Akihiro MATSUMOTO
Assistant Professor
I have obtained Ph.D. in Psychology from The University of Tokyo under the supervision of Prof Masao Tachibana. After that, I was a Postdoctoral researcher at Chieko Koike Lab at Ritsumeikan University and Keisuke Yonehara Group at Aarhus University (DANDRITE). My ultimatum aim is to understand how the neuronal circuits process sensory features and generate visual representations. Here I will work on the mammalian visual system by combining electrophysiology, imaging, and computational modeling.
Kota TOKUOKA
JSPS Postdoctoral Fellow
I received a Bachelor's degree in Sport Science from Waseda University. I then transitioned to my PhD work at SOKENDAI & Kyoto University where I worked under Prof. Tadashi Isa investigating the role of cholinergic inputs in mouse superior colliculus using electrophysiology and optogenetics. I joined DANDRITE Yonehara lab in April 2021 and have currently relocated to the NIG lab since April 2023. I’m interested in colliculus circuits and mechanisms of innnate behaviors. Here I utilize imaging techniques to unravel them.
Haruka YAMAMOTO
Postdoctoral Fellow
I received a Bachelor's degree from Tokyo University of Agriculture under the supervision of Prof. Yayoi Obata. After that, I was a graduate student at Osaka University and received Ph.D. under the supervision of Prof. Takahisa Furukawa. Then, I moved to Yonehara group at Aarhus University in Denmark as a postdoc. I will continue my projects in Yonehara lab at NIG that develop biological tools and investigate how visual circuits are constructed.
Jiaqi QI
PhD student
I am from China, after completing my bachelor's degree in veterinary medicine at Southwest Minzu University in Chengdu, I came to Japan and completed my master's degree in integrated sciences for life at Hiroshima University, and then came to NIG. I love hip-hop music, baking, and road trips. In the future, I will strive to be an excellent female researcher.
Shambhavi CHATURVEDI
PhD student
I am from India and have completed my undergraduate studies in pharmaceutical sciences. My research focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying direction selectivity, which has important implications for understanding how the brain processes visual information. Outside of the lab, I'm an amateur painter and city enthusiast, always on the lookout for new cultural experiences - Japan being the top of my favorite destinations.
Yuniba KATSUO
PhD student
I completed my Bachelor’s and Master’s degree at International Christian University (ICU) in Tokyo. Then, I started my PhD in Yonehara laboratory from October 2024. My research focuses on the neural mechanism of the diving response in mammals. Through my research, I would like to understand how sensory information is processed in the brain. The knowledge and skills I learn here will be insightful to me and my long-time curiosity on how such information could be linked to consciousness.
Ikuma NAKAGAWA
PhD student
I received a Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy from Nagoya City University under the supervision of Prof. Mitsuharu Hattori and got the pharmacist license. I joined Yonehara lab in April 2024 as a graduate student in 5-year doctoral program. I've pursued a career as a researcher and I will acquire a lot of knowledge and skills through my research here.
Mathilde Damm KJELDSEN
PhD student
I am from Denmark, and I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Molecular Medicine from Aarhus University. I joined Yonehara Laboratory at DANDRITE in Denmark in January 2023 as a part of my Bachelor’s programme and subsequently graduated in the summer of 2023. Following my graduation I worked on a research project focusing on stroke patients at Aarhus University Hospital for half a year, before relocating to Japan. I started in Yonehara Laboratory at NIG in April 2024 as a PhD student on the five-year doctoral program in Genetics.
Hiroki TOKIZAKI
PhD student
I completed my bachelor’s degree at Saitama University under the supervision of Prof. Kyo
Yamasu. Currently, I am enrolled in a 5-year Ph.D. program as a graduate student in the
Yonehara Laboratory. My research centers on understanding how diverse types of neuronal
cells interact to generate sophisticated outputs underlying our perception. I am excited to
continue developing my career as a neuroscientist in this supportive and stimulating
environment.
Kevin Maisenhelder Sejer MADSEN
PhD student
I’m originally from Denmark, where I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology from Aarhus University. My research journey began at Yonehara Laboratory at DANDRITE in Denmark, where I joined as part of my Bachelor’s program in January 2024. This experience solidified my passion for molecular biology, and after graduating in the summer of 2024, I worked as a lab technician at Eurofins, gaining hands-on experience in laboratory techniques and quality control. I am now a PhD student in Yonehara Laboratory at NIG, pursuing a five-year doctoral program in Genetics. My current research focuses on developing an advanced RNA base editing method designed to suppress premature termination codons, aiming to improve gene expression modulation. I am optimizing this system for potential therapeutic applications, combining molecular biology and genetics with cutting-edge RNA technology.
