PI

Professor, Department of Chemistry 

Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering (joint appointment)

The University of Memphis

213 Smith Chemistry Building

Memphis, TN 38152

Phone: (901) 678-5558

Fax: (901) 678-3447

E-mail: tfjiwara@memphis.edu

Department Faculty page: http://www.memphis.edu/chem/people/faculty/fujiwara.php

Office: Rm 409

Synthesis Lab: Rm 403

Instruments Lab/Student's office: Rm 413A

About me...

Tomoko received her PhD in Polymer Science from Kyoto Institute of Technology (KIT) in 2001 under guidance of Professor Yoshiharu Kimura. Before her graduate research, she worked in industries about a decade; first at the pharmaceutical company (Sankyo Co. LTD) where she was trained as a synthetic/analytical chemist and for in vivo/in vitro metabolism studies; and at the venture company (Kansai Research Institute) entering herself into polymer/materials research field. After completing a PhD study at KIT, Tomoko moved to US as a postdoctoral researcher working for Professor Ken Wynne at Virginia Commonwealth University. In 2004, she started her academic career at Boise State University, ID, initiated independent research projects. In fall 2007, Tomoko accepted the position at the University of Memphis Chemistry Department, and got tenured in 2013. She was promoted to a professor in 2021. Thus far, six PhD chemists listed below have departed from her research group.

Dr, Davita Watkins, 2012 : Associate Professor at Ohio State University

Dr. Daniel Abebe, 2014 : DOW Chemical

Dr. Brandon Gindt, 2017 : SABIC Innovative Plastics

Dr. Sayema Tuli, 2017 : The University of Central Missouri

Dr. Kwei-Yu Liu, 2019 : Gelest

Dr. Tamanna Ferdous, 2025: 

Her research interests are polymeric architectures in molecular- and nano-scale, which govern various properties of materials. Stimuli-responsiveness is an addition to use the polymeric/organic materials in smart ways. She collaborates with many scientists in the fields of biomaterials, energy-conversion, polymer physics, and theoretical chemistry.