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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.

Nanette is an ecologist who combines ecosystem- and species-level measurements with isotopic techniques to study tree nutrient acquisition processes and tree-microbial interactions.  She earned her PhD at West Virginia University, followed by a postdoctoral position at Nanyang Technological University before coming to OIST. Her research has spanned the globe, seeking to quantify belowground forest function that drives carbon cycling and forest resilience to global change.  At OIST, she is using cutting-edge molecular techniques to elucidate how mycorrhizosphere communities influence tree productivity in the highly diverse tropical forests of Southeast Asia. Outside of research, she enjoys being a Fellow of the Explorers Club, hiking with her dogs, reading novels and watching movies with action/adventure, and acrylic painting.

Kevin, a forest ecologist and microbiologist from Benin, West Africa, researches arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) which affect ecosystem functioning, particularly plant and soil health. He earned his Ph.D. and M.Sc. in forest sciences from the University of Tokyo (Japan) and his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in forestry and forest management from the University of Abomey-Calavi (Benin). Before joining OIST, he was a JSPS postdoctoral researcher at Mie University, establishing and investigating living culture collections of forest-inhabiting AMF and their associated bacteria. At OIST, he elucidates how interactions among microbes belowground affect individual plants and ecosystems. Outside of research, he enjoys photography, driving, cooking, and intercultural exchange.

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.
 

I am a field technician in the Tatsumi Unit. I have a background in marine biology, and my work combined scientific diving, and molecular tools like eDNA to study coral reef communities and bleaching in Okinawa, during my master’s at the University of the Ryukyus in MISE Lab. I love doing fieldwork both on land and underwater and see how life is connected across them. Looking forward to exploring more on nature and ecosystems in different areas.

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.

I have a background in microbiology, and during my bachelor’s and master’s studies at Kitasato University, I mainly worked on two research topics: investigating how the gut microbiota of tortoises is related to their longevity, and examining the effects of insect-based diets on living organisms.
Currently, I am interested in understanding how soil microbiomes interact with other environmental microbiomes that are essential for the health of plants and animals. In my free time, I enjoy skiing, snorkeling, traveling, and watching movies.
 

I was born and grew up in Bandung, Indonesia. I completed my bachelor's and master's degree in Chemistry at Bandung Institute of Technology, Indonesia (2012-2017) with a Biochemistry Major. During my master’s research, I joined the Sandwich Program between the University of Groningen (Netherlands) and Bandung Institute of Technology. My mainly worked on protein or enzymes biochemistry. Outside of research, I like photography, watch video, and play video games.

I recently graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Biotechnology from the University of Barcelona, Spain, where I developed a particular interest in the environmental applications of biotechnology and the interactions between living organisms and their surroundings. During my undergraduate studies, I investigated the effects of environmental pollutants on freshwater organisms, which further sparked my interest in understanding how human activities affect ecosystems. At OIST, I hope to approach these questions from a different perspective, focusing on microbial movement from terrestrial to marine environments along an urbanization gradient. Outside the lab, I enjoy reading, drawing, watching movies, hiking, and spending time in the water.

I joined the Tatsumi Unit in August 2026 as a Research Unit Administrator. My role is to support the unit's administrative operations so that our unit members can focus on their research activities. Outside of work, I enjoy walking and exploring new places.