The Kimata group is a diverse team of talented individuals from around the world, dedicated to advancing our understanding of the cell cycle and development. We welcome enthusiastic students and postdocs who share our passion and are interested in joining our team.
木全研究组汇聚了来自世界各地的多才多艺的个体，致力于深化我们对细胞周期和发育的理解。我们欢迎充满热情的学生和博士后研究员与我们分享这一激情，并有兴趣加入我们的团队。
Yuu Kimata / 木全谕宇, Ph.D. 博士
Assistant Professor， Principal Investigator / 助理教授， 首席研究员
Yuu's passion for the cell cycle began during his PhD studies at Kyoto University in Japan, where he worked under the supervision of Prof. Mitsuhiro Yanagida. There, he studied the functions of the Anaphase Promoting Complex (APC/C), one of the master regulators of the cell cycle, in the fission yeast S. pombe. After completing his PhD in 2004, he joined Dr Hiro Yamano's lab at the Marie Curie Research Institute in the UK, where he investigated the catalytic mechanism of the APC/C using cell-free, in vitro reconstituted systems such as Xenopus egg extracts. Following a brief second postdoctoral stint with Prof. David Glover, Yuu was awarded a Cancer Research UK Career Development Fellowship, which enabled him to establish his own lab at the Department of Genetics at Cambridge University in 2011. Together with his lab members, Yuu investigated the role of the APC/C in the regulation of the centrosome in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. After seven years of research at Cambridge, he took up an assistant professorship at the School of Life Science and Technology at ShanghaiTech University in 2018, where he continues to pursue his passion for understanding the mechanisms of cell cycle control in multicellular organisms, including humans.
When he's not in the lab, Yuu enjoys playing basketball and exploring his interests in art, fashion, travel, and personal development. He also has a passion for learning languages and is currently studying Chinese to improve his communication skills.
Yuu对细胞周期的热情始于他在日本京都大学攻读博士学位期间，在那里他在Mitsuhiro Yanagida教授的指导下学习。在那里，他研究了细胞周期的主要调控因素之一的有丝分裂促进复合物（APC/C）在裂殖酵母S. pombe中的功能。在2004年完成博士学位后，他加入了英国玛丽居里研究所的Hiro Yamano博士的实验室，研究使用无细胞、体外重组系统（如Xenopus卵提取物）的APC/C的催化机制。在与David Glover教授进行了简短的第二次博士后实习后，Yuu获得了英国癌症研究奖学金职业发展奖学金，这使他能够在2011年在剑桥大学遗传学系建立自己的实验室。在实验室成员的共同努力下，Yuu研究了APC/C在果蝇Drosophila melanogaster中对中心体的调控作用。经过在剑桥的七年研究后，他于2018年在上海科技大学生命科学与技术学院担任助理教授，继续追求对包括人类在内的多细胞生物细胞周期控制机制的理解。
当他不在实验室时，Yuu喜欢打篮球，并探索他对艺术、时尚、旅行和个人发展的兴趣。他还热衷于学习语言，目前正在学习中文以提高沟通技能。
Yusanjiang Abula (Yusa), MA.
玉散江阿布拉 硕士
Research Assistant
研究助理
Yusanjiang obtained his Master's degree in Medical Biotechnology from Wageningen University in the Netherlands, where he participated in studies related to Immunology and Cellular Biology. In August 2018, he joined the Kimata lab as a Research Assistant to further develop his research skills. Alongside helping Dr Kimata with lab management and administration work, Yusanjiang has been actively involved in assisting other lab members with their work on human cell culture and Drosophila research.
玉散江在荷兰的瓦赫宁根大学获得了医学生物技术的硕士学位，在那里他参与了与免疫学和细胞生物学有关的研究。2018年8月，他作为研究助理加入了Kimata实验室，以进一步发展他的研究技能。除了帮助Kimata博士进行实验室管理和行政工作外，Yusanjiang还积极协助其他实验室成员进行人类细胞培养和果蝇研究工作。
Jin Man / 满金 (Jane)
3rd-year PhD student /三年级博士生
Jane graduated from East China University of Science and Technology and joined the Kimata Lab in 2020. She took over the CCR screening project from former member Luke and has been leading its development since then. Currently, her main research focuses on how CDK1 coordinates cell cycle progression with cell differentiation, working closely with June, Rena, and Faye.
