School of Life Science

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School of Life Science

The School of Life Science aims to educate researchers who are internationally extraordinary and possess creativeness and broad perspectives to explore new fields of Life Science. Professors in this school cover wide fields of Life Science from the molecular to organismal and population levels.

The School of Life Science offers graduate programs that are aimed at nurturing independent and creative researchers that expand the frontiers of life science. Three departments that constitute the School of Life Science are based on three leading research institutions -- National Institute of Genetics, National Institute for Basic Biology, and National Institute for Physiological Sciences. Research activities of these institutes cover variable fields of Life Science and the School of Life Science aims to provide research environments in which students can learn interdisciplinary concepts as well as their own specialty.

Housing the largest number of life science faculty in Japan, the School of Life Science offers a mentoring system by multiple faculty, and provides a superb environment for independent research by each student. The graduate course provides not only lectures by outstanding internal professors but also seminars on the latest research progress conducted by external researchers, educational programs for cross-disciplinary approaches, and courses on scientific writing and presentation. The three departments hold a joint retreat every year for scientific interactions and share lectures over the internet for further enhanced interactions.
We welcome students who love and enjoy Life Science, and dream to open new windows into the field.

Iwasato, Takuji

IWASATO Takuji
Dean
School of Life Science

Special field : Neuroscience, Molecular biology, Mouse genetics

Departments under the School<

Department of Genetics

The rich environment of the Department of Genetics allows students to fully devote themselves to their own research projects.

The Department of Genetics offers education and research opportunities in a variety of cutting-edge disciplines with the goal of investigating biological phenomena on the basis of genetic information. Study and research fields include molecular, cellular, developmental, behavioral, population, and evolutionary genetics, as well as genome biology and bioinformatics. Students can take advantage of a wide range of databases and genetic resources hosted by the National Institute of Genetics. To nurture independent researchers, the Department of Genetics adopts an educational philosophy that the academic guidance of each individual student is carried out by the entire faculty. For example, graduate students meet with their thesis committee twice a year to receive advice from faculty members outside their host labs. Other features of the Department include the Scientific Presentation/Writing Program and ample financial assistance opportunities such as our research assistant program.

Department of Basic Biology

Model organisms used at Department of Basic Biology

The Department of Basic Biology trains researchers capable of developing innovative approaches and creative ideas to understand higher order phenomena in biological science. Students take advantage of the environment and facilities of the National Institute for Basic Biology. Students conduct a PhD research project with taking a variety of advanced classes and advices from several professors with different specialities. Research fields in this department cover cell biology, developmental biology, environmental biology, neurobiology, symbiotic biology and evolutionary biology with appropriate model organisms and top-end techniques including molecular biology, bioimaging, mathematical science and omics.

Department of Physiological Sciences

Cells, tissues and organs which researchers in Department of Physiological Sciences are working on using different experimental procedures

Physiology is to clarify the mechanisms of living bodies from both elements (cells and molecules) and systems, and therefore provides important basic knowledge necessary for understanding pathological conditions. Importance of physiology has been much increased upon clarification of genome structures. In this department, students can learn the function of intact organisms in an integrated way from molecular / cellular levels as basic units of living organisms to whole body levels, and are expected to be pioneering researchers in bioscience, neuroscience and medicine.