Hello! I am an organismal biologist studying how hosts and microbiomes interact in various symbiotic systems. I work with plant-endophytic fungal communities, insect-gut microbiomes, and insect-environmental bacteria and fungi. 

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Through my PhD and postdoc at Tokyo Institute of Technology and Cornell University, I focused on termite–microbiome symbiosis, an obligate mutualism that has persisted for over 130 million years. We experimentally manipulated an uncluturable protist community in the termite gut and successfully detected a key species in this ancient, interdependent system.

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For my postdoc position at the University of Hawai'i, starting August 2026, I will study the relationships between the Bactrocera fruit fly and microbes. I am excited to start my new journey!

In my work, I use a mix of approaches, including fieldwork, insect rearing, DNA metabarcoding of the microbiome, microscopy and imaging, observing insect behavior, chemical analysis, and computer modeling, to understand how the symbiosis works.
 

I am passionate about teaching and mentoring students through these approaches, and I always welcome opportunities for collaboration. Please explore my work and feel free to get in touch!