Makoto KISO
Senior Staff Technician
I have moved from the Mammalian Development Laboratory (Saga Group at NIG), where I have worked for 22 years, to the Multiscale Sensory Structure Laboratory, where I have been involved in the start-up of the laboratory for the first time in 22 years. Although the laboratory uses the same laboratory animals as before, I am still unfamiliar with many things because my field of expertise is completely different from the laboratory's. I am currently exploring how much I can contribute to the laboratory.
Eiji OKUBO
Specially Appointed Researcher
After receiving my PhD in cell biology of SV40 induced endoreduplication at Albany Medical College, I studied parasitic disease-causing organisms, Plasmodium (malaria) and Trypanosoma (sleeping sickness), using protein chemistry and molecular techniques at NYU and Rockefeller University, respectively. Subsequently working in marketing / sales / R&D / technical support functions of various scientific and diagnostic instrument and reagent companies for over 15 years, I am back at the bench in the Yonehara lab in NIG to help younger generations of scientists succeed.
Akemi OKUBO
Research Technician
I had worked in Saga lab as a technician from 2013 till March 2022 and moved to this Multiscale Sensory Structure Laboratory in April 2023. I'd like to grow up together with this Yonehara lab. My hobby is cycling.
Megumi OSAWA
Research Technician
Since 2005, I have been involved in mouse breeding and other works at Mammalian Development, and now I moved to this Yonehara lab. Although there is a language barrier, I'd like to get used to this new environment. My hobbies are watching TV (hitorical drama series on NHK, Japanese wrestling etc), trimming my dog, and hiking (I haven't get a chance to go after the breakout of COVID-19).
Lisa TOMIDA
Research Technician
This new environment inspires me everyday.
I had a variety of experience in the past, working as an assistant at a hospital and in the plant industry. I am looking forward to learning different jobs and do my best to help everyone at this lab.
My hobbies are calligraphy, painting, snowboarding and camping. I am planning to resume mountaineering after being away from it due to Covid-19.
Madoka HAGIHARA
Research Technician
I have been working as a technician to breed mice and assist experiments at Yonehara Lab since April 2024. It is a tough job because of the language barrier and new experience but I would like to do my best. My hobbies are playing piano, sawing, camping and motorcycle tour.
Sumie INAGAKI
Secretary
I have moved to the Yonehara Laboratory with the start of the lab. I will help everyone's research to proceed smoothly. My hobbies are cartonnage and traveling. I would like to see the wonderful cultures and landscapes of various countries. I will continue to do my best with a cheerful smile.
Natsuko YAMANASHI
Secretary
I have lived in Australia for about 10 years and came back to Japan in 2019. I joined Yonehara Lab as a secretary to support members in 2023. I like to play badminton, baking, and watching dramas.
PHOTO GALLERY
Alumni
| Name | Position, time | Next position |
|---|---|---|
| Emilienne Repak | Postdoc 2015- | Engineer, Neuralink, USA |
| Szilard Sajgo | Postdoc 2015- | Staff scientist, Univ. of Basel |
| Ana Oliveira | Postdoc 2015- | Novo Nordisk, Copenhagen |
| Yutaka Shimizu | Postdoc 2017- | Scientist, Novo Nordisk, Copenhagen |
| Rune Nguyen Rasmussen | PhD student 2016- | Novo Nordisk, Copenhagen |
| Oleg Sitsel | Research Assistant 2015- | PI, OIST Japan |
| Stella Solveig Nolte | Research Assistant 2019- | Technician, Anders Nykjaer lab, DANDRITE, Denmark |
| Gurmeet Kaur Singh | Technician 2015- | Technician, Aarhus University Hospital |
| Doğa Gündem | Intern 2016- | Master student, University of Antwerp |
| Nazli deniz Yalniz | Intern 2016- | Undergraduate, Istanbul University |
| Kranti Karande | Research Assistant 2017- | Senior Research Associate, Syngene International, India |
| Satoshi Aoyama | Intern 2017- | Medical student, Nara Medical University, Japan |
| Chao Feng | Master student 2018- | Master student, Chinese Academy of Science, SDC |
| Giuseppe Balsamo | ERASMUS student 2018- | PhD student, CIN Tübingen |
| Monica Dahlstrup Sietam | PhD student 2018-2023 | Postdoc, NINDS, USA |
| Anna Vostrizansky | Technician 2022-2024 |