Mikiko Sodeoka (RIKEN)

Mikiko Sodeoka received her Ph.D. degree in 1989 from Chiba University in Pharmaceutical Science. She worked at the Sagami Chemical Research Center for 5 years and then joined the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University as a research associate working with Prof. M. Shibasaki. Subsequently she worked with Prof. E. J. Corey and Prof. G. L. Verdine as a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard University. After completion of her post-doc she moved to the University of Tokyo and also became a group leader at the Sagami Chemical Research Center. In 1999 she became an associate professor of the University of Tokyo , then in 2000, she moved to Tohoku University as a full professor. Since 2004 she has also been the chief scientist and director of the Synthetic Organic Chemistry Laboratory at RIKEN. Her research interests are in the area of synthetic organic chemistry and chemical biology. Awards: Encouraging Award of Pharmaceutical Society of Japan (1993), Takeda Chemical Industry Award in Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Japan (1999), the Chemical Society of Japan Award for Creative Work (2003), and Nagoya Medal Prize Silver Medal (2007). When she is not working she enjoys relaxing with a delicious meal and a nice glass of wine.