We welcome graduate students (Master’s and PhD) with a clear sense of purpose who engage proactively with research. Centered on phosphoinositides, in a setting that tackles the fundamental principles of cancer, inflammatory diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and aging, let’s grow into researchers who can communicate with the world.
At the institute we are the Department of Biochemical Pathophysiology, and we accept graduate students through the Department of Lipid Biology / Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the graduate school.
We carry out internationally leading research in the medicine and biology of phosphoinositides and intractable diseases.
Leveraging the environment of a University for International Research Excellence and the Medical Research Laboratory, you can pursue research using cutting-edge analytical technologies.
Through progress reports, project presentations, and hands-on instruction, you steadily acquire research skills.
There are many opportunities for international collaboration, and we support English communication and presentations at conferences.
We provide an environment where students with scientific curiosity and passion can pose their own questions and grow into researchers who can communicate with the world.
Lipid biology is a field with great room to approach unexplained biological phenomena. Without being bound by short-term papers, you get the chance to aim for the world’s first discoveries.
We tackle from the fundamentals topics of great social impact — cancer, inflammatory diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and aging. You can feel the reward of your research connecting to future medicine.
From biochemistry, cell biology, structural biology, and mouse experiments to the use of AI and robots, you acquire broad expertise. Practicing multifaceted approaches to a single question builds your strength as a researcher.
Our graduate students have received many conference awards, and we have a rich record of publications in top journals such as Nature, Cell, Science, and their sister journals.
We have a strong record of acceptance into graduate-student support programs such as JSPS Research Fellowships, the SPRING program for next-generation researchers, and the Clinician-Scientist Development Program.
Without being constrained by the teacher–student distinction, we face one another as fellow researchers. We build logical, data-based discussions and welcome ideas grounded in students’ free thinking.
An introduction to the daily activities and atmosphere of the lab.
As your research progresses, you have opportunities to present at conferences in Japan and abroad. Through presentations and Q&A in Japanese and English, you develop the communication skills demanded of researchers and of future leaders in society. Collaboration with overseas labs is active, and we support visits and short-term study at labs in Japan and abroad. You can also routinely attend lectures by leading researchers.
We hold lab trips, welcome and farewell parties, and other social occasions. At the institute level there are beer gardens, bowling tournaments, year-end parties, and more, giving opportunities to mingle with students and faculty from other fields. Through the English class and journal club, we also value places to absorb knowledge beyond your specialty and to express your own ideas.
The Department of Lipid Biology welcomes diligent students with a strong motivation to learn and to do research.
Strong curiosity about the life sciences, medicine, and pharmacy, with clear goals and the motivation to engage proactively with related problems.
The motivation to acquire sufficient foundational knowledge and skills to independently carry out research toward solving these problems.
The motivation to acquire the ethics, English ability, and communication skills needed to advance research with others and disseminate the results widely to the world.
Reference: Admission Policy, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo →
If you wish to enter the Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo, please refer to the information below. Always confirm details on the official graduate-school website.
An overview of the general flow from visit to exam to admission. Please feel free to contact us by email.
First, email the PI (Takehiko Sasaki). Briefly tell us about yourself, your research interests, your goals for graduate study, and your preferred timing. The contact details are in the “Contact” section below.
Visit the lab in person and meet with the PI and staff. You can directly check the research themes, daily lab life, and student living environment. Senior students will show you around the facilities. Online options are available for those far away in Japan or abroad.
Check the exam schedule, application documents, and exam subjects, and prepare. We can advise on past exams and references as needed.
Take the Institute of Science Tokyo graduate entrance exam. Please check the official graduate-school page for exam details.
After enrolling, you decide your research theme in consultation with your supervisor. In addition to joining existing projects, you can also take on your own original theme.
Common questions from those considering graduate study.
Interested in the lab?
For visit requests, questions, or anything else — however small — please feel free to email us.
Please contact the PI, Takehiko Sasaki, directly.
sasaki.t.7eda [at] m.isct.ac.jp
* Replace [at] with @
Medical Research Laboratory, Institute of Science Tokyo
1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
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