About
I am an evolutionary biologist with an interest in the role of symbiosis in evolution and ecology.
My objective is to demonstrate how insect biology is, in many respects, shaped by their interactions with microbial symbionts, and to develop this knowledge for applications in agriculture and human health.
My current research focuses on maternally transmitted microbial symbionts that manipulate host reproduction. Symbiosis, where two different organisms live in close association, has played a key role in the evolution of all complex life. Insects and other arthropods often harbour microbial symbionts that are passed from mothers to their offspring, and some of these microbes have evolved to kill male hosts that do not contribute to their transmission. My research seeks to understand how these male-killing symbionts evolve and how they shape host biology – such as sex determination systems.
Prizes or Honours
- John Maynard Smith Prize (European Society for Evolutionary Biology (ESEB), 2025)
Funded Fellowships
- Marie Curie Fellowship (UK Research and Innovation, 2025 - 2027)
- JSPS Overseas Research Fellowships (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, 2024 - 2025)
- JSPS Postdoctoral Felloships (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, 2021 - 2024)
- JSPS Doctoral Fellowships (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, 2019 - 2021)