The Molecular Robotics Society recognizes outstanding research presentations by young researchers in order to help foster graduate students (and undergraduate students) who will lead future molecular robotics research.
Selection Process and Award Review
For student members (graduate and undergraduate students) who present at the Annual Meeting, the review committee convened by the Chair will carefully evaluate the presentations and determine the award recipients. Each year, several recipients are selected for each of the following awards. We look forward to enthusiastic presentations from students who will further advance the field of molecular robotics.
- Selected from oral presentations
- Selected from poster presentations
Past Award Recipients
FY2025
The awardees will be selected at the 9th Annual Meeting, to be held on Thursday, March 12 and Friday, March 13, 2026, at Sakura Hall, Katahira Campus, Tohoku University.
Student Presentation Award
- Name (Affiliation)
- Name (Affiliation)
Young Researcher Encouragement Award
- Name (Affiliation)
- Name (Affiliation)
- Name (Affiliation)
FY2024
As a result of the 8th Annual Meeting, held on Wednesday, March 12 and Thursday, March 13, 2025, at KOMCEE-EAST, Komaba Campus I, The University of Tokyo, the following recipients were selected. Congratulations.
Student Presentation Award
- S2 Masato Suzuki (Gunma University) “Efficient Protein Accumulation on Intravesicular Membranes and Enzymatic Reactions in Response to External Stimuli”
- S3 Yasunari Morikawa (Nagaoka University of Technology) “Development of a Single DNA Membrane Molecule Assembly Method Toward the Creation of a Molecular Robot Factory”
Young Researcher Encouragement Award
- P2 Daichi Iwata (Tohoku University) “Photoresponsive Molecular Switch Enabling Reversible RNA Synthesis/Degradation”
- P5 Chai Hong Xuan (Institute of Science Tokyo) “Anisotropic DNA Nanostructure String-based DNA Condensate”
- P10 Tomoya Kojima (Keio University) “Functionalization of Fiber-Shaped Liposome-Based Artificial Tissues by Modular Linking”
- P14 Naoki Yoshida (Institute of Science Tokyo) “Changes in DNA Droplet Stability Induced by Crowding Agents and Self-Organized Pattern Formation”
- P19 Xingda Li (Keio University) “Improving the Modularity of DNA Circuits Based on Equilibrium Reactions”
- P22 Tomoya Maruyama (Institute of Science Tokyo) “Control of the Number of Divisions in DNA Droplet Artificial Cells”
- P27 Toshiyuki Tosaka (Gunma University) “Construction of a Modified β-Barrel Outer Membrane Protein Nanopore and Investigation of Molecular Transport Using Cell-Sized Liposomes”
- P28 Hirotaka Nakayama (Nagaoka University of Technology) “High-Throughput Nanopore Measurements Using an Automated Membrane Formation System”
- P34 Kosuke Takahashi (The University of Tokyo) “Estimating the Spatial Distribution of Topological Defects with Consideration of Active Stress”
- P40 Maria Hashimoto (Kansai University) “Cellular Uptake and Anticancer Activity Evaluation of DOX-Encapsulated DNA G-Quadruplex Gel Microparticles”
- P44 Yukihiro Izawa (Nagaoka University of Technology) “Development of a Synthetic DNA Channel Toward Remote Control of Cells”
FY2023
As a result of the 7th Annual Meeting, held on Wednesday, March 13 and Thursday, March 14, 2024, at KOMCEE-EAST, Komaba Campus I, The University of Tokyo, the following recipients were selected. Congratulations.
