Join Our Group

Thanks for your interest in Yamamoto lab!

We often get questions from students who are curious about what we do, so we’ve put together this message to give you a better idea. It’s a bit long, but we hope you’ll read it through.

Our lab focuses on biomacromolecules—things like proteins, DNA/RNA, and glycans (sugar chains). We study what these molecules do in the body, how they’re linked to diseases, and how we can better understand them at the molecular level. We also try to apply what we learn to real-world uses, including in industry.

At ASDRP, we’re one of the main labs working in analytical chemistry, especially when it comes to analyzing these big biological molecules. Developing new ways to study them is a big part of our work too.

So what happens if you join our lab?
The first step is learning. You’ll start by gathering background information on a topic you’re assigned—or that you’re interested in. That means digging into what questions people have asked before, what problems still need solving, and what tools and technologies have been used. You’ll also think about what people need now, and how science can help meet those needs.

You can do a lot of this research at home, but we’ve found that talking it out with other students in the lab often leads to better ideas and deeper understanding.

Once you start exploring, you’ll probably come up with your own questions or hypotheses you want to test. You’ll look into the scientific literature, and if there’s no clear answer out there, that’s where your experiments come in. Whatever you discover through that process becomes your own research.

Let’s talk about experiments.
Much of our lab work happens in person. You’ll be mixing solutions, synthesizing chemicals, working with cells, measuring results, and planning next steps based on what you find. That cycle—literature search, experiment, record, analyze, literature search, plan, repeat—is the heart of what we do.

Now, here’s the practical side of things.
From our past experience, students who live more than 10 miles away from ASDRP tend to have a harder time coming to the lab regularly. In the summer especially, we see a big difference between students who come in frequently and those who don’t—in terms of both learning and progress.

If you want to present at a conference or be listed as a co-author on a paper, even showing up every day might not feel like enough. And keep in mind: a lot of what we work with—like cells and proteins—are time-sensitive. Cells die if you leave them alone too long. Proteins break down or lose their shape. It’s kind of like how food goes bad even in the fridge. So if you’re working with these materials, you really need to be on campus often.

You can gain some general knowledge from home, but the real joy comes from discovering something only you know—something you figured out yourself in the lab.

Also, many students underestimate how long experiments actually take. Sometimes someone will arrive at the lab and leave an hour later because their ride is here, without finishing anything. But to get solid results, you need to come prepared, have the right skills, and spend enough time at the bench.

In short, our lab is a place where you can gain deep knowledge and hands-on skills in cutting-edge biomolecular research. We’re excited about the possibility of working with you!