C-MAIKI

MY RESEARCH

My research program focuses on environmental virology and microbial ecology, with particular expertise in characterizing viral diversity and dynamics in extreme environments. My work has led to the discovery of novel RNA viruses in marine environments, revealing that these viruses are among the most abundant biological entities in the world's oceans and play crucial roles in biogeochemical cycles and microbial community regulation. Notable achievements include pioneering the first characterizations of wild marine RNA virus communities, discovering a new microbial biome in High Arctic lakes, and contributing to comprehensive studies that have doubled the number of previously described RNA virus phyla. My lab has also developed innovative molecular tools and extraction methods that have become foundational techniques in microbial ecology research.

Currently, I lead interdisciplinary research programs investigating microbial communities in the Arctic's Last Ice Area, examining how climate change affects endemic microbes and viral ecology in this vulnerable ecosystem. My lab is also involved in the characterization of the microbial extremophile communities of volcanically-associated environments. My work spans from fundamental viral ecology to applied research with direct health implications, including studies on antimicrobial resistance genes in Arctic environments, gut microbiome interactions with brain development, and rapid COVID-19 detection methods. Looking forward, we aim to build a comprehensive research program that bridges environmental and human health virology, utilizing advanced microscopy, molecular biology, and bioinformatics to understand virus-host interactions and their impact on both ecosystem function and human disease. This research approach aligns with investigating microbial dynamics across environmental gradients and developing predictive models for microbiome-health relationships.

C-MĀIKI SYNERGY

My research program directly supports C-MĀIKI's mission through my expertise in understanding microbiome dynamics across diverse ecosystems and my commitment to trans-disciplinary approaches that bridge environmental and human health. My experience characterizing microbial communities along dramatic physical, chemical, and biological gradients—from Arctic ice to marine environments—provides essential methodological and conceptual frameworks for leveraging Hawaiʻi's unique ecological diversity to model microbiome function. The interdisciplinary nature of my work, spanning virology, ecology, environmental science, and human health applications, exemplifies the trans-disciplinary approach central to C-MĀIKI's vision. My research on virus-host interactions, antimicrobial resistance, and the environmental-human health interface directly addresses C-MĀIKI's goal of understanding nested and interdependent ecosystems, while my collaborative approach with international teams and community partners, including Indigenous communities in the Arctic, demonstrates the partnership model essential for tackling pressing challenges like infectious disease control and ecosystem health that C-MĀIKI seeks to address in Hawaiʻi and beyond. As the director of the Imaging Core our primary objective is to fulfill the imaging needs of the C-MAIKI research community.

IMPACT TO HAWAII