MembersMetabolic and Behavioral Physiology
RIKEN ECL Research Team
Chisako SakumaRIKEN ECL Team Leader
After spending about the same amount of time in Kyushu and the Kanto region, I eventually landed in Kobe. I love good food, and I cannot help but smile whenever I see something delicious. Maybe it is that side of me which led to my fascination with the blood-feeding behavior of mosquitoes, and I’ve been completely drawn into their fascinating world.
- chisako.sakuma@riken.jp
- researchmap
Shinichi YodaResearch Scientist
This is my first time living in the Kansai area, and I am gradually settling into this new environment. I have studied a wide range of insects, including termites, silkworms, swallowtail butterflies, and aphids. I look forward to discovering new insights through mosquito research.
Yusuke KatoPostdoctoral Researcher
I came to Kobe from Saitama. As a child, I often found myself battling mosquitoes that lived among the bamboo forests, and I never imagined I would end up studying them one day. Now, in this wonderful research environment, I spend my days carefully observing mosquitoes—especially the pupae!
Okiko HabaraResearch Part-time Worker I
This is my 13th year working at RIKEN Kobe, and my fourth lab here, but it’s my first time being involved from the initial set up, which is really exciting. Outside the lab, I play the violin and viola with the BDR Ensemble Club.
Natsumi ShimamotoResearch Part-time Worker I
I'm originally from Nagasaki, and I've lived in Fukuoka, Yokohama, and the UK before coming to Kobe. I'm back in the research field for the first time in almost 10 years, but I'm ready to work energetically to become a dependable member of the team!
Chika KobayashiAssistant
I was born in Hyogo (right here in Kobe), but I have also lived in Hiroshima, Chiba, and Tokyo, so I have picked up three dialects: Kansai-ben, Hiroshima-ben, and Kanto-ben. I hope to be the kind of assistant who quietly and steadily supports everyone in the lab.