This article is about the Professors specializing in Pokémon. For the TCG tournament term, seeProfessor Program (TCG).

APokémon Professor (Japanese:ポケモン博士Pokémon Expert) is considered an expert onPokémon in their respectiveregion. Pokémon Professors are often researchers as well, and many times they are the ones responsible for distributingPokédexes and givingTrainers theirfirst partner Pokémon.

Several known Pokémon Professors have had reports published inPokémon Researchers Monthly. Pokémon Professor is also aTrainer class used byAugustine Sycamore inPokémon X and Y andKukui inPokémon Sun, Moon,Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon. Many professors are accompanied bylaboratory assistants, these aides often provide help with tasks, or perform small chores and field work.

Overview

Core series

All core series games contain at least one professor, typically researching an element that coincides with an element of the game such as either a mechanic or story telling, for example,Professor Elm is a research of PokémonEggs and breeding methods, asPokémon breeding was introduced inPokémon Gold and Silver. Most professors are encountered early on in the story, usually the one to encourage theplayer to go on their adventure and providing them with a goal that sets the plot in motion. Depending on the game, the professor may also be seen throughout the game, providing the player with items, advice and resources. In addition to, many professors are associated with aPokédex, as the tool is often help in providing research and information in their field. When absent, they may instead send off theirresearch assistants, who may provide the player with the resources for the professor. Other cases may also have the player be the one assisting the professor, helping to either to doResearch tasks, or help in delivering certain items. InPokémon Legends: Z-A, the player is granted the "Pokémon Professor"title if they have completed theirLumiose Pokédex.

Taking into account that Pokémon are living beings and that the science that studies living beings is biology, it is implicit that the vast majority of Pokémon Professors would be considered as biologists. In Sonia's case, as she studies history, she would be classified as a historian. A common theme behind these characters is that at least one professor is named after a type of tree,Pokémon Scarlet and Violet being the first to not introduce any professor character named after such. Legends: Z-A would be the exception where no character with the title of professor appears. However,Mable is now the acting director of thePokémon Research Lab inKalos and shares many traits that would otherwise be present.

List of Pokémon Professors

Kanto	Johto	Hoenn	Sinnoh	Unova	Kalos
RGBYGSCFRLG DPPtHGSSPEBDSP	GSCHGSS	RSEORAS	DPPtBDSP	BWB2W2	XY
Professor Oak	Professor Elm	Professor Birch	Professor Rowan	Professor Juniper	Professor Sycamore
Pokémon ecology[1]	Pokémon breeding	Pokémon habitats	Pokémon Evolution andform changes	Origin of Pokémon	Evolution, Mega Evolution,and change
Alola	Galar		Hisui	Paldea
SMUSUM	SwSh		LA	S	V
Professor Kukui	Professor Magnolia	Professor Sonia*	Professor Laventon	Professor Sada	Professor Turo
AttacksandZ-Moves	Dynamax	Galar's history	Pokémon ecology	Terastal phenomenonandtime travel

Other known professors

• ProfessorCedric Juniper is the father ofProfessor Juniper in theUnova region. He studies Pokémon distribution and biology.
• Professor Burnet from theDimensional Research Lab, studies the relationship between Pokémon and otherdimensions. Originally appearing inPokémon Dream Radar, she makes her firstcore series debut inPokémon Sun and Moon.
• Samson Oak isProfessor Oak's cousin from theAlola region. He studies theregional forms andTotem Pokémon found within the region.
• Two other characters with the title of professor are named, but lack story relevance
  • Professor Silktree is a professor that is only mentioned in a note on the PC in theRuins of Alph inPokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. He is the founder of the local Research Center.
  • Professor Andrew Park is a professor inUnova who runs thePoké Transfer Lab.

Professor's assistants

Main article:Professor's assistant

Many professors are helped by assistants. These characters often have similar works of studies to the professor they are working for. Many of these characters take part in the main story of a game and provide helpful insight on behalf of the professor.

