Members | Laboratory for Epithelial Morphogenesis

Aishwarya Bhushan

Intern student (University of Mumbai, UM-DAE-CEBS)

I like to visualise cells with colorful party lights.

Nada Dougui

Research associate/PhD student (University of Osaka FBS)

Yuko Fujiyama

Assistant

Chun Wai Kwan

Research Scientist

Jayashree Mahajan

Research Associate

I am a master's graduate from IISER Pune, India. Using optogenetic tools, I am interested in exploring how directed organelle migration shapes development.

Outside the lab, you'll find me hunting for good vegetarian food, embarrassingly translating every aisle in the konbini and bravely attempting Japanese!

Anshuman Mishra

IPA/PhD student (University of Osaka FBS)

I’m curious about how things work at the most fundamental level. My research focuses on how mechanical forces and cell polarity interact with each other to give rise to complex tissue shapes. Using quantitative live imaging and optogenetics, I aim to uncover the fundamental principles of morphogenesis. Outside the lab, you will often find me at a nearby coffee shop or dabbling in sports. I enjoy singing and reading, and also cook, even though I rarely like my own dishes.

Anne Rosfelter

Postdoctoral Researcher

I'm a postdoctoral researcher working in Yu-Chiun's lab, and in collaboration with the Erzberger group from EMBL Heidelberg. I study what dictates the nuclei position in the epithelium of the Drosophila embryo. My research interests starts at the cytoskeleton level, to understand the networks and organelles organizing a cell in 3D, up to the consequences of that organization at the tissue scale. I very much enjoy working on embryos, and I like to learn about various species!

Michiko Takeda

Technical Staff I

I learned fly work in the Hayashi lab at CDB before joining the Wang lab, building on my background in pharmaceutical sciences and neuroscience. As a technical staff in the Wang lab, I support ongoing projects as a collaborative team member, while staying motivated to further develop my technical skills. Outside the lab, I enjoy exploring gourmet food and visiting cozy cafés.

Sameer Thukral

Research Scientist

I'm Sameer Thukral, from India. I did my PhD from IISER Pune and joined the lab in 2021. I am interested in yolk cytoplasm organization and how yolk plays a mechanical role during morphogenesis. Outside the lab, I can be found singing, eating, cooking and playing sports.

Yu-Chiun Wang

Team Director

I grew up in Taiwan, studied BMP signaling and pattern formation for my Ph.D. at University of Chicago, and trained with Dr. Eric Wieschaus at Princeton University for my postdoct on tissue morphogenesis. I am interested in how complex structures are formed during development and evolved during the course of evolution. I hope to understand the underlying molecular, cell biological, mechanical and physical mechanisms, and spend my time trying to come up with the next coolest experiments. Outside the lab I like many things start with a "c": cooking, cycling, coffee, croissants, cinema and classical music.

Guest Professor, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences (FBS), University of Osaka

2006: PhD, University of Chicago
2007–2013: Postdoctoral researcher, Princeton University
2013–2018: Team Leader, RIKEN CDB
2018–2025: Team Leader, RIKEN BDR
2025–: Team Director, RIKEN BDR