About me
A full academic CV is available here:
Current position
Since April 2026, I have been a JSPS Overseas Research Fellow in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alberta. I am affiliated with the Collaboration for Open Science and Synthesis in Ecology and Evolution (COSSEE), where I collaborate with Prof. Shinichi Nakagawa on phylogenetic comparative methods, meta-analysis, and evidence synthesis.
Research background and interests
I have been fascinated by animals since childhood, particularly by the question of why they vary so much in form, colour, and behaviour. That curiosity still drives my research. I study how biological diversity, especially in birds, is shaped by environmental conditions and evolutionary history.
My current research focuses on ecogeographical rules, such as relationships between climate and morphology, and on the correlated evolution of multiple traits. More broadly, I am interested in how far biological patterns generalise across taxa and environments, and under what conditions they differ or break down.
I am also interested in how biological knowledge is tested, evaluated, and accumulated. Alongside developing and improving statistical methods, I care about the reliability, reproducibility, and transparency of research, including metascience and open science.
Research trajectory
I completed my master’s and doctoral training at Hokkaido University under the supervision of Prof. Masayo Soma, and received my PhD in Life Science in 2023. During my graduate research, I investigated the evolution and function of white dot plumage patterns in estrildid finches, combining behavioural experiments with phylogenetic comparative analyses.
Since then, my research has expanded from questions about particular traits to broader comparative and synthesis-based questions. Through postdoctoral and visiting researcher positions in Japan, Australia, and Canada, I have increasingly used phylogenetic comparative methods and evidence synthesis to investigate broad patterns of behavioural and morphological diversity across species.
Methods and research style
My work is primarily quantitative and synthesis-oriented. I routinely use:
- Phylogenetic comparative methods
- Meta-analysis and systematic reviews
- Bayesian and frequentist hierarchical modelling in R
- Reproducible and open science workflows
I am particularly interested in methodological questions surrounding heterogeneity, robustness, and transparency in ecology and evolution.
Beyond research
Outside of research, I enjoy walking and letting my mind wander.