She has also been involved in the Kruppel project, collaborating with Claire to investigate its role in regulating neuroblast proliferation in the Drosophila brain.
满金毕业于华东理工大学，并于2020年加入Kimata实验室。她接手了前成员丁如松的CCR筛选项目，并一直负责推进该项目。目前，她的主要研究方向是CDK1如何协调细胞周期进程与细胞分化，她与夏雪、冉虹和王芳霞密切合作开展相关研究。
此外，她还参与了Kruppel项目，与陈冬妮合作，共同研究该转录因子在果蝇神经母细胞增殖调控中的作用。
Fangxia Wang /王芳霞 (Faye)
1st-year PhD student / 一年级博士研究生
Faye graduated from the Animal Science program at Southwest University and joined the Kimata Lab at ShanghaiTech University for her master's degree in 2023. She is currently working with Jane and June on studying the role of the cell cycle regulator CDK1 in coordinating cell cycle progression and differentiation using the fruit fly eye as a model. Her research focuses on identifying the signalling pathways involved in CDK1's specific functions.
In her free time, Faye enjoys fitness, badminton, and self-studying various musical instruments.
王芳霞毕业于西南大学的动物科学专业，并于2023年加入上海科技大学的Kimata实验室攻读硕士学位。她目前正在与满金和冉虹合作，使用果蝇眼睛作为模型，研究细胞周期调节因子CDK1在协调细胞周期进程和分化方面的作用。她的研究重点是确定涉及CDK1具体功能的信号通路。
在业余时间，芳霞喜欢健身、羽毛球，并自学各种乐器。
Yang Li / 李洋 (Lewis)
1st-year PhD student / 一年级博士研究生
Lewis joined the Kimata Lab in March 2023 after receiving his bachelor's degree from Dalian Ocean University. He initially worked closely with Ruby on a project investigating the role of CDK4/6 in mitosis, particularly its regulation of the spindle assembly checkpoint. He now leads the CDK4/6 project, collaborating with Yusa and Luna to further uncover its function in human cells. Technically, Lewis is skilled in cell line construction and gene editing using the CRISPR/Cas9 system.
Outside the lab, he enjoys working out at the gym and maintaining an active lifestyle.
李洋于2023年3月从大连海洋大学获得学士学位后加入了Kimata实验室。起初，他与张朝如密切合作，研究CDK4/6激酶在有丝分裂中，特别是在调控纺锤体组装检查点中的功能。目前，他负责领导CDK4/6项目，并与玉散江和陆纳合作，进一步探索其在人类细胞中的功能。在技术方面，他精通细胞系构建，并能够熟练运用CRISPR/Cas9系统进行基因编辑。
在科研之外，他热衷于健身，喜欢在健身房锻炼，保持积极健康的生活方式。
Xinyue Wu /吴欣月(Luna)
3rd-year Master's student / 三年级硕士研究生
Luna graduated from Nanjing Forestry University and joined the Kimata Lab at ShanghaiTech University in March 2023. Her research focuses on the molecular mechanisms that govern the decision between quiescence and proliferation, as well as the establishment of the G0 state in human cells. She works closely with Yusanjiang on this project and is also participating in the CDK4/6 project.
Outside of research, Luna is a fan of Japanese anime and enjoys using it as a fun way to learn Japanese.
吴欣月毕业于南京林业大学，并于2023年3月加入上海科技大学的Kimata实验室。她目前与玉散江合作，研究人类细胞中休眠与增殖决策及G0状态建立的分子机制，并参与与李洋合作的CDK4/6项目。
在科研之外，欣月热爱日本动漫，并将其作为学习日语的有趣方式。
Hong Ran /冉虹 (Rena)
3nd-year Master's student / 三年级硕士研究生
Rena, who graduated from Chongqing University, joined Kimata Lab in March 2023. She is currently collaborating with senior students Jin and Xue to investigate the role of CDK1 kinase and other CCRs in the early differentiation of Drosophila eye discs. Rena's dedication to her work and her keen interest in developmental biology make her a valuable member of our team.
