phenomenon known as erebosis. I’m thriving in the vibrant research environment of RIKEN BDR and embracing the cultural richness of life in Japan. In my free time, I enjoy recharging with sleep and occasionally engaging in outdoor activities to stay refreshed.

Yukana Nakamura

関西学院大学大学院の修士学生です。学部生のときからYoo研に所属しており、ショウジョウバエの腸について研究しています。色々経験しながら、楽しく研究に取り組んでいけるよう頑張ります。

I am a graduate student at Kwansei Gakuin University. I have been a member of the Yoo lab since I was an undergraduate student, and I am studying the gut of Drosophila. I will try my best to grow through various experiences and enjoy working on my research.

Yusei Miura

関西学院大学大学院に在籍している大学院生です。初めての研究生活という新しい挑戦が重なる毎日ですが、充実した日々を過ごしています。まだ分からないことばかりですが、研究室の皆さんと協力しながら、楽しくも実りある研究生活を送れるよう努力していきたいと思います。これからの経験を通じて、自分自身の成長につなげていきたいです。

I am a graduate student enrolled in the Graduate School of Kwansei Gakuin University.
Although each day brings new challenges as I begin my research career, I am enjoying a very fulfilling and rewarding time. There is still much for me to learn, but by working together with the members of my laboratory, I hope to build a research life that is both enjoyable and productive. Through these experiences, I would like to continue growing both as a researcher and as an individual.

Shoko Ito

I got my Ph.D. under Dr. Masatoshi Takeichi at the Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University. After that, I worked as a postdoc in Takeichi's laboratory at RIKEN, studying cell-cell adhesion in cancer cells. Later, I joined Dr. Yasuyuki Fujita's laboratory at Kyoto University as a JSPS RPD fellow and a program-specific assistant professor, where I researched abnormal layer formation of transformed epithelial cells. I joined Yoo's laboratory to explore epithelial homeostasis while learning new research techniques. I'm looking forward to enjoying new research.

京大・生命科学研究科の竹市雅俊先生の指導のもと学位を取り、その後、理研の竹市先生の研究室で研究員としてがん細胞の細胞間接着の研究に取り組みました。次に、京大・医学研究科の藤田恭之先生の研究室で、学振RPDおよび特定助教としてがん化した上皮細胞の層形成異常に関する研究を行いました。新たな研究手法を学び、上皮恒常性の研究をさらに発展させるため、Yoo研に研究員として加入しました。楽しく研究を進めていきたいです。

James Campbell

My name is James Campbell and I am fortunate to be working here as a postdoc! I did my doctorate at John Heikkila's laboratory at the University of Waterloo in Canada where I researched oxidative and proteostatic stress induced by cadmium exposure in amphibian cells. I then did some post-doctoral work in Brian Dixon's comparative immunology lab studying fish macrophages before joining Dr Yoo's laboratory. I am interested in how temperature responsive stress genes condition programmed cell death and how this interaction can become maladaptive in aging organisms.

Eri Momota

ショウジョウバエの世話をしています。
実験に影響が出ないように、ミスに気を付けています。

I take care of fruit flies. I pay attention to details so that research goes smoothly.

Vikrant Chandel

Hello! I’m Vikrant Chandel. I completed my Master’s degree at Transdisciplinary University under the supervision of Dr. Megha. She introduced me to the fascinating world ofDrosophila research. Currently, I am continuing my scientific journey at Yoo Lab, where I am investigating the mechanisms behind why organisms die at high temperatures, usingDrosophila as a model.

Rin Nishimura

関西学院大学の学部生です。趣味はピアノとチェロで、室内楽団に所属しています。ラボでは初めてのことばかりで大変ですが、新鮮で楽しい日々を過ごしています。まだ未熟ですが、周りの皆さんから学びながら成長できるよう頑張ります！

I am an undergraduate student at Kwansei Gakuin University. My hobbies are piano and cello, and I belong to a chamber orchestra. My days at the lab are full of firsts, so it's tough, but I'm having a lot of fun and feeling fresh and new. I am still inexperienced, but I will do my best to grow while learning from everyone around me!

Dao Linh

Kazuya Wata

Hello! I’m Kazuya Wata. I completed my Master’s degree at Kwansei Gakuin University under the supervision of Dr. Yoshiyuki Seki. I joined the Yoo lab in 2025. This is my first time to use Drosophila., I’m excited about the opportunity to explore a new research field. In my free time, I enjoy playing badminton.

こんにちは、綿和也です関西学院大学大学院にて、関由行先生のご指導のもと修士課程を修了しました。2025年よりYoo研に所属しています。ショウジョウバエを用いた研究は今回が初めてで、新しい研究分野に挑戦できることをとても楽しみにしています。趣味はバドミントンです。

Zan Zhou

I used to be a medical student in China and worked as an intern doctor in hospital, but I was fascinated by basic science rather than clinical treatment. I truly appreciate and enjoy self-development in the Yoo lab. First time in Japan, first time for Drosophila, I will do my best to face with new challenges.