Gang Chen

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Carl Richard Soderberg Professor of Power Engineering

Gang Chen is the Carl Richard Soderberg Professor of Power Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He served as the Department Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at MIT from 2013 to 2018. He obtained his PhD degree from the Mechanical Engineering Department at UC Berkeley. He was a faculty member at Duke University and UCLA, before joining MIT in 2001. He received an NSF Young Investigator Award, an R&D 100 award, an ASME Heat Transfer Memorial Award, an ASME Frank Kreith Award in Energy, a Nukiyama Memorial Award by the Japan Heat Transfer Society, a World Technology Network Award in Energy, an Eringen medal from the Society of Engineering Science, and the Capers and Marion McDonald Award for Excellences in Mentoring and Advising from MIT. He is a fellow of American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Physical Society, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and the Guggenheim Foundation. He is an academician of Academy Sinica, a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, member of the US National Academy of Engineering, and a member the US National Academy of Sciences.

Yoshihiko Togawa

Osaka Metropolitan University

Professor

Yoshihiko Togawa obtained his B.Eng (1997), M.Eng (1999), Ph.D (2002) degrees from the University of Tokyo. He was a JSPS research fellow at the University of Tokyo (1999–2002), and a researcher at Frontier Research System, RIKEN (2002–2008). In 2009, he moved to Osaka Prefecture University as a principal investigator in the tenure-track program (2009–2014) and became an associate professor with tenure (2014–2017). He was also PRESTO researcher at Japan Science and Technology Agency from 2013 to 2017. He has obtained a professorship in 2018 and been leading Quantum physics group at Department of Physics and Electronics, Osaka Prefecture University (2018–), which is now Osaka Metropolitan University because of an amalgamation with Osaka City University in 2022. He has also been an honorary research fellow at the University of Glasgow since 2014. His current research interest is exploring chiral matter and chiral material science.

Yuichi Kasahara

Kyushu University

Professor

Yuichi Kasahara has been a full Professor in Department of Physics at Kyushu University since 2024. He has received his Ph.D. degree at Kyushu University in 2008. He began his career as an Assistant Professor at Tohoku University in 2008, then moved to University of Tokyo in 2010 as an Assistant Professor, and then moved to Kyoto University as an Associate Professor in 2014. His main interest is in unconventional superconductivity, heavy fermion states, quantum critical phenomena, quantum spin liquids, and topological phenomena. He also works for fabricating atomically thin films and artificial superlattices using pulsed laser deposition and molecular beam epitaxy.

Tadashi Machida

RIKEN

Senior Research Scientist

Tadashi Machida has been a Senior Research Scientist in RIKEN, Center for Emergent Matter Science since 2020. He received his Ph.D. degree at Tokyo University of Science in 2009. He began his career as a postdoctoral researcher at NIMS in 2009, then moved to Tokyo University of Science in 2011 as an Assistant Professor, and then moved to RIKEN as a postdoctoral researcher in 2014. His personal research is focused on development of scanning tunneling microscope working under multiple extreme conditions, exploration of the Majorana fermion in topological superconductors, and investigation of electronic properties of the superconductivity and its related phenomena in strongly correlated systems.

Saw Wai Hla

Ohio University

Professor

Saw Wai Hla is a professor of physics and the director of the Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute at Ohio University, and a physicist at the Argonne National Laboratory, USA. His research focuses on nano, and quantum properties of materials, in particular quantum and mechanical properties of molecular machines, and rare-earth molecular systems for energy applications. Over the last decade, Saw Wai Hla’s outstanding experimental research has significantly contributed to the advancement of molecular machine research and the atomically precise manipulation and characterization of molecules on solid surfaces. He has received the Science Breakthrough of the Year 2024 Laureate Award in Physical Sciences from the Falling Walls Foundation, Germany, for breaking 128 years of X-ray history, and the 2024 Feynman Prize for Nanotechnology for excellence in nanoscience experimentation.

Ikufumi Katayama

Yokohama National University

Professor

Ikufumi Katayama received a Bachelor's degree (2000), a Master's degree (2002) and a Ph.D. (2006) in Science from Kyoto University. He joined the Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University as a project assistant professor in 2006 and moved to Interdisciplinary Research Center, Yokohama National University in 2007 also as an assistant professor. He then became an associate professor in 2012 and professor in 2019, where he currently running a group of advanced laser spectroscopy. His research focuses on the development of various ultrafast sepctroscopy for investigating the terahertz and nanoscale dynamics. He first investigated the excited state dynamics in quantum paraelectric materials in Kyoto University, and studied terahertz spectroscopy in Osaka University. He recently developped various kinds of singleshot terahertz spectroscopy and terahertz sacanning tunneling microscopes to investigate the ultrafast phenomena in materials. He recieved Young scientist award (2014) of the Physical Society of Japan.