• Professor Birch's child, who is eitherBrendan orMay depending on the player chosen, will assist him in doing field work aroundHoenn.
• Professor Rowan has three known assistants in the video games.
  • The father of the player'sfriend will occasionally appear providing the player with items
  • The player's friend, who is eitherLucas orDawn depending on the player chosen, makes appearances, providing the player with support.
  • Roseanne is one of the few named assistant characters reusing a generic design. She appears in allSinnoh-based titles, but did not receive her name untilPokémon Platinum.
• InPokémon Black 2 and White 2,Bianca, a previousrival and friend fromPokémon Black and White becomes an assistant forProfessor Juniper.
• Dexio andSina areProfessor Sycamore's assistants who are found in theKalos andAlola regions. In Alola, they are researchingZygarde and teach the player aboutMega Evolution.
• In exchange for living with him at thePokémon Research Lab,Lillie assistsProfessor Kukui, helping him with smaller tasks and chores.
• Sonia was the assistant toProfessor Magnolia. While Magnolia studied theDynamax Phenomenon, Sonia went out to researchGalar's history over the course of the game and becoming a professor herself.
• Hop, a rival character and friend of the protagonist becomes an assistant toSonia duringPokémon Sword and Shield's post game andThe Isle of Armor campaign.
• Both theplayer andRei/Akari helpProfessor Laventon withresearch tasks, directly being involved with the creation ofHisui's firstPokédex.
• Professor Sada^S andProfessor Turo^V had created an AI based on themselves as an assistant to help researchArea Zero.
• Due to Dexio and Sina's absence, Mable is currently looking for assistants during the plot of Legends: Z-A. The player assists them with her research.

Other individuals who study Pokémon

Aside from the professors that the player may come across, there are other known researchers the player may encounter. They may be a part of a game's story, related to another character, or provide context and lore of a game or a setting's background and history.

Known Pokémon researchers

• Bill, a Pokémon Researcher and expert in many fields, as well as the inventor of thePokémon Storage System and theTime Capsule. After the events in theKanto-based titles, he is known for his experiments onPokémon fusion.
• Mr. Fuji, previously known as Dr. Fuji, founded theCinnabar Lab in order to research Pokémon. He had originally lived inPokémon Mansion, and is implied to have wrote its journals aboutMew andMewtwo.
• Blaine, theGym Leader ofCinnabar Gym is also a Pokémon researcher, who was good friends with Mr. Fuji.
• Mr. Pokémon is a known researcher of Pokémon in theJohto region. He is good friends with Professor Oak and Professor Elm, who he has provided assistance to.
• Bugsy, theGym Leader of theAzalea Gym, is not only aBug-type specialist, but also a researcher of Bug-type Pokémon.
• Captain Stern, a leading oceanographer fromHoenn'sSlateport City.
• Cynthia, theChampion of theSinnoh region, is an avid researcher and archeologist who studies myths and legends. She refers to herself as the "research of myths"
• Fennel ofStriaton City,Unova,Professor Juniper's friend who specializes in studyingPokémon Trainers, as well as studyingPokémon dreams.
• Lenora ofNacrene City is an archaeologist that is also the director of theNacrene Museum. The museum holds theGym, in which she is also theGym Leader of.
• Colress is a researcher who studies how to bring out the potential of Pokémon. InPokémon Black 2 and White 2 he was the leader ofTeam Plasma. He returns inPokémon Sun, Moon,Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon to research bothZ-Power andMega Evolution.
• Cara Liss is a researcher ofGalar's uniquefossils.
• Volo, like Cynthia, goes by the title of "research of myths", had researchedHisui's history and mythology, particularly onGiratina andArceus.
• Mable takes after Professor Sycamore's role, having the title of acting director in Legends: Z-A. She studies life energy and the Pokémon inLumiose City's Wild Zones.

