Tatsuya Nobori: Building the Future of Plant Science at The Sainsbury Laboratory

When Dr Tatsuya Nobori moved to Norwich two years ago, he was relocating across continents for the fourth time in his career.

Having lived and worked in Japan, France, Germany and the United States, international moves were nothing new. Yet, despite arriving knowing very little about Norwich itself, he quickly discovered that both the city and The Sainsbury Laboratory (TSL) felt like exactly the right place to be.

Today, Tatsuya leads one of seven research groups at TSL, managing a team of 14 researchers from 11 different nationalities. His story highlights not only the global reputation of Norwich’s research community, but also how welcoming and accessible the city can be for talented people relocating from around the world.

A World-Leading Centre for Plant Science

As a Group Leader at The Sainsbury Laboratory, Tatsuya directs a research programme focused on plant immunity. His role involves leading scientific strategy, recruiting researchers, securing funding and overseeing an international team working at the forefront of plant health research.

“Our lab studies the plant immune system,” Tatsuya explains. “Plants, like us, have an immune system. They are constantly fighting against pathogens, and we want to understand how that works and how we can help plants do that job better.”

An International Career Path

Originally from rural Japan, Tatsuya’s academic journey has taken him across the globe. He completed his undergraduate and master’s studies at the University of Tokyo, spent a year undertaking research in southern France, earned his PhD in Cologne, Germany, and later moved to San Diego, California, for postdoctoral research.

Despite opportunities elsewhere—including the possibility of remaining in California or relocating to Vienna—it was always TSL that stood out.

“The Sainsbury Lab was my dream place since I was a PhD student,” he says. “It’s a small institute and positions rarely become available, so I felt extremely lucky that the opportunity arose at exactly the right point in my career.”

Norwich: A Global Destination for Research

Although Norwich was relatively unfamiliar to Tatsuya before he moved, the city already held a strong reputation within the scientific community.

“For me, Norwich was always a major place for plant science,” he explains. “I’ve met so many scientists throughout my career who had worked here at some point.”

However, what surprised Tatsuya was not the quality of the research—it was how quickly he and his wife felt at home.

“Norwich really felt like home from the first week,” he says. “I honestly stopped trying to explain that feeling. Somehow it just felt right.”

Part of that came down to the city itself. Tatsuya describes Norwich as friendly, approachable and easy to navigate. He also noticed subtle similarities to life in Japan, particularly in the way people interact with one another.

“There’s a certain personal distance and respectfulness that feels familiar to me,” he explains.

Even the climate exceeded expectations. Having relocated from sunny California, many people assumed he would struggle with the British weather. Instead, he has found Norwich’s climate comfortable and enjoyable.

A Place to Build a Future

Tatsuya’s story demonstrates why Norwich continues to attract talented people from across the world. While its global reputation for scientific excellence draws researchers to the city, it is often the quality of life, sense of community and ease of living that convince them to stay.

For Tatsuya, Norwich offers the best of both worlds: the opportunity to conduct world-leading research at a globally respected institution, while enjoying a welcoming city that feels surprisingly familiar.

“It’s the place to do science,” he says. “And somehow, it just feels right.”

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