Daisuke Koyabu         Google Scholar        ORCID

Full Professor, School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, China

Group Leader, Research and Development Center for Precision  Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan

Dai is interested in the morphological diversity, disparity, and evolutionary homologies of the mammalian cranium. He integrates comparative anatomy, paleontology, developmental biology, and bioinformatics to bridge our gap in our knowledge.

-Selected Publications-

Koyabu, D.* Evolution, conservatism, and overlooked homologies of the mammalian skull. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B 378: 20220081 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2022.0081 

Nojiri, T., Werneburg, I, Tu, V.T., Fukui, D., Takechi, M., Iseki, S., Furutera, T., Koyabu, D.* Timing of organogenesis underscores the evolution of neonatal life histories and powered flight in bats. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 290: 20221928 (2023). 

Nojiri, T., Wilson, L.A.B., López-Aguirre, C., Tu, V.T., Kuratani, S., Ito, K., Higashiyama, H., Son, N.T., Fukui, D., Sadier, A., Sears, K.E., Endo, H., Kamihori, S., Koyabu, D.* Embryonic evidence uncovers convergent origins of laryngeal echolocation in bats. Current Biology 31: 1353-1365.e3 (2021). 

Higashiyama, H., Koyabu, D., Hirasawa, T., Werneburg, I., Kuratani, S., Kurihara, H. Mammalian muzzle as an evolutionary novelty. PNAS 118 (44) e2111876118 (2021). 

Koyabu, D.*, Werneburg, I., Morimoto, N., Zollikofer, C.P.E., Forasiepi, A.M., Endo, H., Kimura, J., Ohdachi, S.D., Son, N.T., Sánchez-Villagra, M.R. Mammalian skull heterochrony reveals modular evolution and a link between cranial development and brain size. Nature Communications 5: 365 (2014). 

Koyabu, D.*, Maier, W., Sánchez-Villagra, M.R. Paleontological and developmental evidence resolve the homology and dual embryonic origin of a mammalian skull bone, the interparietal. PNAS 109 (35): 14075-14080 (2012). 

-Professional Activity-

Journal of Experimental Zoology Part B: Molecular and Developmental Evolution

Mammalian Biology, Editor (morphology section)

Mammal Study, Associate Editor

PeerJ, Academic Editor 

Peer Community in Paleontology, Recommender

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, Asssociate Editor

MorphoMuseuM, Associate Editor

International Society of Vertebrate Morphology, Elected Executive Committee Member, Scientific Program Committee Member

-Awards-

2008    Distinguished Poster Award, Mammalogical Society of Japan

2009    Best Poster Award, Mammalogical Society of Japan

2010    Outstanding Presentation Award, International Primatology Society

2011    Fujii Prize (with Hideki Endo), Zoological Society of Japan

2012    Young Investigator Award, Mammalogical Society of Japan

2013    Fritz-Frank Award (Young Investigator Award), German Society for Mammalian Biology    

2013    Inoue Research Award for Distinguished Young Scientists

2014    Sasakawa Research Award for Distinguished Young Scientists

2014    Young Investigator Award, Society of Evolutionary Studies, Japan

2016    The Commendation for Science and Technology, the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japanese Government

-Education-

Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley (EAP program)    2003-2004

Department of Biological Sciences, Kyoto University (B.S.)    2001-2006

Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University (M.A.)    2006-2008

Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Tokyo  (Ph.D.)    2008-2011

-Previous Positions-

Postdoctoral Researcher at University of Zurich, 2011-2013

Research Assistant Professor, University of Tokyo, 2013-2018

Associate Professor, City University of Hong Kong, 2019-2021

Associate Professor, University of Tsukuba, 2021-2025

Full Professor, Sun Yat-sen University, 2025-

Group Leader, University of Tsukuba, 2025-

-Reviewed Journals-

Acta Theriologica 

Acta Zoologica

Anatomical Record 

Anthropological Science

Archives of Oral Biology  

Biology Letters

Current Biology

Developmental Dynamics 

eLife

Evolution

EvoDevo  

Journal of Experimental Zoology, Part B

Journal of Morphology 

Journal of Veterinary Medical Science 

Mammal Study

Mammalian Biology  

Nature

Nature Communications

Naturwissenschaften 

PeerJ 

Proceedings of Royal Society B

Science Advances

Zoological Science  

Zoological Letters