Michika Onoda

About Michika Onoda

I am a polymer scientist and R&D leader with a deep background in functional materials and interdisciplinary innovation. Most recently, I served as Director of Extraction at Pure Lithium, a fast-paced Boston-based startup pioneering lithium metal battery technologies. There, I led cross-functional teams and R&D efforts across multiple development phases—from early discovery to scale-up—on lithium-selective membranes, brine-to-metal extraction chemistries, and electrodeposition systems. I also oversaw the strategic direction of external collaborations, including joint development agreements (JDAs) with global industrial partners.Before joining Pure Lithium, I was a postdoctoral fellow at MIT, designing functional polymers for hydrogels, elastomers, and bottlebrush-based materials. I earned my Ph.D. from the University of Tokyo, where I developed a self-oscillating hydrogel—an \"artificial amoeba\"—recognized by Nature Communications. During my doctoral studies, I also co-founded Nanotis, a Tokyo-based startup focused on next-generation influenza diagnostics, serving as CTO and contributing to both technical development and fundraising.I have received over 20 research awards and fellowships, including the President\'s and Dean\'s Awards from the University of Tokyo. My passion lies in bridging cutting-edge material science with real-world applications—especially where novel chemistry meets device innovation.

Experience

1. Director of Polymer Gel Development

   3D Architech

   Aug 2025 — Present · Cambridge, MA, US

Education

• The University of Tokyo

  Ph.D., Materials Science and Engineering

  2016 — 2019

• The University of Tokyo

  Bachelor of Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering

  2010 — 2014

• The University of Tokyo

  Master of Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering

  2014 — 2016