Related groups

• Manyvillainous organizations are known to study and research Pokémon for malicious deeds. They are often accompanied by lower ranking members andscientists.
  • Team Flare in particular has a notable group of scientists:Aliana,Bryony,Celosia,Mable andXerosic.
• TheDevon Corporation is a company who focuses on creating tools forPokémon Trainers. They have many fields of study including Pokémon Dreams, Pokémonfossil restoration, andInfinity Energy.
• TheAether Foundation, an organization known for caring and researching Pokémon andUltra Beasts, is known to hold many scientists and researchers.
  • PresidentLusamine directs research projects, provide assets and is known to help with research on certain Pokémon.
  • Mohn, a former professor, first confirmed the existence ofUltra Wormholes andUltra Beasts.
  • Faba helped develop theBeast Ball and the mask used to controlType: Full.
• Working with the Aether Foundation, theUltra Recon Squad is known to research Ultra Wormholes, Ultra Beasts and explain their history withNecrozma. InPokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, they helped developed theBeast Ball.
• TheGalaxy Team's Survey Corps is tasked in researching Pokémon and learning about what type of creatures they are.
  • The Survey Corp is captained byCyllene.
  • As noted above,Professor Laventon is the one tasked in creatingHisui'sPokédex. He is assisted by theplayer andRei orAkari.
• The faculty of theNaranja^S andUva Academies^V inPaldea contain multiple teachers and professors who study Pokémon.
  • Jacq, the biology instructor, studies Pokémon biology, and developed thePokédex app for theRotom Phone.
  • Raifort, the history instructor, studies the history ofPaldea, including thetreasures of ruin.
  • Dendra, the battle studies instructor, studiesPokémon battling.
• The faculty ofBlueberry Academy inUnova also contains multiple teachers and professors who study Pokémon.
  • Briar, one of the teachers at the school, is researchingTerapagos andArea Zero.
  • Synclaire is the developer of theSynchro Machine.

Side games

• Professor Krane of theOrre region, who specializes in thepurification ofShadow Pokémon.
• Dr. Kaminko of the Orre region, who specializes in the creation of Robo-Pokémon.

Spin-off games

• Dr. Mason of theTrading Card Game Islands, who researches Pokémon cards.
• Professor P inPokémon Trozei!, the head ofSOL and creator of theTrozei Beamer.
• Professor Hastings of theOblivia region, the creator of theCapture Styler used byPokémon Rangers.
• Professor Holly inPokémon Trading Card Game Online, who teaches the player the basics of how to play thePokémon Trading Card Game.
• Professor Willow inPokémon GO, who studies the regional distribution of Pokémon.
• Professor Bellis ofPasio inPokémon Masters EX, who studies the relationship between Pokémon andsync stones.
• Professor Mirror of theLental region inNew Pokémon Snap, who studies theIllumina phenomenon.
• Professor Phorus ofAeos Island inPokémon UNITE, who studiesAeos energy.
• Professor Gordon ofRyme City inDetective Pikachu Returns, who studies mineral archeology.
• Professor Fir inPokémon Trading Card Game Live, who teaches the player the basics of how to play the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
• Professor Neroli inPokémon Sleep, who studies the sleeping habits of Pokémon.

Other fields of study

• Professor Cozmo, ameteoriticist fromFallarbor Town.
• Dr. Astropoff, a scientist and astrologer.
• Professor Quentin Werty inLearn with Pokémon: Typing Adventure.
• Professor Andy inPokémon Art Academy.
• Professor Tetra inPokémon Picross.
• Leanne of the Oblivia region, an archaeologist who is studying the connection between the ruins and fairy tales of Oblivia.
• Professor Tangrowth inPokémon Pokopia, a Pokémon whose appearance resembles that of a Pokémon Professor.

In animation

Professors, scientists, and researchers originally introduced inanimation include:

Pokémon specialists

• Dr. Fuji, creator ofMewtwo.
• Professor Westwood V ofSeafoam Island,Kanto, aPokédex programmer.
• Professor Ivy of theOrange Islands, who studies theregional differences between Pokémon.
• Gary Oak ofPallet Town,Kanto, a Pokémon researcher known to have researchedFossil Pokémon, successfully resurrecting a livingAerodactyl and researching the habitat of supposedly extinctShieldon. He has also shown interest in theLegendary Pokémon ofSinnoh.
• Dr. Gordon ofSaffron City,Kanto, Pokémon inventions specialist.
• Professor Jacuzzi,Gulpin specialist.
• Professor Lund ofLaRousse City,Hoenn, the leading authority onDeoxys.
• Professor Kodama, inventor of the "Affinity enabler".
• Dr. Namba, aTeam Rocket scientist.
• Dr. Wiseman, a researcher ofShiny Pokémon.
• Isaiah, studiesClamperl and its pearls.
• Marie andPierre, currently co-writing a research paper on whetherSudowoodo is aRock type or aGrass type.
• Naomi, studies communication betweenWater-type Pokémon, specificallyLapras.
• Luna Carson, studies Pokémon habitats from her home inPurity Canyon.
• Professor Cerise of theCerise Laboratory inVermilion City, studies Pokémon and their ways of living.
• Professor Amaranth, a researcher ofMew, and founder ofProject Mew.
• Professor Friede, the leader of theRising Volt Tacklers, studies the unexplored mysteries of thePokémon world.