Teruo Ono

Kyoto University

Professor

Teruo Ono received the B.S., M.S., and D.Sc. from Kyoto University in 1991, 1993, and 1996, respectively.
After a one year stay as a postdoctoral associate at Kyoto University, he moved to Keio University where he became an assistant professor. In 2000, he moved to Osaka University where he became a lecturer and an associate professor. Since 2004, he has been working at Kyoto University, where he is now a professor. He has published over 400 technical articles in peer-reviewed journals, including book chapters and review articles, and has given more than 150 invited presentations at international conferences.

Oleksandr Zheliuk

Radboud University

Postdoctoral Researcher

Dr. Oleksandr Zheliuk is a condensed matter experimental physicist with a research focus on low-dimensional quantum materials, superconductivity, and high magnetic field phenomena. He is currently working as a postdoctoral researcher at HFML-FELIX, Radboud University, where he investigates emergent quantum states in two-dimensional electron systems. He completed his PhD in 2020 at the University of Groningen, focusing on ion-gated heterostructures and the development of quantum phase devices. Following his doctorate, Dr. Zheliuk joined the High Field Magnet Laboratory at Radboud University, where he explores high mobility low-dimensional materials including complex oxides and multiband systems. His research combines thin-film synthesis, device fabrication, and high-field transport measurements to uncover and control exotic quantum phases.

Takahiro Morimoto

The University of Tokyo

Associate Professor

Takahiro Morimoto is an associate professor at the University of Tokyo since 2019. He obtained Ph.D. at the University of Tokyo in 2012. He was a postdoctoral researcher at RIKEN and a Moore foundation postdoctoral fellow at University of California, Berkeley. His research interest is in theoretical condensed matter physics, with an emphasis on topological phases of matter and their response phenomena. He has been working on nonlinear responses including shift current and nonreciprocal transport that originates from the geometrical phases of electrons in solids. He also works on nonequilibrium phenomena focusing on novel phases of matter realized in driven quantum materials.

Koichiro Ienaga

Yamaguchi University

Associate Professor

Koichiro Ienaga has been an Associate Professor at Yamaguchi University since 2024. He received his Ph.D. degree at Kyushu University in 2013. He began his career as a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute for Solid State Physics, the University of Tokyo, in 2014, then moved to Tokyo Institute of Technology in 2015 as an Assistant Professor. His main research interest lies in novel quantum phenomena emerging in nanoscale systems at low temperatures. He specializes in electrical transport measurements and tunneling spectroscopy on nanowires and thin films composed of magnetic and superconducting materials. Furthermore, he conducts thermoelectric measurements on superconducting thin films to sensitively detect phase transitions and extract valuable entropic information.

Kazunari Matsuda

Kyoto University

Professor

Kazunari Matsuda is a Professor at Kyoto University. He received his BS, MS and PhD degrees in applied physics from Nagoya University in 1993, 1995, and 1998, respectively. He joined as Associate Professor at Kyoto University in 2004, and promoted full Professor in 2010. He held and holds multiple leadership positions, Director in Integrated Research Center for Carbon Negative Science (ICaNS), Director, Laboratory for Complex Energy Processes and Vice Director in Institute of Advanced Energy, Kyoto University. His current research interests include nano-optics, and solid state physics of nano-materials.

Mikito Koshino

The University of Osaka

Professor

Prof. Koshino is a Distinguished Professor of Department of Physics at the University of Osaka. He received his Ph.D. degree from University of Tokyo, Japan in 2003. He was a research associate in Tokyo Institute of Technology from 2003 to 2010, and he was an associate professor in Tohoku University from 2010 to 2016. Since 2016, he has taught in Osaka University. His current research is focused on the theoretical study on the physical properties of 2D materials and topological materials.

Yoshinori Onose

Tohoku University

Professor

Yoshinori Onose has been a full Professor at Institute for Materials Research at Tohoku University since 2018. He received his Ph.D. degree at the University of Tokyo in 2002. He began his career as a postdoctoral researcher at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in 2002, then moved to Princeton University in 2005 as a postdoctoral researcher, and then moved to Department of Applied Physics at the University of Tokyo as a lecturer in 2006, and then moved to Department of Basic Science at the University of Tokyo as an associate professor in 2012. His main interest is the exploration of new functionalities in quantum materials.

