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Chikae is a microbial and ecosystem ecologist whose research focuses on how environmental changes, such as land use and climate change, affect soil microbial communities, which play vital roles in plant growth and health as well as biogeochemical cycling. Born and raised in Osaka, Japan, she earned her Bachelor's, Master's, and Ph.D. degrees from Kyoto University, followed by postdoctoral research at Hokkaido University and Boston University. Outside of research, she enjoys spending time with her children, traveling, hiking, watching stage dramas and musicals, as well as reality shows and documentaries.

As a Research Unit Technician, I manage reagents and research equipment, and provide technical support to help ensure smooth and effective research activities. I was born in Osaka and grew up in Osaka and Hyogo, and moved to Okinawa in 2006. In my free time, I enjoy reading, playing the piano, and scuba diving.
 

Trading one rainy place for another, Yulia graduated from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada before joining OIST as a PhD student. During her bachelor’s degree, she worked on everything from nanoparticles, bumblebees, population dynamics of algae and riparian insect communities in alpine British Columbia. Currently, she is interested in the microbial connections between land and sea as well as the human effects on this continuum. In her spare time, Yulia can be found running down (but not up) the OIST hill and feeding her sourdough starter.

Originally from Osaka, Japan, Shintaro moved to Okinawa alone at the age of 15 to study at the National Institute of Technology, Okinawa College (KOSEN).
He is interested in bioremediation using fungi and the ecological roles of mushrooms in environmental restoration. His current research explores how fungi decompose recalcitrant compounds and how these processes can contribute to environmental conservation. In his free time, he enjoys playing guitar, watching films, and cooking.
 

I have been in OIST since November 2023 and joined Tatsumi Unit in July 2025 as a Research Unit Administrator. With Chihiro and Makiko, I give administrative support for the unit for smooth operation. 
I was born, grew up in Yokohama and spent almost 20 years in Canada and the US.
During my free time, I enjoy scuba diving to encounter marine creatures and occasionally bouldering.