Academic Staff : Koji Iwamoto

Koji Iwamoto PhD (University of Tsukuba, Japan)
	Associate Professor Environmental Engineering and Green Technology, EGT. Email: k.iwamoto@utm.my Tel: 03 2203 1238
Research Interests	Physiology Phycology Phytoremediation Algal Biomass Production Environmental Biology
Grants	Principal researcher: Development of the extraction, accumulation and volume reduction system for radioactive cesium contaminating soils using protists, 2013-2014, Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research, Challenging Explanatory Research, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan Co researcher: Establishment of the extraction and accumulating system for radioactive cesium contaminating soils dispersed into the environment by the Fukushima Daiich Nuclear Power Plant Accident, 2012-2013, Great East Japan Earthquake Recovery and Rebirth Assistance Program, University of Tsukuba Co researcher: Construction of novel bio-industries based on the culture firm of microalgae, 2011, Tohoku Marine Science Research Center, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan Co researcher: Screening of the high radioactive materials accumulating algae. 2011, Strategic Funds for the Promotion of Science and Technology, Cabinet Office, Japan
Previous Positions	Associate Professor, 2013-2014, University of Tsukuba Lecturer, 2008-2013, University of Tsukuba Researcher, 2003-2008, University of Tsukuba Researcher, 2002-2003, Marine Biotechnology Institute Co. Ltd. Research Associate, 1998-2002, University of Tsukuba Research Assistant, 1996-1998, University of Tsukuba
Activities	Japan Biology Olympiad Committee Member (Member of Governing Board, 2010-present) Publication Committee Member of Japan Biology Olympiad Committee (Chair, 2013-present) 20th International Biology Olympiad Executive Committee Member (Director-General of the Secretariat, 2007-2010) The Japanese Society of Phycology (1998-present, Board member for membership, 1999-2000) Member, The Botanical Society of Japan (1989-present) Member, The Japanese Society of Plant Physiologist (1998-present) Member, The Society of Sea Water Science, Japan (1998-present) Member, Japanese Society for Marine Biotechnology (2001-present) Member, The Society of Iodine Science (2001-present) Member, The 1st Asia-Oceania Algae Innovation Summit Executive Committee (Director-General of the Secretariat, 2010)
Awards	Marine Biotechnology Research Paper Award 2009. Satoh, M., Iwamoto, K., Suzuki, I. and Shiraiwa, Y. 2009. Cold Stress Stimulates Intracellular Calcification by the Coccolithophore, Emiliania huxleyi (Haptophyceae) Under Phosphate-Deficient Conditions. Marine Biotechnology 11:327–333. (May 2010). 5th World Fisheries Congress. Best Poster Presentation. Minami, S., Sato, M., Shiraiwa, Y. and Iwamoto, K. Development of novel methods for evaluating a nori umami taste by applying AMP deaminase, the main factor for synthesizing the taste. (Oct 2008).
Selected Publications	Journals Iwamoto, K., Hara, H., and Ishizaki, K., (2015) Production technology using seawater with freshwater algae and microbes. Chemical Engineering 60: 5-10. (in Japanese). Fukuda, S., Iwamoto, K., Atsumi, M., Yokoyama, A., Nakayama, T., Ishida, K., Inouye, I. and Shiraiwa, Y. (2014) Global searches for microalgae and aquatic plants that can eliminate radioactive cesium, iodine and strontium from the radio-polluted aquatic environment: a bioremediation strategy. Journal of Plant Research 127: 79-89. Iwamoto, K., and Shiraiwa, Y. (2014) Potentialities of bioaccumulation and decontamination of radioactive substances using microalgae. Seibutsu-kogaku Kaishi 92: 271-275. (in Japanese) Iwamoto, K., Fukuyo, S., Okuda, M., Kobayashi, M. and Shiraiwa Y. (2012) Cryopreservation of the chlorophyll d-containing cyanobacteria Acaryochloris marina. Procedia Environmental Sciences 15: 118–125. Iwamoto, K., and Shiraiwa Y. (2012) Characterization of intracellular iodine accumulation by iodine-tolerant microalgae. Procedia Environmental Sciences 15: 34–42. Minami, S., Sato, M., Shiraiwa, Y. and Iwamoto, K. (2011) Molecular characterization of adenosine 5′-monophosphate deaminase – the key enzyme responsible for the umami taste of nori (Porphyra yezoensis Ueda, Rhodophyta). Marine Biotechnology 13: 1140-1147. Satoh, M., Iwamoto, K., Suzuki, I. and Shiraiwa, Y. (2009) Cold stress stimulates intracellular calcification by the coccolithophore, Emiliania huxleyi (Haptophyceae) under phosphate-deficient conditions. Marine Biotechnology 11:327–333. Iwamoto, K. and Shiraiwa, Y. (2005) Salt-regulated mannitol metabolism in algae. Marine Biotechnology 7: 407 – 415. Iwamoto, K., Kawanobe, H., Ikawa, T. and Shiraiwa, Y. (2003) Characterization of salt-regulated mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase in the red alga Caloglossa continua. Plant Physiology 133：893-900.