Akira Isogai

is a Japanese academician, wood scientist and senior biomaterials researcher, who is an elected fellow (FIAWS) of the International Academy of Wood Science and also an elected fellow of the Japan Academy. He has been a chaired professor at the University of Tokyo, making several contributions to sustainable material science through his research work on plant cellulose and bio-nanofibers.

Early life and education Isogai was born in 1954 in Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, where he grew up. He graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Tokyo in 1980 and received his PhD in 1985 from the same institution with a dissertation on the preparation and characterization of substituted cellulose ethers.

After completing his doctorate studies, he served as a postdoctoral fellow at the Institute of Paper Chemistry in Appleton, Wisconsin, USA.

Research career Isogai joined the University of Tokyo as an assistant professor in 1986, was promoted to associate professor in 1994, and became a full professor in the Department of Biomaterial Sciences in 2003. He has held leadership roles in scientific societies, including the presidency of the Cellulose Society of Japan and positions in the Japan Technical Association of Pulp and Paper Industry. He has also received international awards, such as the Marcus Wallenberg Prize, and the Anselme Payen Award.

Particular contributions Research articles on cellulose and wood cellulose characterization.