冉虹毕业于重庆大学，并于2023年3月加入了Kimata实验室。她目前正在与高年级学生满金合作，使用果蝇眼盘作为模型，研究CDK1激酶与其他CCR在果蝇眼盘早期分化中的作用。虹对工作的敬业态度和对发育生物学的浓厚兴趣使她成为我们团队的宝贵成员。
Dongni Chen / 陈冬妮 (Claire)
2nd-year Master’s student / 二年级硕士研究生
Claire graduated from the Biological Sciences program at Xuzhou Medical University and joined the Kimata Lab at ShanghaiTech University in March 2024. Her research interests lie in neuroscience, particularly in the mechanisms of cell cycle re-entry in the adult Drosophila brain. She is currently working with Jane to investigate how the transcription factor Kruppel regulates the proliferation of mushroom body neuroblasts.
Outside the lab, Claire enjoys musical theatre and staying active through swimming, playing badminton, and practising traditional Chinese exercises such as Baduanjin.
陈冬妮毕业于徐州医科大学生物科学系，并于2024年3月加入上海科技大学Kimata实验室。她对神经科学充满兴趣，研究方向主要是果蝇成虫大脑中细胞周期再进入的机制。目前，她在满金的指导下，参与研究Kruppel转录因子如何调控蘑菇体神经母细胞的增殖。
在科研之外，她热爱音乐剧，并喜欢通过运动保持活力，比如游泳、打羽毛球和练习八段锦等传统健身功法。
Ziwen Yan / 颜子文 (Jason)
2nd-year Master’s student / 二年级硕士研究生
Jason graduated from ShanghaiTech University and joined the Kimata Lab as a Master’s student in 2024. He is currently working with Fangxia Wang to study the role of CDK1 kinase in the differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells, using these cells as a model system. This project is conducted in collaboration with Dr. Chao-po Lin’s lab at ShanghaiTech. Jason is open-minded, values collaboration, and actively engages in lab projects with the hope of making meaningful contributions to research.
颜子文毕业于上海科技大学，并于2024年加入Kimata实验室攻读硕士学位。目前，他与王芳霞合作，使用小鼠胚胎干细胞作为模型，研究CDK1激酶在其分化过程中的作用。该项目与本校林照博老师的实验室合作开展。颜子文乐于倾听、善于协作，积极参与实验室各项研究工作，希望为科研事业做出有意义的贡献。
Xinyue Yu / 余心月 (Kate)
1st-year Master’s student / 一年级硕士研究生
Kate graduated with a degree in Biopharmaceuticals from China Pharmaceutical University and joined the Kimata Laboratory at ShanghaiTech University in January 2025. She is currently working with the Drosophila group to investigate the role of CCRs in coordinating the cell cycle and cell differentiation， collaborating with Rena and Jane.
余心月本科毕业于中国药科大学生物制药专业，并于2025年1月加入上海科技大学的Kimata实验室。目前，她在果蝇研究组工作，研究CCR在协调细胞周期与细胞分化中的作用，与冉虹和满金合作，
Yecheng Lei / 雷烨诚 (Ray)
1st-year Master’s student / 一年级硕士研究生
Ray graduated from South-Central University for Nationalities and joined the Kimata Laboratory at ShanghaiTech University in January 2024, marking the beginning of his research journey. He is currently collaborating with Luna, Lewis, and Yusa to investigate the role of CDK4/6 in human cell mitosis—an exciting project that explores the intricate mechanisms of cell division.
