Biography

Professor Sugi holds a Ph.D. in Life and Environmental Sciences from the University of Tsukuba (2021), he has dedicated his academic and professional career to scientific research in the field of natural sciences. He obtained a Master’s degree in the same discipline from the University of Tsukuba, after obtaining a Bachelor's degree in Science from Ibaraki University. After completing his doctorate, Professor Sugi joined Yokohama City University as a Project Assistant Professor. His scientific excellence was recognized through the award of a research fellowship from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS Research Fellowship for Young Scientists), enabling him to continue his research at the same university in the role of Project Assistant Professor for the 2024–2027 period.

Collaboration with RDP

This collaboration brings together complementary expertise on plant reproduction using two distinct model systems: Arabidopsis and maize. The applicant’s research on sperm cell activation in Arabidopsis aligns closely with Dr. Widiez’s work in maize, offering a unique opportunity to explore evolutionary conservation of key cellular mechanisms. Access to advanced imaging facilities and maize-specific tools at ENS de Lyon will significantly enhance the project. The exchange also aims to strengthen long-term collaboration between Yokohama City University and ENS de Lyon.

Major publications

• Sugi, N., Calhau, R.M.A., Jacquier, M.A.N., et al. The peri-germ cell membrane: poorly characterized but key interface for plant reproduction, Nature Plants, (2024) DOI: 10.1038/s41477-024-01818-5
• Sugi, N., Susaki, D., Mizuta, Y., Kinoshita, T.,Maruyama, D., Blue light irradiation induces pollen tube rupture in various flowering plants, Plant and Cell Physiology, pcae018 (2024) DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcae018
• Motomura, K., Tsuchi, H., Komojiri, M., Matsumoto, A., Sugi, N., Susaki, D., Takeda, A., Kinoshita, T., Maruyama, D., Microtubules ensure transport of vegetative nuclei and sperm cells by fine-tuning their home positions, BioRxiv, (2024) DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.31.578224
• Le Q.T.N., Sugi N., Yamaguchi, M., Kobayashi, M., Suzuki, Y., Kusano, M., Shiba, H., Morphological and metabolomics profiling of intraspecific Arabidopsis hybrids in relation to biomass heterosis, Scientific reports, (2023) DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-36618-y
• Yamaguchi,T., Sugi, N., Nojima, Y., Entani, Y., Shiba, H., Synchronization of Arabidopsis. flowering time and vegetative growth stage via FT overexpression can reveal inherent heterosis due to heterozygosity in intraspecific hybrids, Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry, 87, p877-882 (2023) DOI: 10.1093/bbb/zbad061