OM Award Selection Committee for Female Researchers Chairperson Kaoru Kubokawa
On Wednesday, May 14, 2014, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the selection committee for the Zoological Society of Japan's OM Award for Encouraging Female Researchers was held at Building No. 2 of the School of Science, the University of Tokyo. All six committee members were present: Atsuko Oka (Nippon Medical School), Mayako Kutsukake (AIST), Kaoru Kubokawa (The University of Tokyo, Chair), Shuji Tachibanaki (Osaka University), Katsumi Miyazaki (Kyoto University), and Akira Yamanaka (Yamaguchi University). Eligibility for the OM Award has been expanded since the previous academic year to include "all female researchers studying zoology." There were 10 applicants this year. Their research topics spanned a wide range, from medicine to chemistry, all based in zoology. Most of the applicants met the selection criteria: "encouraging new attempts by female researchers to advance zoology," and "particularly, being excellent female researchers who face difficulties in maintaining a stable position but are enthusiastic about pursuing research with strong will and high aspirations." Consequently, the selection process was extremely difficult. However, while emphasizing the nature of the OM Award, the committee carefully and thoroughly deliberated on the content of the research, future potential, and the drive to advance research despite adverse circumstances. As a result, it was unanimously decided to recommend the following two candidates (in Japanese syllabary order) to the Board of Directors.
Tomoko Okamoto
Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, JSPS Research Fellow (PD)
Elucidation of the effects of changes in floral chemical profiles on insect behavior
Noriko Hamada-Kawaguchi
Tohoku University Graduate School of Life Sciences, Department of Functional Genomics, Research Assistant
Research theme: Elucidation of novel signals controlling the proliferation and differentiation of Drosophila germline stem cells
Reasons for the Recommendation
Tomoko Okamoto is conducting biochemical and ecological research on the relationship between flowers and their pollinator insects. Recently, she revealed that pollinator behavior leads to sexual dimorphism in floral scents, which act as attractants, earning her international acclaim. In her proposed project, she focuses on the mutualistic relationship where flowers receive the benefit of pollination from pollinators, while pollinators lay eggs on the flowers to obtain food for their larvae, and she aims to chemically elucidate the maintenance mechanisms of this relationship. Her research attitude—consistently pursuing a cohesive theme despite her unstable position as a researcher and flexibly adopting appropriate research methods—was highly praised. Furthermore, her strong determination to advance her research while dealing with caregiving issues led to high expectations for future research progress, and the committee unanimously judged her to be a deserving recipient of the OM Award.
Meanwhile, Dr. Noriko Hamada-Kawaguchi focused on Btk29A in Drosophila ovaries and has revealed that it acts as a switch for germline cell development. Regarding immunodeficiency involving human Btk, she continues collaborative research with overseas researchers. While her perspective aiming at the development of immunodeficiency treatments and regenerative medicine is close to medical science research, it was judged to be excellent animal science research in that she attempts to analyze the fundamental functions of Btk through a molecular mechanism common from Drosophila to humans. Furthermore, despite experiencing various circumstances including receiving research support for childbirth and child-rearing, as well as international joint research, she continues to pursue a consistent theme with high motivation. With the publication of a paper in a top-tier journal in 2014 and high expectations for her future activities, it was unanimously decided that she is deserving of the OM Award.