雷烨诚毕业于中南民族大学，并于2024年1月加入上海科技大学的Kimata实验室，开启了他的科研之旅。目前，他与Luna、Lewis和Yusa合作，专注于研究CDK4/6在人体细胞有丝分裂中的作用，这是一个探索细胞分裂奥秘的令人兴奋的项目。
Alumni
Alex (coming soon)
Zhaoru Zhang /张朝如 (Ruby)
Graduated Master's stydent (2024) / 2024年毕业硕士研究生
Ruby obtained her undergraduate degree in Biology from Huazhong Agricultural University and completed her Master’s degree in the Kimata Lab at ShanghaiTech University in 2024. During her time with us, she worked closely with our experienced postdoc Maite, research assistant Yusanjiang, and former team member Nick, and quickly demonstrated great potential as an emerging scientist. She led a project investigating a novel function of CDK4/6 in cultured human cells. Ruby is now pursuing a PhD at Peking University. Beyond her research, she enjoys singing, playing the guitar, and playing soccer, and strongly believes in the power of restful sleep. We are proud of her achievements and excited to see what she will accomplish in the future.
张朝如本科毕业于华中农业大学生物学专业，并于2024年在上海科技大学Kimata实验室获得硕士学位。在实验室期间，她与经验丰富的博士后Maite、研究助理玉散江以及前成员管伟紧密合作，迅速展现出了作为一名新生代科学家的巨大潜力。她独立领导了一个项目，探索CDK4/6在培养的人类细胞中的新功能。目前，朝如正在北京大学攻读博士学位。除了科研，她还热爱唱歌、弹吉他和踢足球，并坚信充足睡眠的重要性。我们为她在实验室的成就感到自豪，并期待她在未来科研道路上的精彩表现。
Qian Zhang /张倩 (Amanda)
Graduated with PhD in 2023
Qian (Amanda) is a fourth-year PhD student at the Kimata lab. She graduated from China Pharmaceutical University with a major in pharmacy and joined the lab in 2019. Her research focuses on identifying the developmental roles of the SnoN/Ski family of oncoproteins in Drosophila, particularly their relevance to cell cycle control and the regulation of TGF-β family signaling pathways. Additionally, she has been investigating the role of protein degradation in controlling the centrosome during asymmetric cell division of Drosophila neural stem cells (Meghini et al., 2023). As the most senior student in the lab, she has become an expert in Drosophila experiments and is a dedicated and skilled experimentalist.
Qian Graduated with PhD degree in 2023. Currently working as a researcher in an international biotech company.
Xue Xia /夏雪 (June)
Graduated with Master degree in 2023
June graduated from Anhui Agricultural University with a bachelor's degree in Applied Biological Science and joined the Kimata Lab at ShanghaiTech University in March 2021. She is involved in two different projects in the lab. In the first project, she collaborates with Luke and Jane to investigate the roles of cell cycle regulators in cell fate determination during Drosophila eye development. In the second project, she studies the mechanisms of tumor regression and post-tumor tissue reformation using the Drosophila adult midgut as a model.
June is currently working as a product development at an international biotech company
Maïté Leturcq, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Maïté (pronounced like "mighty") is a talented postdoctoral researcher from France who has made significant contributions to the Kimata lab since joining in 2019. With a background in Biochemistry and a PhD under Prof. Lefebvre at the University of Sciences and Technologies of Lille, she has specialized in Glycobiology and studied the roles of O-GlcNAcylation in the control of the cell cycle in human cells. Her research has focused on investigating the function and dynamics of O-GlcNAcylation on the Minichromosome Maintenance (MCM) helicase complex, a large protein complex essential for the initiation step of DNA replication.
As the most experienced member of the Kimata lab, Maïté has taken on a secondary supervisor role, helping Yuu in the lab and playing a leading role in the human cell project. She is known for being nice, kind, and collaborative, and is one of the most helpful and approachable people in the lab. In her free time, Maïté enjoys anime, music, and exploring new cultures.
She left our lab in 2023 after working for 4 years in our lab in Shanghai.
Wei Guan (Nick)
graduated in 2022
Nick graduated from Henan Polytechnic University, majoring in Biotechnology. He joined the lab in April 2020. He worked on the development of multiple protein targeting systems in human cells, in cooperation with Maite and Yusanjiang.
Nick graduated in 2022 and is currently working at a biotech company.
