Prof. Wada leads his team based on 3 pillars: 

1. Systems Analysis Methods: exploring innovative developments for integrated bio-economic modeling, forward looking scenario development, dynamic systems modeling and analyzing extreme destabilizing events and tipping points in society and nature, from local to global levels. These have 3 priority areas: Food & Water, Energy & Climate Change, Economy & Human Capitals. 
2. Scientific Foresight - Translating Research into Action: fostering relationships with policymakers to establish a policy dialog, building a stronger capability in linking research and policy communities. 
3. Systems Capacity Building: building capacity in the context of activities that strengthen the knowledge dissemination, abilities, and skills of researchers to conduct systems analysis.

• Intergenerational inequities in exposure to climate extremes, W. Thiery, Y. Wada, et al., 2021, Science, 374, 158-160, doi:10.1126/science.abi7339.
• Intense Agricultural Irrigation in Saudi Arabia Induced Contrasting Precipitation Changes, M.-H. Lo, Y. Wada, et al., 2021, Environmental Research Letter, 16, 064049, doi:10.1088/1748-9326/ac002e.
• Global potential and feasibility of seasonal pumped-storage for energy and water storage, J. D. Hunt, Y. Wada, et al., 2020, Nature Communications, 11, 947, doi:10.1038/s41467-020-14555-y.
• A continental-scale hydro-economic model for integrating water-energy-land nexus solutions, T. Kahil, Y. Wada, et al., 2018, Water Resources Research, 54, 7511–7533, doi: 10.1029/2017WR022478.
• Co-designing Indus Water-Energy-Land Futures, Y. Wada, et al., One Earth, 2019, 1, 185-194, doi:10.1016/j.oneear.2019.10.006.
• Fate of water pumped from underground causing sea level rise, Y. Wada, et al., 2016, Nature Climate Change, 6, 777–780, doi:10.1038/nclimate3001.
• Modeling global water use for the 21st century: the Water Futures and Solutions (WFaS) initiative and its approaches, Y. Wada, et al., 2016, Geoscientific Model Development, 9, 175-222, doi:10.5194/gmd-9-175-2016.
• Sustainability of global water use: past reconstruction and future projections, Y. Wada, M. F. P. Bierkens, 2014, Environmental Research Letter, 9, 104003, doi:10.1088/1748-9326/9/10/104003.
• Water balance of global aquifers revealed by groundwater footprint, T. Gleeson, Y. Wada, M. F. P. Bierkens, and L. P. H. van Beek, 2012, Nature, 488, 197–200, doi:10.1038/nature11295.
• Nonsustainable groundwater sustaining irrigation: A global assessment, Y. Wada, L. P. H. van Beek, and M. F. P. Bierkens, 2012, Water Resources Research, 48, W00L06, doi:10.1029/2011WR010562.

• Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Oversea Research Fellow, Water-Food Security, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Institute for Space Studies/Center for Climate Systems Research (CCSR)/Columbia University, USA, 2017
• Research Fellow, Water-Food Security, Department of Physical Geography, Utrecht University, The Netherlands, 2015
• PhD, Hydrology (Cum Laude), Department of Physical Geography, Utrecht University, The Netherlands, 2013
• MSc, Hydrology and System Earth Modeling (Prestige Master) (GPA 3.9/4.0), Department of Earth Sciences, Utrecht University, The Netherlands, 2009
• MIA, International and Environmental Studies, Institute of Environmental Studies, The University of Tokyo, Japan, 2006

• 2021-2022: Director of Biodiversity and Natural Resources (BNR) Program, The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Austria
• 2021-2022: Principal Research Scholar, The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Austria
• 2019-2022: Chair Professor of Global Water and Food Security, Department of Physical Geography, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
• 2019-2020: Acting Director of Water (WAT) Program, The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Austria
• 2016-2019: Deputy Director of Water (WAT) Program, The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Austria
• 2016-2020: Senior Research Scholar, The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Austria
• 2017-2019: Senior Research Associate, Department of Physical Geography, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
• 2017-2019: Honorary Professor, School of Geographical Science, East China Normal University, China
• 2017-2019: Adjunct Research Scientist, Center for Climate Systems Research (CCSR)/Columbia University, USA
• 2015-2017: Adjunct Research Scientist, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Institute for Space Studies/Center for Climate Systems Research (CCSR)/Columbia University, USA

• American Geophysical Union (AGU)
• European Geosciences Union (EGU)
• International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS)
• Japan Geoscience Union (JpGU)
• Japanese Association of Groundwater Hydrology (JAGH)
• World Water Council (WWC)/World Water Forum (WWF)
• World Water Quality Alliance (WWQA)

• Rising Star of Science Award by Research.com (ranked 13 world, 1 in Austria), 2022
• American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fellow, 2020
• American Geophysical Union (AGU) James B. Macelwane Medal, 2020
• Association of American Publishers' 2020 PROSE Awards Category Excellence – Environmental Science for the UNEP
• GEO-6 Report as contributed as the Lead Author (Freshwater), 2020
• American Geophysical Union (AGU) Hydrologic Science Early Career Award, 2018
• European Geoscience Union (EGU) Arne Richter Award for Outstanding Early Career Scientists, 2018
• The Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT), The Young Scientists’ Prize, 2018
• The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT)/National Institute of Science and Technology Policy NICE STEP (NISTEP) Award 2017, 2017
• Dutch Hydrological Society Hydrology Prize 2013-2015 (NHV Hydrologieprijs 2013-2015), 2017

• Plant Science
• Center for Desert Agriculture (CDA)
• KAUST Climate and Livability Initiative (CLI)
• Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE)