LAB LOGA page on LabLog, a review site (not the lab's official page)
Okuzumi Lab
Machine-translated · View original
A lab that uses theory and computation to explore where and how planets are born.
AboutAbout the lab
When and where are planets born?
The Okuzumi Lab studies how planets are born and the protoplanetary disks in which they form.
Planets are built in disks of gas containing dust that surround young stars.
The lab mainly uses theoretical models and computer simulations, and also collaborates with experts in astronomical observation and the analysis of Solar System materials.
The lab's research centers on the intersection of astronomy, astrophysics, and planetary science.
Key terms
- Protoplanetary disk
- A disk of gas and dust orbiting a newly formed star. It is the place where planets are born.
- Planetesimal
- A solid body, roughly kilometers in size, that is a building block of planets. It forms from dust in the disk.
- Snow line
- The location in a disk beyond which water turns to ice.
ResearchResearch themes
The lab studies planet formation and protoplanetary disks, the environments in which planets form. It aims to deeply understand the physics involved in planet formation, and to test and refine theories using the latest observational and exploration data.
*Illustrative imageHow planetesimals form
The lab investigates how planetesimals, the building blocks of planets, form from dust in the disk. The questions are how tiny dust grains stick together, and whether rocky and icy planetesimals form in different ways.
*Illustrative imageEvolution of protoplanetary disks and the snow line
The lab investigates where the snow line, the boundary in the disk where water turns to ice, is located, and how its position affected the origin of Earth. Another question is whether telescopes can observe the snow line.
*Illustrative imageDynamics of protoplanetary disks
The lab investigates the structure, motion, and evolution of disks. The questions are whether disks are turbulent, how they interact with dust and planets, and what role magnetic fields play.
*Illustrative imageWhat are exoplanets made of?
For many small exoplanets, the mass and density are unknown, and the planets are covered by thick clouds and haze. The lab investigates whether Earth-sized planets are rocky or ocean planets, and why so many are cloudy.
MembersFaculty
The lab's members consist of faculty, visiting faculty, researchers, and doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students.As of 2026
- ProfessorSatoshi OkuzumiPublications ↗
- Assistant ProfessorKei TanakaPublications ↗
- Project Assistant Professorジャン スウィナン
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 Okuzumi Lab
Genda LabSchool of Science, Department of Earth and Planetary SciencesPlanetary science, planet formation theory, and the early Ea…
Nakamoto LabSchool of Science, Department of Earth and Planetary SciencesAstrophysics, Theory of Star Formation and Planet Formation
Sato LabSchool of Science, Department of Earth and Planetary SciencesAstronomy, exoplanet search and observation
Sekine LabSchool of Science, Department of Earth and Planetary SciencesPlanetary science, astrobiology, and solar system exploratio…The 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: “HL Tau protoplanetary disk” ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO) / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- How planetesimals form: “Comet 67P on 19 September 2014 NavCam mosaic” ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM / CC BY-SA 3.0 igo (cropped)
- Evolution of protoplanetary disks and the snow line: “ALMA image of the protoplanetary disc around V883 Orionis (eso1626b)” ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)/L. Cieza / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Dynamics of protoplanetary disks: “Spirals with a Tale to Tell” B. Saxton (NRAO/AUI/NSF); ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO) / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- What are exoplanets made of?: “Clouds in Atmosphere of Exoplanet GJ 1214b (Artist's View)” NASA, ESA, and G. Bacon (STScI) / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Genda Lab): “The Earth seen from Apollo 17” NASA/Apollo 17 crew / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Nakamoto Lab): “Artist’s impression of protoplanetary disc (weic2329a)” ESO/L. Calçada / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Sato Lab): “Subaru Telescope on Mauna Kea (geminiann12013b)” International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/Subaru Observatory / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Sekine Lab): “Dramatic plumes, both large and small, spray water ice out from many locations along the famed tiger stripes near the south pole of Saturn’s moon Enceladus in this image released on Feb 23 (newly-found-organics-in-enceladus-plumes)” NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute / Public domain (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.