Masatoshi Maeki, Niko Kimura, Yuto Okada, Kazuki Shimizu, Kana Shibata, Yusuke Miyazaki, Akihiko Ishida, Kento Yonezawa, Nobutaka Shimizu, Wataru Shinoda and Manabu Tokeshi
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Dr Niko Kimura:
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Masatoshi Maeki is an Associate Professor in the Division of Applied Chemistry at the Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University. He joined the university as an Assistant Professor in 2015 and was promoted to his current position in 2021. He is a recipient of several prestigious awards, including the MEXT Prize for Young Scientists (2024), the Hokkaido Science and Technology Encouragement Award (2023), the Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry Award for Young Researchers (2016), and the Young Innovator Award on Chemistry and Micro-Nano Systems (CHEMINAS Young Innovator Award) in 2015. |
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Manabu Tokeshi is a Professor in the Division of Applied Chemistry at Hokkaido University and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC). He serves as an Associate Editor of Lab on a Chip (RSC) and is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Sensors and Actuators B (Elsevier). His achievements have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Outstanding Researcher Award on Chemistry and Micro-Nano Systems from the Society for Chemistry and Micro-Nano Systems (2007), the Pioneers in Miniaturisation Prize from the Lab on a Chip (RSC)/Corning Inc. (2007), the Masao Horiba Award from HORIBA, Ltd. (2011) and The Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry Award (2018). |
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Wataru Shinoda received his Ph.D. in 1998 from the Tokyo Institute of Technology. He began his career at the Yokohama Research Laboratory of Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation in the same year. In 2000, he joined the Industrial Technology Research Institute under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), and in 2001, he moved to the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST). In 2014, he was appointed Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University. Since 2021, he has been serving as a Professor at the Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University. His research focuses on molecular modeling and molecular simulation of biomolecular assemblies and soft materials. |
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Kana Shibata received her Bachelor’s degree from the School of Engineering, Nagoya University, in 2021. She obtained her Master’s degree in 2023 from the Department of Materials Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, where she conducted research on molecular dynamics simulations of biological membranes under the supervision of Professor Shinoda. She is currently employed at ONO PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD. |
What aspect of your work are you most excited about at the moment?
Niko Kimura: In my opinion, the concept to visualize invisible nanometer-scaled molecular information based on the designed micrometer-scale environments.
Masatoshi Maeki: I am most excited about my work developing novel microfluidic devices, particularly for engineering lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for drug delivery and for biomolecular analysis.
Manabu Tokeshi: I am excited that our study has helped to shed light on the stability of RNA-loaded lipid nanoparticles (LNPs).
How do you feel about Nanoscale Advances as a place to publish research on this topic?
Masatoshi Maeki: Our paper is an excellent fit for Nanoscale Advances. It is a perfect match for the journal’s scope, and I am confident it will be of great interest to your readership.
Manabu Tokeshi: I believe this study aligns well with the scope and focus of Nanoscale Advances.
Can you share one piece of career-related advice for early career scientists?
Masatoshi Maeki: Always challenge yourself and don’t fear failure. I believe failure is simply a necessary stepping stone to success.
Manabu Tokeshi: Research is full of failures. What matters is to stay positive and keep going.