Xian Shu (Susan)
graduated in 2022
Susan completed her Bachelor degree in the joint programme of Jishou University and Sun Yat-sen University，spending two years at each. In 2019 she was enrolled in the joint programme of the China Academic of Science and ShanghaiTech University and in 2020 she joined the Kimata lab, currently pursing her Master's degree.
Her project concerned the cell cycle control in the adult brain, focusing on the molecular mechanism controlling the proliferatio f neurons and neural stem cells by using the Drosophila brain as a model system. She is currently working at a biotech company.
Rusong Ding (Luke)
graduated in 2021
Luke is one of the first students who joined the Kimata lab after its relocation to ShanghaiTech. He graduated from East China Normal University. In the lab Luke is leading the CCR screen project, working with June, Jane and Rin. while he enjoys science, his interest is not restricted to research; He is an avid language learner and reader and is an outstanding singer and a performer. He is extremely friendly and outgoing, so reasonably he serves as a lab spokesman, helping promote our lab! Some of his activities you can find in the News section. He graduated in 2021 and is currently working in a biomedical company.
Shiyao Zhang (William).
graduated in 2021
He joined Kimata's lab in 2019 but he decided to pursue computer science. He graduated in 2021 and is currently pursuing his PhD at Queen Mary University in London, United Kingdom.
Yaqi Sun (Rin)
Graduated in 2021
Rin is an undergraduate student in the Biomedical Engineering course at ShanghaiTech University. She is interested in bioinformatics and investigated the roles of cell cycle proteins in cell fate determination in the Drosophila eye imaginal disc, applying her skills into the analysis of gene expression with Luke and Jane.
Rin graduated from ShanghaiTech in 2021 and has recently been enrolled in the PhD programme at Kyoto University in Japan.
Rin是生物医学工程专业的本科生，最近在学习生物信息方面的研究方法。很高兴能够加入Yuu’s Lab，这里有活跃的气氛，成员们也非常友好。
Yi Duan (Tiger)
graduated in 2021
Tiger is an undergraduate student majoring in BioMedical Engineering(Bioinformatics) in Shanghaitech University. He attended Yuu's Molecular and Cell Biology course in his course programme. During this course he became fascinated by the precision and beauty of the world inside the cell and later decided to join Kimata's lab. Tiger conducted his final year project in the Kimata lab, investigating the cell cycle control of Drosophila adult brain and gut, with Susan.
He graduated in 2020 and is currently pursuing his PhD in biology at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).
Outside the lab Tiger enjoys travelling and music.
Kangyi Mei (Coney)
undergraduate student/lab intern
Coney was a second-year undergraduate student at ShanghaiTech, majoring in Life Science. In the summer of 2021, she joined Kimata lab and is collaborating with Amanda to uncover the physiological role and the regulatory mechanism of the SnoN/Ski oncogene during Drosophila development.
Chen Yang (Burty)
graduated in 2020
Burty joined the Kimata lab as internship and later conducted his final year project, investigating the role of SnoN in Drosophila development in the collaboration with Amanda.
He graduated ShanghaiTech in 2021 and is currently pursuing his PhD at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
Yidong Yang (Eden).
Master student (ShanghaiTech)
Alexis Braun PhD
Postdoctoral Research Associate (11/2015 - 10/2017)
Joint Postdoc with David Glover's lab (11/2017 - present)
Alexis joined the Kimata lab in November 2015. Prior to this she completed her PhD in the Department of Zoology at the University of Cambridge, with Dr Isabel Palacios. She focused on understanding cell fate specification in the follicular epithelium of Drosophila melangaster during oogenesis, using transcriptional profiling and CRISPR/Cas9 genomic editing. Alexis is an expert in CRISPR-mediated genome editing and has brought the new technology to our research. Her primary focus is investigating the tumourigenic mechanism associated with APC/C-specific E2 enzyme, Vihar/UbcH10.
Since November 2017 she has been a joint postdoc with Professor David Glover's group and has started investigating the role of the centrioles in he Drosophila oocyte development whilst continuing working of Vih.
