Associate Professor Toshiki Sawada of the Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, the School of Materials and Chemical Technology and Associate Professor Kyohhei Kitamura of the Future of Humanity Research Center, the Institute of Innovative Research and Associate Professor Yuta Suzuki of the Department of Social and Human Sciences, the Institute for Liberal Arts have been selected for Support for Tokyo Tech Advanced Researchers(STAR) grant in FY 2022.
The STAR grant is awarded each year to promising young researchers who grapple with research topics that have the potential to become national projects in the future. Other recipients may include those who have achieved distinguished results in the fundamental sciences.
Through the STAR grant, Tokyo Tech seeks to support up-and-coming shining stars in the next generation of researchers. For this 10th call, three “STARS” were selected based on consultation by the President and the Director of the Office of Research and Innovation.
- Associate Professor Toshiki Sawada, School of Materials and Chemical Technology
- Associate Professor Kyohhei Kitamura, Institute of Innovative Research, Institute for Liberal Arts
- Associate Professor Yuta Suzuki, Institute for Liberal Arts
Research overview and Researcher Comment
Associate Professor Toshiki Sawada, School of Materials and Chemical Technology
Research overview: Genetic engineering and machine learning-based development of function-oriented biopolymers
With the rapid development of biotechnology in recent years, it has become easier to modify the functions of biopolymers such as proteins and peptides, and biopolymers are starting to be used as material components. However, in most cases, natural biopolymers do not have features suitable for material use, and it has been difficult to prepare biopolymers suitably modified to show material function-oriented features. This is partly because the functional properties of biopolymers have been optimized for use in living organisms during the evolution process. We have studied the development of biopolymers with suitable modifications and/or control of biological functions such as molecular recognition and self-assembling capabilities based on polymer science and physical chemistry, in addition to bioengineering. Recently, to further development of biopolymers with desired functions and/or physical properties, we have been generating function-oriented biopolymers based on machine learning predictions using the functional property data of genetically engineered biopolymers. The high potential of biopolymers has already been proven, and by establishing a strategy to develop biopolymers with excellent material functions as re-evolved based on oriented functions, we hope to develop material chemistry that can contribute to various fields, including the environment, medicine, and energy.
Researcher Comment
It is a great honor to be selected as a recipient of the STAR grant, and I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all the contributors and selection committee members at Tokyo Institute of Technology. I would also like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to all the professors and collaborators who have supported me, as well as to the laboratory members who are working hard on our research. This support will encourage us to take on new challenges, and we will work hard to produce even better results.