Other fields of Pokémon study

Pokémon computer scientists

• Dr. Akihabara ofMatcha City,Kanto, creator of thePokémon Transfer System andPorygon inPokémon the Series.
• Dr. Yung, inventor of theMirage Pokémon system.

Pokémon archaeology

• Eve, discoverer of the ancient lost city ofPokémopolis.
• Professor Telesu, who was doing research on hieroglyphics near aSlowpoke colony.
• Tierra, excavator of an ancient city that was ruled by a queen inJohto.
• Professor Hale ofGreenfield,Johto, who researched rare andLegendary Pokémon including theUnown.
• Professor Alden ofOldale Town,Hoenn, who studied ancient ruins in Hoenn.
• Professor Carolina ofCelestic Town,Sinnoh, head of theCelestic Town Historical Research Center.
• Ferris andSierra, amateur archaeologists that studyUnova'sTwist Mountain.

Pokémon paleontology

• ANurse Joy of theOrange Islands, who led the expedition toFukuhara Island No. 4.
• Dora, who worked with Gary at theSayda Lab.
• Professor Proctor ofWales Island,Hoenn.
• Dr. Kenzo ofOreburgh City,Sinnoh, in charge ofOreburgh Museum's Fossil-restoration program.
• Foster, discovered the Fossil PokémonOmanyte andOmastar living at theRuins of Alph.
• Bray Zenn, Cara Liss's assistant inGalar.

Miscellaneous

• Professor Serena ofBomba Island,Hoenn, who teaches at the Pokémon Battle Judge Training Institute

Other fields of study

Astronomy

• Professor Icarus ofUnova.

Botany

• Professor Malveaux, heads theFerroseed Research Institute, which studies moss samples and their properties.

Healthcare

• Dr. Anna, operates a clinic and uses her Pokémon to help people's health.
• Dr. Proctor, runs a hospital for people.

Meteorology

• Bart andMillie, workers at Hoenn'sWeather Institute.
• Mariah, uses severalHoppip to study wind patterns.

Pharmacology

• Cullen Calix, studies medicine and works at the Pokémon Institute.

Physicist

• Newton Graceland, interested in theReverse World and invented several machines to reach the location.
• Tonio, studies how energy moves from his lab underAlamos Town'sSpace-Time Towers.

Roboticist

• Professor Brown

In the manga

Other professors, scientists, and researchers introduced in the various manga include:

Pokémon Adventures

Apart from the main Professors of eachregion, there are also two notable Pokémon researchers:Professor Yanase Berlitz of theSinnoh region, who researched ways to control Legendary Pokémon such asRayquaza; andMr. Berlitz, her husband. Currently, both of them work as Professor Rowan's assistants.

In the TCG

Main article:Professor's Research (Sword & Shield 178)

Professor's Research was introduced as aSupporter card in thePokémon Trading Card Game during the English Scarlet & Violet Series (the Japanese Scarlet & Violet Era), featuring different Professors in its artwork over time. It allows the player to discard their hand, then draw seven cards; an identical effect to previous Professor characters' cards.

Trivia

• ThePokémon Wonder attraction features a researcher named Dr. Cresso, who leads a Pokémon research team.

In other languages

References

Related articles

• Pokémon Watcher
• Professor's assistant

This Trainer Class article is part ofProject CharacterDex, aBulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each character found in thePokémon games.

• Professors
• Game characters
• Pokémon world
• Terminology
• Trainer classes