Student Presentation Award
- S3 Koichiro Akiyama (Hosei University) “Fabrication of a Biohybrid Molecular Robot by Combining Demembranated Chlamydomonas Cells and Isolated Axonemes with Giant Liposomes”
- S5 Sakura Takada (Keio University) “Creating, Moving, and Controlling Reaction–Diffusion Waves Inside Artificial Cells”
Young Researcher Encouragement Award
- P4 Mio Osato (Keio University) “Establishing an Asymmetric Placement Method of DNA Origami in Artificial Cells Using Min Waves”
- P5 Toshiki Inui (Kansai University) “Development of a Display Device Using DNA-Scaffolded Multicolor Bioluminescent Elements”
- P9 Aoi Mameuda (Gunma University) “Catalytic Reaction Control and Biomolecule Detection Enabled by an Enzyme Network System Based on Reversible DNA Association”
- P10 Fuun Takahashi (Tohoku University) “Construction of DNA Oscillator Circuits for Spatiotemporal Information Processing in Artificial Multicellular Systems”
- P13 Masato Suzuki (Gunma University) “Construction of a Stimuli-Responsive Vesicle Division and Enzyme Accumulation System on the Inner Membrane”
- P17 Mikano Kawai (Kansai University) “Inducing Deformation via DNA Origami Binding to Liposome Membranes”
- P23 Takanori Harashima (SOKENDAI / The Graduate University for Advanced Studies) “Design Strategies for DNA Nanoparticle Motors with Fast and Long-Distance Motion”
- P29 Shota Nakano (Osaka University) “Analysis of Coordinated Motion of Artificial Cilia Using Reinforcement Learning”
- P32 Daichi Nakajima (Tohoku University) “Creation of a High-Power Actin Actuator Toward Realizing Directed Motion of Artificial Cells”
- P33 Shintaro Nakayama (University of Hyogo) “Biomolecular Motors Move Unidirectionally Using Two Asymmetries”
- P38 Shun Okada (Nagaoka University of Technology) “Construction of Liposome Assemblies Using Rail-Type Microchannels”
- P39 Haruhito Obuchi (The University of Tokyo) “Development of a Method for Simultaneous High-Throughput Arraying of Two Types of Cell-Sized Liposomes Using a Microfluidic Device”
- P46 Sayuri Azuma (Gifu University) “Fate Control of an Artificial Cell Model via Activity Regulation of Metalloenzymes”
FY2022
As a result of the 6th Annual Meeting, held on Saturday, November 12 and Sunday, November 13, 2022, at Aobayama Memorial Hall, Faculty of Engineering, Tohoku University, the following recipients were selected. Congratulations.
Student Presentation Award
- S4 Fumiya Tokoro (Osaka University) “Exploring the Optimal Swimming Mechanism of a Whip-Driven Molecular Robot”
- Shunsuke Shiomi (Hosei University) “Liposome Propulsion Mechanism by Membrane Protrusions Formed by Encapsulated Chlamydomonas”
Young Researcher Encouragement Award
- P3 Fumiaki Takano (Kansai University) “Dynamic Color-Tone Conversion of DNA-Scaffolded Bioluminescent Elements Using Strand Displacement Reactions”
- P5 Yuki Minamide (Kansai University) “Multistep Intramolecular Energy Transfer Using a Luminescent Protein as an Intramolecular Excitation Light Source”
- P9 Kai Yoshida (Tohoku University) “Study of a Molecular Transducer Toward Transmitting DNA Sequence Information Between Artificial Cells”
- P12 Hiroki Koiwa (Nagaoka University of Technology) “Development of a Method for Inserting DNA Membrane Molecules into Target Liposomes”
- P16 Yudai Yamashita (Tohoku University) “Design and Construction of Scalable Large-Scale DNA Truss Structures”
- P21 Shuta Nomi (Nagaoka University of Technology) “Step-Height Measurements Using a Biological Nanopore Probe”
- P26 Koki Shibata (Kyushu Institute of Technology) “Toward Controlling Phase Separation of Lipid Membranes Using Phase-Separated DNA Capsules”
- P29 Yingzhe Wang (Osaka University) “In situ integrated microrobots powered by molecular artificial muscles”
- P33 Hiroki Miyamawari (The University of Tokyo) “A Computational Theory for Orientation and Velocity Fields in Active Nematic Fluids Based on Complex Function Theory”
- P34 Mika Ito (Ochanomizu University) “Improving Reservoir Computing Performance Using Chemical Reaction Networks”
FY2021
As a result of the 5th Annual Meeting, held online on Saturday, November 6 and Sunday, November 7, 2021, the following recipients were selected. Congratulations. (As the meeting was held online this year, the Student Presentation Award was not selected.)
Student Presentation Award
- Not selected due to online meeting
Young Researcher Encouragement Award
- P03 Sakura Takada (Keio University)
- P05 Fan Minzhi (Tokyo Institute of Technology)
- P07 Taisuke Kozuka (Keio University)
- P09 Nanami Sato (Ochanomizu University)
- P10 Hiromu Akai (Nagaoka University of Technology)
- P12 Takumi Takahashi (Tohoku University)
- P20 Daiki Matsumoto (Tohoku University)
- P23 Mayumi Chano (Tokyo Institute of Technology)
- P24 Dai Takakura (Nagoya University)
- P25 Yusuke Sakai (RIKEN)
- P25 / P26 Shoji Iwabuchi (Tohoku University)