Research Profile

Research fields

Evolutionary Morphology
Evo-Devo
Paleobiology

Research interests

• Paleo-Evo-Devo and the developmental basis of morphological evolution
• Ecological adaptation, evolutionary constraints, and the evolution of musculoskeletal and sensory systems in tetrapods
• Phenotypic variation, morphological integration, modularity, and evolvability through deep time
• Evolutionary ecology, including convergent evolution, terrestrialization, and secondary aquatic adaptation
• Digital morphology and natural history, including vertebrate and fossil decapod morphology, 3D documentation, and digital archiving
• Applications of natural history collections and 3D technologies to inquiry-based science education and citizen science

Keywords

Evolutionary Biology
Morphological evolution · Evolvability · Evolutionary ecology · Convergent evolution · Terrestrialization · Aquatic adaptation

Paleontology
Vertebrate paleontology · Paleoecology · Morphological reconstruction · Dinosaurs · Amphibians and reptiles · Terrestrial mammals · Decapod crustaceans

Anatomy and Morphology
Comparative morphology · Functional morphology · Comparative anatomy · Digital morphology · Craniofacial morphology · Auditory systems

Developmental Biology
Evolutionary developmental biology (Evo-Devo) · Morphogenesis · Paleo-Evo-Devo

Museum Studies and Natural History Education
Natural history collections · 3D digital archiving · Inquiry-based science education · Citizen science

Methods and approaches

• Comparative anatomy, osteology, and gross dissection
• Histological and developmental anatomical approaches
• Comparative embryology, including serial histological sections and skeletal staining
• Micro-CT, DiceCT, synchrotron radiation micro-CT, photogrammetry, 3D scanning, and 3D reconstruction
• Avizo, Amira, and 3D Slicer for visualization and reconstruction of morphological data
• Confocal laser scanning microscopy
• Image analysis using ImageJ and related software
• Morphometrics and phenotypic variation analysis
• Statistical analysis using R / RStudio
• Phylogenetic comparative methods and evolutionary analyses, including ancestral-state reconstruction
• Museum collections research and fieldwork in Japan and abroad
• Digital documentation and 3D archiving of natural history specimens and field environments

Education

March 2026
Ph.D. in Science, Department of Earth and Planetary Science, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo

March 2023
M.Sc. in Science, Department of Earth and Planetary Science, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo

March 2021
B.Sc. in Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Toho University

Professional and Research Experience

April 2026 – Present
Curator, Science Education Lab. / Exedra

April 2025 – March 2026
Graduate Student under the Research Guidance Program, Department of Paleontology and Anthropology, National Museum of Nature and Science, Japan

November 2024 – March 2025
Graduate Student under the Research Guidance Program, Department of Geology and Paleontology, National Museum of Nature and Science, Japan

April 2024 – March 2026
SPRING GX Project Student, The University of Tokyo
Fostering Advanced Human Resources to Lead Green Transformation (GX), Support for Pioneering Research Initiated by the Next Generation (SPRING), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)

April 2023 – March 2024
Research Assistant, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo

April 2022 – March 2023
Master’s Program Research Assistant, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo

Additional Research Affiliations and Activities

April 2025 – Present
Citizen Researcher, Earth Sciences Research Group, Natural History Museum and Institute, Chiba

April 2026 – Present
Member, Katsushika Biodiversity Promotion Council

Professional Societies

• Society of Evolutionary Studies, Japan
• Palaeontological Society of Japan
• Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

Exedra Research Division (Junior Researcher Program)

At Exedra, I mentor elementary and secondary school students conducting their own research projects in natural history and biology.

I support students throughout the research process, including developing research questions and hypotheses, designing observations and experiments, collecting and analyzing data, visualizing results, and communicating their findings.

I am particularly interested in connecting inquiry-based learning with natural history collections, field observations, and emerging digital technologies such as photogrammetry and 3D scanning.

See the “Research Division” page for details.

Academic profiles

• researchmap
• Google Scholar
• ResearchGate

Contact

For inquiries regarding research, collaboration, lectures, educational activities, or Exedra, please use the contact form below.

I will respond after reviewing your message. Any personal information submitted through the form will be used solely for the purpose of responding to your inquiry.