Programs for Junior Scientists
RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science is committed to developing outstanding talent and nurturing the next generation of researchers through its educational programs and related initiatives.
CSRS Incentive Award
The CSRS conducts commendations to recognize members who have achieved outstanding accomplishments, with the aim of promoting research activities that advance the center’s mission.
FY2025 Award Recipients
Elucidation of the iron uptake mechanism underlying long-term heat stress resilience in cool-season grasses
Anzu Minami, Research Scientist
Minami Shimizu, Technical Staff Ⅰ
Yukiko Yamaguchi (Uehara), Technical Staff Ⅰ
Kyoko Toyama, Research Part-time Worker Ⅱ
Bioproductivity Informatics Research Team
Molecular dissection of the parasitic strategy of the “witchweed”
Sotaro Katagiri, Postdoctoral Researcher
Keisuke Fujiyama, Special Postdoctoral Researcher
Plant Chemical Genetics Research Team
Elucidating the Catalytic Mechanism of Biosynthetic Enzymes Transferring Coenzyme Skeletons
Quan Zhiyang, Research Scientist
Chemical Biology and Biosynthesis Research Team
Past Award Recipients
FY2024
De novo genome sequencing and assembly using long-read sequencer
Sachiko Masuda, Research Scientist
Arisa Shibata, Technical Staff Ⅱ
Plant Immunity Research Group
Ammonia synthesis by supported ultra-small metal cluster catalysts
Satoshi Kamiguchi, Senior Research Scientist
Advanced Catalysis Research Group
Identification and utilization of novel functional phytochemicals that control plant morphogenesis
Hiromitsu Tabeta, Special Postdoctoral Researcher
Metabolic Systems Research Team
FY2023
Development of Flow Coupling Reaction System Using Solid Catalysts
Zhang Zhenzhong, Research Scientist
Aya Ohno, Technical Staff Ⅰ
Green Nanocatalysis Research Team
Thermodynamic principle to enhance enzymatic activity using the substrate affinity
Hideshi Ooka, Research Scientist
Yoko Chiba, Senior Research Scientist
Biofunctional Catalyst Research Team
Identification of a novel antifungal compound that targets fatty acid biosynthesis
Yoko Yashiroda, Deputy Team Leader
Mami Yoshimura, Technical Staff I
Molecular Ligand Target Research Team
Hiroyuki Hirano, Research Part-time Worker I
Drug Discovery Chemical Bank Unit
FY2022
An effective cargo delivery method that can overcome cell wall and cell membrane barriers in plants
Takaaki Miyamoto, Research Scientist
Biomacromolecules Research Team
Elucidation of molecular basis underlying the cell fate reprogramming of differentiated plant cells
Yuki Sakamoto, Student Trainee
Cell Function Research Team
Transcriptional regulation of specialized metabolism and metabolic genome engineering in plants
Tsubasa Shoji, Senior Scientist
Metabolomics Research Group
FY2021
Sustainable Organic Synthesis Using Sodium Dispersion
Sobi Asako, Senior Scientist
Ikko Takahashi, Postdoctoral Researcher
Advanced Organic Synthesis Research Team
Identification of an orange/far-red and blue light photoreceptor from an oceanic green picoplankton
Yuko Makita, Senior Scientist
Setsuko Shimada, Research Scientist
Tomoko Kuriyama, Technical Staff I
Synthetic Genomics Research Group
Advancement of molecular breeding of cassava that will contribute to SDGs
Yoshinori Utsumi, Research Scientist
Hiroki Tokunaga, Research Scientist
Chikako Utsumi, Technical Staff II
Plant Genomic Network Research Team
FY2020
Biosynthesis mechanism elucidation of mycotoxin, tenuazonic acid
Choong-Soo Yun, Research Scientist
Chemical Biology Research Group
Elucidation of the molecular self-assembly mechanism of spider silk proteins
Ali D. Malay, Research Scientist
Biomacromolecules Research Team
Functional genomics approaches to understand phenylpropanoid structural diversity
Keiko Yonekura-Sakakibara, Senior Research Scientist
Ryo Nakabayashi, Research Scientist
Tetsuya Mori, Expert Technician
Satoko Sugawara, Technical Staff I
Metabolomics Research Group
FY2019
Construction of a research platform for quantitative phenotyping and its application to data science to understand plant growth in various environmental conditions
Miki Fujita, Research Scientist
Takanari Tanabata, Visiting Scientist
Kaoru Urano, Research Scientist
Saya Kikuchi, Technical Staff II
Gene Discovery Research Group
Activation of secondary metabolism in the rice blast fungus
Takayuki Motoyama, Senior Research Scientist
Chemical Biology Research Group
Development of Metabolomics Open Data
Yutaka Yamada, Technical Staff I
Mikiko Takahashi, Technical Staff I
Metabolome Informatics Research Team
FY2018
Elucidation of regulatory mechanism of plant’s response to environment through control of transcription start sites
Yukio Kurihara, Research Scientist
Synthetic Genomics Research Group
Studies on biosynthesis of bioactive natural products produced by filamentous fungi
Naoki Kato, Research Scientist
Natural Product Biosynthesis Research Unit
Discovery of plant peptide AtPep3 enhancing high-salinity stress tolerance
Kentaro Nakaminami, Research Scientist
Plant Genomic Network Research Team
FY2017
Discovery of acetate-and ethanol-mediated survival strategy against drought and high-salinity stress in plants
Jongmyong Kim, Research Scientist
Huong Mai Nguyen, Student Trainee
Kaori Sako, Postdoctoral Researcher
Plant Genomic Network Research Team
Development of artificial structural protein materials by chemoenzymatic polymerization
Kousuke Tsuchiya, Senior Scientist
Biomacromolecules Research Team
