Professor Tatsuya Okubo

Professor Tatsuya Okubo is Executive Vice President and Professor of Chemical System Engineering at The University of Tokyo (UTokyo). He was former Dean of Engineering at UTokyo with 500 faculty and 200 staff members as well as 2,000 undergraduate and 3,000 graduate students. Okubo is a chemical engineer and materials chemist. He studied chemical engineering at undergraduate and graduate schools of UTokyo and obtained his Ph.D. in 1988. He then spent his early careers in Kyushu University, UTokyo and California Institute of Technology, and started his full professorship of UTokyo in 2006. In addition, he has been Professor of Presidential Endowed Chair for “Platinum Society” since 2012.

His research is focused on science and engineering of nanoporous materials, particularly in the area of synthesis and application of zeolites, a series of crystalline microporous aluminosilicates widely used as catalysts, adsorbents and ion-exchangers. He is an internationally well-renowned academician for his scholarly achievements and holding various patents to his credit. He was a former council member of international zeolite association and former President of Japan Zeolite Association. Okubo is Fellow of Society of Chemical Engineers of Japan, and a member of Engineering Academy of Japan. He has a wide experience in international collaborations with both academic and industrial partners as well as start-up experience.