Torcato Martins PhD
Postdoctoral Research Associate (03/2014-08/2015)
Marie Curie Fellow (09/2015-01/2017)
After his PhD study on Polo kinase with Prof Claudio Sunkel at Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), he joined the lab of Dr Paulo Pereira to work on the interplay between TGF-b signalling pathway and nucleolus taking place during the development of Drosophila melanogaster. Equipped with the experience in two different fields of the cell cycle and developmental biology and the expertise in Drosophila genetics, Torcato joined the Kimata lab in March 2014 and has been the main force of the lab since. Torcato has been involved in a couple of projects including the investigation of the role of the APC/C-Nek2 axis in Wg signalling regulation and the centrosomal function of the APC/C. Torcato was selected as a Marie Curie Fellow in 2015 and has worked on his independent project on the understanding of the molecular mechanism of the cell cycle exit while contributing to the main projects in the Kimata lab.
In 2017 he has moved to Professor Sara Bray's lab at the Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge and has been developing his own project with the aim to start his own lab soon.
Francesco Meghini
Postdoctoral Research Associate (10/2016-07/2017)
PhD Student (10/2012 - 09/2016).
After completion of his master study in Pisa, Italy, Francesco joined the Kimata lab in September 2012. He has been performing biochemical and cell-based screens to identify and analyse centrosomal APC/C substrates to gain insight into the molecular mechanism that regulates centrosome duplication cycle during the cell cycle.
Publications
Giulia Botti
ERASMUS Visiting Master Student (04/2016 - 09/2016).
Giulia was a visiting master student from the University of Bologna and she has been testing Biomolecular Fluorescence Complementation (BiFC) to investigate the regulation of the interaction between APC/C components. She has also been collaborating with Torcato to
Francesca Florio
ERASMUS Visiting Master Student (04/2015 - 09/2015).
Francesca investigated the functions and regulation of a centrosomal kinase Nek2 in wing, eye and brain development.
Gitte Warnack
Research assistant (11/2011 - 08/2015)
As the first member of the Kimata lab, Gitte has been working with Yuu since November 2011. Performing Drosophila work and molecular biology experiment, she has been assisting work of other lab members.
Xavier Tait PhD
Postdoctoral Research Associate (05/2012 - 02/2015)
After his undergraduate study in Paris, Xavier moved to the UK to complete his PhD with Prof. Andrew Fry at the University of Leicester where he worked on a novel centrosomal protein Poc1 in human cultured cells. Bringing his knowledge on the centrosome and his skills in the cultured cell system to the Kimata lab, he has been investigating the physical interaction functional interactions between the APC/C and centrosome components.
Publications
Ala Alenazi
M.Phil student (01/2014 - 12/2014)
Ala has recently joined the Kimata group after her MA training at Imperial College London. Cooperating with Torcato she has been investigating the cell cycle exit during neurogenesis in Drosophila. Ala moved to Prof. Christine Watson's lab in the Department of Pathology to complete her PhD programme.
Chin Yap
M.Phil Student (09/2013 - 07/2014)
After his undergraduate studies at Imperial College London, Chin has joined the Kimata lab to work on Drosophila Vihar protein (UbcH10/Ube2c in humans) and its link to centrosome deregulations and tumorigenesis. After successfully obtaining his M.Phl, Chin has gone back to Singapore and has become a high school teacher, which is his dream profession.
Valentina Fajner
ERASMUS Visiting Master Student (04/2013 - 09/2013)
Valentina is a successor of Ilaria, who came to our lab to conduct her thesis research project from Univerity of Bologna. Working with Nadia, she studied asymmetric cell division and cell cycle exit in Drosophila neuroblasts. Valentina has now been pursuing her PhD at IFOM in Milan.
Nadia Ranieri PhD
Postdoctoral Research Associate (02/2012- 08/2013)
Sang Chan
Research Assistant (05/2012 - 01/2013)
Ilaria Volpi MSc
ERASMUS Visiting Master Student (04/2012 - 09/2012)
Ilaria came to our lab to conduct her thesis research project from Univerity of Bologna in Italy. She investigated the role of F-box proteins, substrate receptor subunits of the SCF ubiquitin ligase complex. Since October 2013 she has been pursuing her PhD at University of Dundee.