I’m an embryologist focusing on cell mechanics.

When I was a student, I was a member of a marine station laboratory in Japan. There I observed embryogenesis in various kinds of marine organisms such as ascidian, sea urchin, jelly fish, lophotrochozoan and so on. When I looked at them though a microscope, I was fascinated by the diversity of the embryogenesis and wonder: how does the diversity arise during the course of evolution? Also, I was curious to know the principle underlying the mechanics of the shape changes of embryos. Since then, my research goal has been to elucidate mechanical principles underlying the embryogenesis of diverse animal species.

To accomplish this goal, I think I need research tools to (i) measure cellular forces, and to (ii) visualize and manipulate molecules involved in the force production. In addition, I need to (iii) take interdisciplinary approaches combining biology and physics. I think Charras lab is one of the best laboratories to acquire these needs.

 

Publication

Yamamoto K. & Kimura A. (2017). An asymmetric attraction model for the diversity and robustness of cell arrangement in nematodes. Development, 144(23):4437-4449. doi: 10.1242/dev.154609