Yuhei Miyauchi

Kyoto University

Professor

Yuhei Miyauchi is a professor of the Institute of Advanced Energy at Kyoto University. After he received Ph.D. in Engineering from the University of Tokyo, he studied photophysics of nanomaterials at Columbia University (USA), Naogoya University (Japan), and Kyoto University (Japan). His research interests lie in understanding the excited-state dynamics and energy conversion processes in low-dimensional nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes and two-dimensional semiconductors. He has explored both fundamental physics in low-dimensional systems and their new applications in energy-related fields. Development of new methods for synthesis and assembly of nanomaterials is also within the scope of his research activities. His current research mainly focuses on developing new technologies for highly efficient use of solar light/thermal energy that will contribute to the realization of a sustainable energy society. To understand the unique physical properties of these materials from the fundamental principles and extract superior functions that exceed the limits of conventional materials, he is promoting interdisciplinary research that covers basic sciences, including condensed matter physics and materials synthesis, as well as thermal, mechanical, electronic, and optical engineering along with the fabrication of integrated nanomaterials.

Ken-ichi Uchida

NIMS / The University of Tokyo

Distinguished Group Leader, NIMS / Professor, The University of Tokyo
Spin Caloritronics Group, Research Center for Magnetic and Spintronic Materials
Researcher Bio (NIMS SAMURAI Database)

Ken-ichi Uchida received his doctoral degree from Tohoku University, Japan, in 2012. After working as an Assistant Professor/Associate Professor (2012-2016) at Tohoku University and as a Group Leader at National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) (2016-2023), he has been a Distinguished Group Leader of Research Center for Magnetic and Spintronic Materials, NIMS, since 2023 and Professor of Graduate School of Frontier Science, The University of Tokyo, since 2024. He has been leading JST ERATO project and working mainly on spintronics and thermoelectrics.

Igor Solovyev

MANA, NIMS

Principal Researcher
Quantum Materials Modeling Group
Researcher Bio (NIMS SAMURAI Database)

Igor Solovyev has been a Principal Researcher in the National Institute for Materials Science since 2005. He received his Ph.D. degree at the Institute of Chemistry (Ekaterinburg, Russia) in 1991. He began his career as a Research Associate at Northwestern University (Evanston, USA) in 1991 and in 1995 moved to Joint Research Center for Atom Technology in Japan. In 2002 he became a member of Tokura Spin Superstructure Project and in 2003 was appointed to the Institute of Solid State Physics at the University of Tokyo. His main interest is in electronic structure and magnetism of complex oxide materials.

Tomohiro Takayama

MANA, NIMS

Team Leader
Quantum Magnetic Materials Team
Researcher Bio (NIMS SAMURAI Database)

Tomohiro Takayama has been a team leader of Research center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics at National Institute for Materials Science since 2025. He received his Ph.D. from University of Tokyo, Japan, in 2006. He was a postdoc in RIKEN, Japan, in 2006 and subsequently worked as an assistant professor in University of Tokyo from 2006 to 2013. From 2013 to 2025, he was a Senior Scientist/Group Leader in Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Germany. His research interest mainly lies in development of novel quantum materials displaying exotic electronic properties and functions, including quantum magnetism, spin-orbital physics and unconventional superconductivity.

Youhei Yamaji

MANA, NIMS

Group Leader
Quantum Materials Modeling Group
Researcher Bio (NIMS SAMURAI Database)

Youhei Yamaji has been a group leader at Research Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics, National Institute for Materials Science since 2023. He received D.Eng. in 2010 from The University of Tokyo. He was a postdoctoral researcher at Rutgers (2010), a specially appointed research associate (2011–2014), a specially appointed lecturer (2014–2016), a specially appointed associate professor (2016–2021) at The University of Tokyo, and a senior researcher (2021–2023) at National Institute for Materials Science. He has been working on condensed matter theory and computational physics for quantum materials.

Shuichi Iwakiri

MANA, NIMS

Senior Researcher
Qubit Materials Group
Researcher Bio (NIMS SAMURAI Database)

Shuichi Iwakiri has been a senior scientist in National Institute for Materials Science since 2025. He received his Ph.D. degree at Osaka University in 2021. In his doctoral thesis, he systematically investigated the nonlinear and nonequilibrium phenomena in magnetic tunnel junctions where he found and classified various spin current-induced dynamical phenomena such as the magnetization’s metastable state and the universality of magnon-assisted tunneling. After finishing his Ph.D in spintronics, he began his career in the field of 2D materials as a postdoctoral researcher at ETH Zuerich in 2021, then moved to Weizmann Institute of Science in 2023 as Koshland Fellow. His main interest is in the physics and engineering of nanodevices in novel 2D materials. Especially, he developed a new class of quantum interferometer called gate-defined interferometer, where one can define and tune the interference path by gating. Using this device, he made the first observation of the electrons’ coherence effect in twisted bilayer graphene. He also works on the development of new scanning-probe techniques of quantum matter such as quantum twisting microscope.

