I use chemistry to understand the origin of life – and I use the origin of life as a pretext to understand and develop new, fundamental chemistry. In my PhD and postdoctoral experiences I have divided my focus between physico-chemical and biophysical approaches to study condensed phases, with an interest both in characterizing reactions in coacervates and in controlling droplet dynamics. I am currently working on peptide/oligonucleotide mixtures, to shed light on the interactions underlying coacervation and on how soft matter affects chemical reactivity. I find it fascinating that phase separation is a widespread phenomenon in chemistry and biology, whether we want it or not. I am always interested in discussing new projects, and in sharing my passion for coacervates with other scientists.
2023- Rubicon Postdoctoral Fellow hosted by Claudia Bonfio
University of Cambridge, Department of Biochemistry, UK
First year at the University of Strasbourg, Institut de Science et d’Ingénierie Supramoléculaires, FR
Projects: Coacervate-mediated primitive model of cell division, Phase separation of peptide/nucleic acid mixtures
2021-23 Postdoctoral Researcher with Nathalie Katsonis
University of Groningen, Stratingh Institute, NL
Projects: Motility of aqueous droplets by Marangoni propulsion, Prebiotic origin of fatty acids via photooxidation of oils
2017-21 PhD candidate with Evan Spruijt
Radboud University, Institute for Molecules and Materials, NL
Project: Chemistry of active coacervate droplets – liquid droplets as a minimal model of life (thesis)
2013-15 MSc FAPESP fellow in the Bastos Research Group
University of São Paulo, Faculty of Chemistry, BR
Project: Study of the antiradical mechanism of betalains
2017-21 PhD in Chemistry, Radboud University, NL
2013-15 MSc in Chemistry, University of São Paulo, BR
2009-13 BSc and Licenciate in Chemistry, University of São Paulo, BR
2024 Early Career award, @LatinXChem (Virtual Forum for Latin American chemists)
2023 Rubicon Postdoctoral Fellowship, (NWO, Dutch Research Council)
2022 Van Arkel award for best PhD thesis on Soft Matter in 2020-21 (KNCV)
2022 Selected participant for the 71st Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting (supported by KNAW)
2013 MSc Research Fellowship (FAPESP)
2013 Lavoisier Medal for best Lic graduating student (Chemistry Council of São Paulo, BR)
2012 Lavoisier Medal for best BSc graduating student (Chemistry Council of São Paulo, BR)
2011 Undegraduate Research Fellowship (FAPESP)
08/2025
Workshop: How to prepare and present a talk on research findings?
Leverhulme Centre for Life in the Universe (Cambridge, UK)
07/2025
Widespread coacervation: phase separation of primitive mixtures of peptides and oligonucleotides
14th International Symposium on Polyelectrolytes (Campinas, BR)
04/2025
Coacervates in a nucleic acid-peptide world: from complex mixtures to functional protocells
Systems Chemistry Discussion Series (virtual, link)
10/2024
Chemical kinetics in coacervate droplets
Autocatalytic Reaction Networks seminar series (virtual, link)
06/2024
Chemically active matter: new building blocks and new phenomena
Invited talk at the Leiden Institute of Physics of Leiden University (Leiden, NL)
03/2024
Coacervates: simple, yet complex protocells
Keynote talk for the Leverhulme Centre for Life in the Universe Science Day (Cambridge, UK)
07/2023
Chemistry and soft matter at the origin of life: from active protocells to protocolonies
Invited talk at the Physical Chemistry & Soft Matter department of Wageningen University (Wageningen, NL)
09/2022
From droplets to cells: make haste slowly
Van Arkel award talk, 10th CHAINS (Veldhoven, NL)
06/2022
Actively growing coacervate droplets
Selected oral presentation, Gordon Research Seminar on Biointerface Sciences (Lucca, IT)
03/2020
Integrating Chemistry, Physics and Biology to understand life
Radboud University Alumni lecture with Dr Kinga Matula (virtual, link)
15. Marincioni B, Verduijn VB, Nakashima KK, Kudernac T, Katsonis N. Salt-Regulated Chemotaxis of Water Droplets in Lipid Environments.
Manuscript submitted
14. Nakashima KK*, Mihoubi FZ*,..., Bonfio C. Differential stability and dynamics of DNA-based and RNA-based coacervates affect non-enzymatic RNA chemistry.
Manuscript accepted in NatCommun
13. Nakashima KK*, Mihoubi FZ*,..., Bonfio C. Compositional and functional diversity of minimal primitive coacervates in a nucleic acid-peptide world. v1 v2
ChemRxiv 2025. DOI: 10.26434/chemrxiv-2024-l40ch-v2
12. Smokers IBA*, Visser BS*, Lipinski WP, Nakashima KK & Spruijt E. Phase-separated droplets can direct the kinetics of chemical reactions including polymerization, self-replication and oscillating networks. PDF
ChemSystemsChem 2024. DOI: 10.1002/syst.202400056
11. Mihoubi FZ, Nakashima KK# & Bonfio C. Nonenzymatic autocatalysis generates coacervates and controls their structure. PDF
Chem 2023. DOI: 10.1016/j.chempr.2023.11.014
10. Marincioni B*, Nakashima KK* & Katsonis N. Motility of microscopic swimmers as protocells. PDF
Chem 2023. DOI: 10.1016/j.chempr.2023.10.007
9. Abbas M*, Lipiński WP*, Nakashima KK, Huck WTS & Spruijt E. A short peptide synthon for liquid-liquid phase separation. PDF
Chem 2021. DOI: 10.1038/s41557-021-00788-x
8. Nakashima KK, van Haren MHI, André AAM, Robu I & Spruijt E. Active coacervate droplets are protocells that grow and resist Ostwald ripening. PDF
Nat Commun 2021. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24111-x
We also wrote a
Behind the Paper article.
7. Lu T, Nakashima KK & Spruijt E. Temperature-responsive peptide-nucleotide coacervates. PDF
J Phys Chem B 2021. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c10839
6. Nakashima KK*, André AAM* & Spruijt E. Enzymatic control over coacervation. PDF
Methods in Enzymology v. 646, 2021. DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2020.06.007
5. van Haren MHI, Nakashima KK & Spruijt E. Coacervate-based protocells: integration of life-like properties in a droplet. PDF
J Sys Chem 2020.
4. Nakashima KK*, Vibhute MA* & Spruijt E. Biomolecular chemistry in liquid phase separated compartments. PDF
Frontiers Biomol Sci 2019. DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2019.00021
3. Nakashima KK & Bastos EL. Rationale on the High Radical Scavenging Capacity of Betalains. PDF
Antioxidants 2019. DOI: 10.3390/antiox8070222
2. Nakashima KK, Baaij JF & Spruijt E. Reversible generation of coacervate droplets in an enzymatic network. PDF
Soft Matter 2018. DOI: 10.1039/c7sm01897e
1. Gonçalves LCP*, Rodrigues ACB*,..., Nakashima KK*, Esteves LC*, Lopes NB* & Bastos EL. Betalains: from the Colors of Beetroots to the Fluorescence of Flowers. PDF
Rev. Virtual. Quim. 2014.
*equal contributions, #corresponding author
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