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BioNaoki has extensive training in evolutionary biology and bioinformatics, and he thrives in interdisciplinary environments bridging computation and developmental biology. After earning his BSc. and MSc. in Systems Biology and Bioinformatics at the University of Tokyo, Naoki pursued a PhD in Evolutionary Biology under the supervision by Prof. Chikara Furusawa. He has developed computational frameworks to reconstruct and predict evolutionary processes, including large-scale phylogenetic inference for both evolution and cell lineage tracing (FRACTAL) and predictive models of microbial genome evolution (Evodictor). His work revealed generalizable rules of genome evolution and was recognized with multiple awards, including the JSPS Ikushi Prize.

Currently, Naoki is a Postdoctoral Scholar in the lab of Prof. Xiaojie Qiu at Stanford University School of Medicine. In his postdoctoral research, he investigates the evolutionary constraints of vertebrate development with a focus on the heart as a model system. By integrating single-cell and spatial transcriptomics with predictive modeling and CRISPR-based perturbations, he seeks to uncover how evolutionary principles shape developmental trajectories and contribute to congenital heart defects. Ultimately, Naoki aims to establish a broad research program in evolution-aware medicine, connecting evolutionary theory with biomedical challenges.