LAB LOGA page on LabLog, a review site (not the lab's official page)
Wakeman Lab
Machine-translated · View original
The lab studies the diversity and evolution of life by following marine protists and algae.
AboutAbout the lab
Reading evolution from the tiny creatures of the sea.
The Wakeman Lab broadly studies the diversity and evolution of marine protists, algae, and invertebrates.
Its main subjects are apicomplexans that parasitize invertebrates and dinoflagellates, including species that form red tides.
The lab collects samples in places such as Guam, Okinawa, and Akkeshi in Hokkaido, and studies them using data such as genomes.
It accepts short-term research students (for undergraduates), master's and PhD students, and postdoctoral researchers.
Key terms
- Apicomplexans
- A group of single-celled organisms that live as parasites on other organisms. It includes Toxoplasma.
- Dinoflagellates
- Single-celled microalgae that live in water. Some photosynthesize, some eat other organisms, and some are parasitic.
- Red tide
- A phenomenon in which algae suddenly multiply and discolor the water surface. When toxin-producing species increase, they harm fish and shellfish.
ResearchResearch themes
The lab works on a wide range of topics concerning marine protists, algae, and invertebrates. Its two main pillars are apicomplexans that parasitize invertebrates and the diversity and evolution of dinoflagellates.
*Illustrative imageEvolution of marine gregarines
Gregarines are apicomplexans that parasitize only invertebrates. Because they form a lineage at the boundary between free-living relatives and parasitic ones, they offer clues to how organisms shifted to a parasitic way of life.
*Illustrative imageShellfish parasites and the fishing industry
Begun in collaboration with researchers in New Zealand, this research examines the diversity of apicomplexans that parasitize bivalves. Using a microscope that cuts out tissue with a laser (laser microdissection) and metagenomic analysis, the lab aims to clarify the impact on the fishing industry.
*Illustrative imageDinoflagellate diversity and toxins
Some dinoflagellates produce toxins and cause red tides when they multiply in large numbers. Because the toxins accumulate in shellfish and other animals and affect human health, the lab studies species diversity and toxicity.
*Illustrative imageSymbionts inside dinoflagellates
Sinophysis, a dinoflagellate found in southern Japan, hosts cyanobacteria inside its cell. The lab investigates how this relationship arose, using single-cell genome and transcriptome data.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Wakeman Lab consist of faculty, postdoctoral researchers, PhD and master's students, and visiting undergraduate students from overseas.As of 2026
- Assistant ProfessorKevin Wakeman
VoicesStudent voices
Ratings and reviews reflect the experiences of individual current or former students, not the lab's official views. Whether a lab has reviews, or how many, says nothing about the lab itself.
Students who take part in an interview may receive a thank-you gift worth ¥1,000, regardless of what they say.
Student ratings (0 students)
--
--
--
--
--
--
Student voices answer questions like these
- What's great about this lab?
- What did you learn after joining?
- What's the vibe, and what is the professor like?
- Who is this lab for?
- Where do graduates go?
Your experience can help younger students choose their lab. Your name won't be shown.
Write a lab reviewAnonymous · Your draft is saved if you stopRelatedLabs similar to Wakeman Lab
Evolutionary Community Ecology Lab (Utsumi Lab)Faculty of Science, Department of Biological SciencesEcology, evolutionary biology, evolutionary community ecolog…
Koshikawa LabFaculty of Science, Department of Biological SciencesEvolutionary developmental biology
Kuroiwa-Chikami-Yang LabFaculty of Science, Department of Biological SciencesMolecular cytogenetics, evolutionary developmental biology
Hayakawa LabFaculty of Science, Department of Biological SciencesGenome science, molecular ecology, and evolutionary biologyThe information on this page is compiled by the LabLog team from the lab's public information and interviews. For corrections or removal requests, please contact LabLog, not the lab.
Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Dinoflagellate Luminescense” catalano82 / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Evolution of marine gregarines: “Septate gregarine” Sonja I. Rueckert / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
- Shellfish parasites and the fishing industry: “Japan sea animal, Ezo giant scallop (Mizuhopecten yessoensis) ( )” harum.koh from Kobe city, Japan / CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
- Dinoflagellate diversity and toxins: “Algal bloom(akasio) by Noctiluca in Nagasaki” Marufish / CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
- Symbionts inside dinoflagellates: “Dinoflagellate 2” Soupremacy / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Evolutionary Community Ecology Lab (Utsumi Lab)): “Fresh green ( )” coniferconifer from japan / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Koshikawa Lab): “Dguttifera” MA Hanson / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Kuroiwa-Chikami-Yang Lab): “Chicken embryo” Mjeltsch / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Hayakawa Lab): “013 Alpha male chimpanzee at Kibale forest National Park Photo by Giles Laurent” Giles Laurent / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
About LabLog
LabLog is a lab review app for students only. Student members at each university interview students in labs and publish what they say. Student voices can only be read by students who sign up with a university email address. Operated by bestiee Inc.
Learn more about LabLog ↗Search engines and AI may reference the basic lab info and rating summaries on this page and the description of LabLog. Student voices are for student members only. Automated collection by programs (scraping, or input to or training of AI) is prohibited under Article 8 of the Terms of Service. If you need data for research or analysis, please contact us.