- Distinguished Professor and Executive Vice President (Research Promotion), Kyoto University
- Member, The Japan Academy
- Foreign Member, The Royal Society
Susumu Kitagawa has been the Distinguished Professor at Kyoto University Institute for Advanced Study (KUIAS) since 2017 and was appointed Executive Vice-President for Research Promotion for Kyoto University in 2024. Kitagawa pioneered the Chemistry of porous coordination polymers (PCPs) and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), discovering their flexible framework, and developing applications in gas storage, separation, and conversion. Kitagawa envisions a future where porous materials drive advancements across environmental, energy, resource, and health sectors, labeling the 21st century the "age of gas." His contributions have garnered numerous accolades, including awards from the Chemical Society of Japan, The Medal with Purple Ribbon from the Japanese Government, Thomson Reuters Citation Laureate (Chemistry), the Japan Academy Award, the Humboldt Research Award (Germany), Grand Prix of the Fondation de la Maison de la Chimie (France), and Chemistry for the Future Solvay Prize, The de Gennes Prize(Royal Society of Chemistry). Kitagawa's impact extends through memberships in the Japan Academy, Foreign Member of the Royal Society (ForMemRS), and significant recognition as a highly cited researcher every year from 2014 to 2024 (Thomson Reuters and Clarivate Analytics).