The karrikin receptor KAI2 promotes drought resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana
Weiqiang Li, Research Scientist
Stress Adaptation Research Unit
FY2016
C-H Bond Activation for Functional Polymer Synthesis
Masayoshi Nishiura, Senior Research Scientist
Advanced Catalysis Research Group
Arabidopsis type B cytokinin response regulators ARR1, ARR10, and ARR12 negatively regulate plant responses to drought
Kien Huu Nguyen, International Program Associate
Chien Van Ha, Technical Staff II
Rie Nishiyama, Research Scientist
Signaling Pathway Research Unit
Advancement of plant biomass research through bioinformatics
Yuko Makita, Research Scientist
Mika Kawashima, Technical Staff I
Synthetic Genomics Research Group
FY2015
Genome analyses of parasitic plants
Satoko Yoshida, Senior Research Scientist
Plant Immunity Research Group
Genome analyses of parasitic plants
Yasumitsu Kondoh, Senior Research Scientist
Chemical Biology Research Group
Epigenetic control of cellular plasticity in plants
Momoko Ikeuchi, Special Postdoctoral Researcher
Akira Iwase, Research Scientist
Cell Function Research Team
FY2014
Construction of a microbial metabolites fraction library and isolation of interesting metabolites from the library
Toshihiko Nogawa, Research Scientist
Chemical Biology Research Group
Carbon-carbon bond cleavage and rearrangement of benzene by a trinuclear titanium hydride
Shaowei Hu, Postdoctoral Researcher
Advanced Catalysis Research Group
Paving a road toward mitochondrial plant cell factories
Jo-Ann Chuah, Postdoctoral Researcher
Enzyme Research Team
FY2013
Splitting and Hydrogenating Molecular Nitrogen at Ambient Temperature and Pressure
Takanori Shima, Senior Scientist
Advanced Catalysis Research Group
Research on the regulatory mechanisms of plant growth in response to nitrogen nutritional conditions
Takatoshi Kiba, Research Scientist
Plant Productivity Systems Research Group
A new approach to countering plant environmental stresses
Chien Van Ha,
International Program Associate
Signaling Pathway Research Unit
CSRS Junior Scientists Training Program (CSRS-JSTP)
The CSRS Graduate Student Training Program (CSRS-GSTP), which had been implemented since FY2020 for graduate students affiliated with CSRS, was expanded to include early-career researchers as well as graduate students at CSRS, Following this expansion, the CSRS Junior Scientists Training Program (CSRS-JSTP) was launched in April 2025. This program aims to identify and cultivate outstanding scientists and engineers who will support and advance science and technology in the future under the auspices of CSRS.
CSRS Graduate Student Education Program: Past Initiatives
Season5 (2024)
GSTP1: Doctor Students, total 4
GSTP2: Doctor Students, total 3
GSTP3: Doctor Students, total 8
GSTP4: Doctor and Master Students, total 22
GSTP5: Doctor, Master and Bachelor Students, Total 16
- Sustainable Resource Science / Introduction of CSRS-GSTP
- How to do a scientific presentation
- Career seminar by a young researcher
- Presentation by GSTP 1st student
- Presentation by GSTP 1st student
- Career Seminar by RIKEN ECL Team Leader
Season4 (2023)
GSTP1: Doctor Students, total 4
GSTP2: Doctor Students, total 3
GSTP3: Doctor and Master Students, total 8
GSTP4: Doctor and Master Students, total 31
- Sustainable Resource Science / Introduction of CSRS-GSTP
- How to do a scientific presentation
- Students’ presentation 1
- Students’ presentation 2
- Career seminar by a young scientist
- Presentation of your career plans and open discussion 1
- Presentation of your career plans and open discussion 2
Season3 (2022)
GSTP1: Doctor Students, total 4
GSTP2: Master Students, total 11
GSTP3: Doctor and Master Students, total 13
- Introduction of CSRS-GSTP
- Sustainable Resource Science
- So you wanna be a researcher?
- Beginner's guide for presentation
- Students’ presentation
- Students’ presentation
- Challenges to create new functional biomass-based polymeric materials
- Accelerating Biomanufacturing Engineering Biology
- How I became a scientist - A journey to science
Season2 (2021)
GSTP1: Master Students, total 13
GSTP2: Master Students, total 11
- (GSTP1) Discussion about CSRS seminar
(GSTP2) Introduction CSRS-GSTP - (GSTP1) Flow Chemistry
(GSTP2) About Sustainable Resource Science Center - (GSTP1) Increasing biological productivity through the integration of bio x digital
(GSTP2) So you wanna be a researcher - How to do presentation
- GSTP1 Students’ presentation
- GSTP2 Students’ presentation
- Pursuing a Dream of Organic Chemistry Research in Japan
- The World of Lipids and Development
- Design of Biomolecular Functions using Artificial Molecules
Season1 (2020)
GSTP1: Master Students, total 13
- Introduction
- So you wanna be a researcher?
- Sustainable Resource Science
- Metabolic Physiology of Plants Revealed by Metabolome Analysis
- Research Readiness
- Potential and Challenges of Bioplastics
- Plant Chemical Biology
- How to be happy through research on biopolymers
- What is a biofunctional catalyst?
- Self-created training programs
Joint Graduate Schools
- Graduate School of Nanobioscience, Yokohama City University
- Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba
- Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo
- Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo
- Graduate School of Engineering, Tokyo Denki University
- Graduate School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Hokkaido University
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University
- Institute of Science Tokyo