Ryuichi Arafune

MANA, NIMS

Principal Researcher
Surface Quantum Phase Materials Group
Researcher Bio (NIMS SAMURAI Database)

Dr. Ryuichi Arafune has been engaged in interdisciplinary research across surface science, condensed matter physics, and nanoscience. He began his career in the engineering of liquid crystal displays, focusing on the molecular orientation mechanisms of liquid crystals on alignment films. After receiving his Ph.D., he shifted his focus to more fundamental research, including the development of advanced surface analysis techniques. In recent years, his research has covered a broad range of topics including inelastic vibrational excitations during photoemission and tunneling processes, and spin-orbit interactions in photoexcited states at solid surfaces. He is also actively engaged in ultrafast science, particularly in the study of excited-state dynamics and the development of novel two-dimensional materials such as silicene.

Keisuke Watanabe

MANA, NIMS

Researcher
Photonics Nano Engineering Group
Researcher Bio (NIMS SAMURAI Database)

Keisuke Watanabe has been a researcher at the Photonics Nano-Engineering Group in the Research Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA) at NIMS since 2024. He received his Ph.D. from Yokohama National University in 2019. He then moved to the University of Exeter in the UK as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, before joining NIMS as an ICYS (International Center for Young Scientists) Research Fellow in 2021. His work focuses on nanophotonic devices, including silicon nanostructures, metasurfaces, and photonic crystals. Motivated by the physics of bound states in the continuum (BICs) and through interdisciplinary research bridging nanophotonics and materials science, he has expanded his research into strong light-matter interactions and their advanced applications in molecular sensing and infrared spectroscopy.

Satoru Ichinokura

NIMS

Senior Researcher
Photoemission Spectroscopy Group, Center for Basic Research on Materials
Researcher Bio (NIMS SAMURAI Database)

Dr. Satoru Ichinokura is a senior researcher at the National Institute for Materials Science. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Tokyo in 2016. His research focuses on condensed matter physics, particularly low-dimensional superconductors and quantum systems. Dr. Ichinokura has published work in journals such as Physical Review Letters and ACS Nano. His contributions include studies on calcium-intercalated bilayer graphene and ultra-thin film superconductivity. He has received the Springer Thesis Award and recognition from the Japan Physical Society. Dr. Ichinokura has contributed to the fundamental understanding of low-dimensional quantum materials and is also interested in exploring their future applications, particularly in the field of 2D materials.

Satoshi Ishii

MANA, NIMS

Team Leader
Optical Nanostructure Team
Researcher Bio (NIMS SAMURAI Database)

Satoshi Ishii has been the team leader of Optical Nanostructure Team at NIMS since 2023. In 2012, he completed his PhD in Electrical and Information Engineering at Purdue University. After being a JSPS overseas special research fellow and a researcher at the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), he has been working at NIMS since 2014 as a tenured researcher. His specialties are nano-optics and radiative heat transfer. One of his achievements is displayed in TEPIA in Tokyo.

Takuya Iwasaki

MANA, NIMS

Independent Researcher
Qubit Materials Group
Researcher Bio (NIMS SAMURAI Database)

Takuya Iwasaki is an Independent Scientist at the Research Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics within the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Japan. He earned his Ph.D. in Materials Science from the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) in 2017. From 2017 to 2018, he was a Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Research Fellow at JAIST. In 2018, he joined NIMS as an International Center for Young Scientists Research Fellow. Since 2020, he has held his current position. In 2024, he was a Visiting Scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His research focuses on quantum transport phenomena in nanostructured devices based on two-dimensional materials and heterostructures, particularly graphene and hexagonal boron nitride. His work aims to advance low-power consumption device applications and quantum computing processing devices.

Alexei Belik

MANA, NIMS

Chief Researcher
Quantum Solid State Materials Group
Researcher Bio (NIMS SAMURAI Database)

Alexei Belik graduated from the Department of Materials Science of Moscow State University (MSU) in 1997 and received his PhD in inorganic chemistry at MSU in 1999. He did his first postdoc (2000–2002) at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Japan, under the supervision of Prof. Fujio Izumi and his second postdoc (2002–2004) at the Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, under the supervision of Profs. Mikio Takano and Masaki Azuma. In 2004, he joined the NIMS again as an independent scientist under the ICYS program. In 2006, he took a permanent position at the NIMS. He was an MANA independent scientist for 9 years. He is currently a chief researcher at the NIMS.

Naoki Sato

MANA, NIMS

Researcher
Thermal Energy Materials Group
Researcher Bio (NIMS SAMURAI Database)

Naoki Sato has been a researcher in Research Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA) at National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) since 2022. He received his Ph.D. degree from The University of Tokyo in 2018. He started his research career as a NIMS postdoc in 2018 and became an ICYS (International Center for Young Scientists) Research Fellow in 2020. Then, he joined MANA as a permanent research staff in 2022. His work centers on designing crystalline solids with intrinsically low lattice thermal conductivity for high-performance thermoelectric applications and on boosting materials performance through defect engineering by integrating experimental and computational approaches.