2nd Asia-Oceania International Congress on Photosynthesis (AOICP)
Dr. Jun Minagawa is a Professor and the Vice Director-General at the National Institute for Basic Biology in Japan.
After receiving his Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics from the University of Tokyo in 1992, Dr. Minagawa embarked on a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign until 1995. His journey in academia led him to RIKEN as a researcher, and subsequently, to Hokkaido University as an associate professor in 2001. Since 2010, he has been a full professor at the National Institute for Basic Biology, where he leads the Division of Environmental Photobiology with dedication. Dr. Minagawa's research is centered on the complexities of algal photosynthesis, particularly the mechanisms of short-term photoacclimation in photosynthetic complexes, including state transitions and non-photochemical quenching. His methodological approach combines a deep understanding of biochemistry with molecular genetics and a range of spectroscopic techniques to dissect the processes occurring on the photosynthetic complexes. Currently, his research efforts are directed towards elucidating the sequence of events that a photosynthetic cell undergoes after photon absorption, a reflection of his commitment to advancing the field of photobiology.