Members

BSc. in Molecular Biology, University of Padua, Italy
MSc. in Evolutionary Biology, University of Padua, Italy
Second Level Specialization Degree in Machine Learning and Big Data for Precision Medicine, University of Padua, Italy
PhD in Molecular Parasitology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany

I'm interested in genomics and epigenomics, especially of understudied organisms that can be characterized to reveal fundamental biological principles and highlight evolutionary diversity. To this end, I apply state-of-the-art molecular biology and bioinformatics methods.

During my master studies at the University of Padua, Italy, I worked on the development of molecular biology methods for de novo genome and transcriptome assembly. During my PhD studies in Munich, Germany, I studied the linear sequence and three-dimensional genome organization of the trypanosome, the causative agent of sleeping sickness. In the Husnik lab, I plan to study the spatial distribution of horizontally transferred genes in the citrus mealybug genome. And to share lots of cat pictures too.

Outside the lab, I enjoy writing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, diving, and hiking.

BSc. in Biology, University of British Columbia

Trading one rainy place for another, I graduated from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada before joining OIST as a PhD student. During my bachelor’s degree, I worked on projects including pesticide development using nanoparticles, floral preferences of bumblebees, and population dynamics of algae. Most recently I studied the physical factors shaping riparian insect communities in alpine British Columbia. I am currently a rotation student in the Husnik Unit, looking at the eukaryotic microbiome of the species rich Okinawa sea meadows. In my spare time, I can be found running down (but not up) the OIST hill and updating my Goodreads account.

PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Dalhousie University, Canada
MSc in Genetics from the University of British Columbia, Canada
BSc in Genetics from the University of York, U.K.

I am interested in the early evolution of eukaryotes, and in mitochondrial origins, evolution, and diversity. Animals, fungi and plants make up only a small fraction of eukaryotic lineages, and so in order to study these questions across eukaryotic diversity, my research focuses on protists - diverse, mainly microbial organisms that collectively make up the majority of eukaryotes.

For my PhD I studied modified mitochondria in protists inhabiting low-oxygen environments at Dalhousie University (Canada), and for my earlier postdoctoral research I studied protists closely related to animals with a view to understanding animal origins at the Institute of Evolutionary Biology (Barcelona, Spain). At the ECBSU I hope to study the variety of interactions between mitochondria and more recently established endosymbionts.

I love swimming and snorkeling, exploring new hiking trails, terrible puns, and doodling (including terrible visual puns). Any cat pictures shared with Yi-Kai Fang should be cc’d to me.

Google Scholar

BSc. in Veterinary Medicine, National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine
MSc. in Molecular Biology, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine

I am interested in the evolution of plastids. Plastid is an ancient organelle that originated thanks to the endosymbiosis with photosynthetic cyanobacteria. Some modern organisms also happen to have similar symbioses. In my project, I want to use a protist that bears a photosynthetic cyanobacterial symbiont and compare it to a heterotrophic relative from the same lineage. My goal is to expose differences in gene expression that allow this symbiosis to arise and thrive. Before coming to OIST, I worked as an Imaging Bioinformatician at Wellcome Sanger Institute and HuBMAP Consortium in the UK where I focused on the development of processing pipelines for imaging spatial omics data such as CODEX, CellDive, MIBI, and IMS. In my free time, I enjoy getting lost in new places, hiking, computer graphics, and a bit of math.

Google Scholar

BSc. and MSc. in Biology, Voronezh State University, Russia

My path in biology began with research in biophysics. As an undergraduate student, I studied the patterns of structural organization of glycosidases: internal cavities, tunnels, and pores in the composition of monomers and dimers of exo- and endoinulinases. As a master's candidate, I was inspired by research in the field of protistology, and my master's thesis was devoted to the study of morphology, ecology, and molecular phylogeny of telonemids. I am interested in reconstructing the phylogenetic tree and the early evolution of eukaryotes through genomic and morphological studies of protists, as well as in studying their biodiversity and ecology. Apart from my research, I am passionate about learning to play musical instruments, hiking, painting watercolors, and learning Spanish and Arabic.

Google Scholar

BSc. in Biology, Hokkaido University, Japan

I have been working on different species of benthic dinoflagellates (Coolia, Ostreopsis, and Amphidinium spp.) during my undergraduate course. I have also worked for five months as a research intern in the Husnik Unit and started exploring the role of bacterial symbionts in diverse aspects of dinoflagellate biology (e.g. toxin production or photosynthesis). During my rotation, I plan to explore symbiotic interactions between marine dinoflagellates from Okinawa and their endosymbionts. When I am not working, I am usually cooking or hiking in the mountains.

Google Scholar

BSc. in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, UNAM, Mexico

I am interestred in the underlaying paterns that hide within the sea of information that recent techniques have allowed access to. I did my bachelor thesis project at CICESE in Mexico where I was introduced to metabolomics. I analyzed data from metabolites of a wide range of microorganisms. During my PhD in the Husnik Unit, my aim is to perform metabolomics analyses that will help to elucidate diverse host-symbiont interactions. Outside of work I enjoy sports (mainly those that involve a raquet) and videogames.

Google Scholar

BSc. in Biology, Moscow State University, Russia

I am broadly interested in marine invertebrates and their relationships with symbionts. During my rotation, I will compare Symbiodiniaceae distribution across different hosts (corals, foraminifera, possibly clams) and environments (seawater and sediment). Besides that, I am extremely curious to know what kinds of animals you can find in different environments around Okinawa, so I’ll be also helping with Arno’s project exploring marine and mangrove meiofauna. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, snorkeling, and diving (still haven’t done it much in Okinawa!), also trying to learn photography and social dancing (such as salsa and west coast swing).

Google Scholar

Google Scholar

I studied in medical parasitology, mostly Trichomonas vaginalis, and mitochondrial-related organelle (MRO) hydrogenosome in my PhD in Taiwan. My previously work in Charles University, Czech Republic, leads me into a more fascinating world, protistology. By using proteomics and immunofluorescence assay, the complexity and beauty of these small creatures were revealed. I am now gazing around in this interesting world and seeing where it will take me to.

I am a cat person and wishing to discover more feline friends in Okinawa. If you have your own cats, please share their cuteness with me. I also like baseball and play slow-pitch softball. If you like them as well, we can go together for exercise or watch games sometime.

Google Scholar

Google Scholar

I've been working as an RUA ever since I moved to Okinawa in 2013. I'm grateful for the chance to be a part of ECBSU from Oct.2022, and hope to contribute to unit operation in some way. I'm interested in all living creatures (particularly birds), folk crafts, farming, and marine activities.