Takuya Taniguchi is an Associate Professor at the Center for Data Science, Waseda University, where he has been employed since 2019, first as an Assistant Professor (2019-2021) before promotion to his current non-tenure track position. His interdisciplinary research bridges organic chemistry, materials science, and data science, with a focus on developing and analyzing functional organic materials, particularly photo-responsive molecular crystals. He maintains active collaborations with research groups including Hideko Koshima and Toru Asahi, and serves on professional committees such as the Manufacturing Industry AI Promotion Association. Education Doctor of Engineering, Waseda University (2019) Graduate studies at Waseda University's Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering Undergraduate studies at Waseda University's School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience Research Focus Professor Taniguchi's work centers on structural organic chemistry and physical organic chemistry , with particular emphasis on organic functional materials and the application of materials informatics to crystal engineering. His research investigates how molecular structure influences macroscopic mechanical properties, especially photo-mechanical behaviors in organic crystals. He has pioneered the use of machine learning techniques to predict crystal properties, optimize materials performance, and design novel functional materials with applications in soft robotics and energy conversion. His recent work demonstrates a clear progression from fundamental studies of photo-mechanical crystals toward increasingly sophisticated applications of machine learning in materials science. The 15 most recent publications reveal a strong focus on neural network potentials for crystal property prediction, optimization of photo-actuated materials, and exploration of phase transitions in molecular crystals. This research trajectory shows consistent innovation in combining experimental chemistry with advanced computational methods. Awards and Recognition Inoue Research Encouragement Prize (2019) Ono Azusa Memorial Award from Waseda University (2019) Student Presentation Award at Japan Chemical Society 99th Spring Annual Meeting (2019) Poster Presentation Award at Chirality 2017 Multiple poster and presentation awards at international crystallography conferences Research Leadership Dr. Taniguchi leads multiple research projects funded by JSPS, JST, and industry partners including ENEOS Corporation and Sumitomo Foundation. His current projects include 'Efficient crystal structure prediction for organic porous materials,' 'Machine learning simulation of HOF material stability,' and 'Machine learning application for organic solid-phase transition.' He has successfully secured competitive funding including JST ACT-X and JSPS Early-Career Scientist grants. His work has received significant media attention, with coverage in Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun and Kagaku Kogyo Nippo highlighting breakthroughs in light-driven organic crystals with 3.7x improved output force. Academic Contributions Beyond research, Professor Taniguchi teaches extensively in Waseda's Global Education Center, offering courses in data science, statistical analysis with R, and statistics literacy across multiple academic quarters. He has contributed chapters to technical publications on process informatics, Bayesian optimization, and crystallization process design. His scholarly impact is evidenced by an h-index of 11 (Google Scholar) with 581 total citations, demonstrating significant influence in the emerging field of materials informatics for organic crystals.
