Summer Program Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Gianluca Esposito

A Student We Never Forgot

Gianluca is one of the most memorable students in the history of the Summer Program. He was the first student to apply, pass the selection process, and be approved to participate in the program more than once. What made this possible was his extraordinary passion and enthusiasm for learning both neuroscience and Japanese culture.
After spending two summers at RIKEN, Gianluca later returned with his wife and began his career here as a professional scientist. His story is filled with unforgettable memories, including the birth of his first daughter, who was born and raised in Japan.
Let’s hear Gianluca’s reflections on his Summer Program experience and discover how it helped shape his path as a scientist.

Gianluca and Kiyomi at RIKEN — Gianluca visited RIKEN during the 2025 Summer Program. He joined discussions with CBS postdocs and program trainees, sharing his experiences and scientific path in Japan and other countries. He also enjoyed a reunion with Kiyomi, a research administrator who organized his program participation in 2005 and 2008.

Dr. Gianluca Esposito

Director of the Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science and Principal Investigator, Affiliative Behaviour and Physiology Lab , University of Trento, Italy

Participated in the program: 2005 and 2008
Gianluca back in 2005, when he first joined RIKEN.

From Summer Student to Global Collaborator: A Long Journey with RIKEN

My connection with RIKEN spans more than two decades, and in many ways, it has shaped both my scientific trajectory and my outlook on research.

I first came to RIKEN in 2005 as a Summer Program student. At the time, I was at the very beginning of my academic journey, driven by curiosity and a strong interest in understanding the biological bases of social behavior. What struck me immediately was the uniquely international and intellectually vibrant environment—an ecosystem where young researchers could interact closely with leading scientists and be exposed to cutting-edge methodologies.

What struck me immediately was the uniquely international and intellectually vibrant environment—an ecosystem where young researchers could interact closely with leading scientists and be exposed to cutting-edge methodologies.

What struck me immediately was the uniquely international and intellectually vibrant environment—an ecosystem where young researchers could interact closely with leading scientists and be exposed to cutting-edge methodologies.

That early experience stayed with me and eventually led me back to RIKEN in 2010, and again in 2011, when I joined Dr. Kumi Kuroda’s Unit for Affiliative Social Behavior at the Brain Science Institute under the FPR program. Working in her lab was transformative. I was able to expand my background in developmental psychopathology into a more integrative, comparative framework, studying mother–infant interaction across species.

I remained at RIKEN until 2014, a period that was fundamental for consolidating my scientific identity. During those years, I deepened my expertise in bridging human and animal research—combining behavioral paradigms, neurophysiology, and experimental approaches such as pharmacological manipulation and genetic models. This experience strongly shaped my interdisciplinary perspective and ultimately led me to establish my own laboratory in 2014 at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, focusing on social and affective neuroscience.

Since 2021, I have been full-time at the University of Trento in Italy, where I currently serve as Professor and Director of the Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science. My research has continued to center on the neurobiological foundations of social interaction, particularly in early development. I have worked extensively on infant socio-cognitive development using techniques such as fMRI, EEG, and fNIRS, while continuing comparative work across species (mice, marmosets, and humans). The overarching aim has been to understand how early interaction patterns influence developmental trajectories, including atypical ones such as autism spectrum conditions.

Over the years, I have built an international research network and contributed across multiple fields, including clinical psychology, neuroscience, and education. I also serve as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Genetic Psychology. Looking back, it is clear that my time at RIKEN played a pivotal role in fostering this interdisciplinary and global perspective.

Looking back, it is clear that my time at RIKEN played a pivotal role in fostering this interdisciplinary and global perspective.

Returning to RIKEN in 2025 to give a seminar during the Summer Program was both meaningful and inspiring. Seeing a new generation of young scientists engaging with the same curiosity and enthusiasm I once had reminded me of the importance of these programs. They are not just training opportunities—they are catalysts for long-term scientific growth and collaboration.

They are not just training opportunities—they are catalysts for long-term scientific growth and collaboration.

For young researchers considering the Summer Program, my advice is simple: be open, be curious, and take full advantage of the environment. The connections you make and the ideas you encounter may stay with you far longer than you expect. RIKEN was not just a place where I trained—it is a place that continues to be part of my scientific journey.