Our Lab Hui
Lab Members
Matthew Christopher Ikaika Medeiros
Principal Investigator
Associate Professor
Pacific Biosciences Research Center
1993 East-West Rd. Honolulu, HI, 96822
(808) 956-8187
[email protected]
Ph.D., Biology, 2013, University of Missouri-St. Louis
B.S., Zoology, 2006, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Dr. Nicola Kriefall
Post-doctoral Researcher
Ph.D., Biology, 2022, Boston University
B.A., Biological Sciences, 2016, CUNY Hunter College
Project: Microbiome modulation of food web complexity
Post-doctoral Researcher
Ph.D., Biology, 2022, Boston University
B.A., Biological Sciences, 2016, CUNY Hunter College
Project: Microbiome modulation of food web complexity
Mei Iwamoto
M.S. haumana
Zoology Graduate Program
B.A. Biology, 2020, Occidental College
Project: Avian malaria transmission in East Maui
M.S. haumana
Zoology Graduate Program
B.A. Biology, 2020, Occidental College
Project: Avian malaria transmission in East Maui
Mamo (Lorraine) Kamamoaliʻiʻaimokuakamakeaweamahi Waianuhea
Ph.D. haumana/NSF GRFP fellow
Zoology Graduate Program
B.S., Biology, minors Chemistry and Fisheries and Wildlife, 2018, Oregon State University
Project: Landscape-scale mosquito control for avian conservation in Hawai‘i.
Ph.D. haumana/NSF GRFP fellow
Zoology Graduate Program
B.S., Biology, minors Chemistry and Fisheries and Wildlife, 2018, Oregon State University
Project: Landscape-scale mosquito control for avian conservation in Hawai‘i.
Lana Mitchell
UROP-funded undergraduate researcher/ former REU intern
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (major: Biology)
Project: Diversity and function of mosquito microbiomes
UROP-funded undergraduate researcher/ former REU intern
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (major: Biology)
Project: Diversity and function of mosquito microbiomes
Ives Otil Rdialul
UROP-funded undergraduate researcher/former REU intern
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (major: Microbiology)
Project: Energy flow along a bromeliad food chain across a microbial diversity gradient
UROP-funded undergraduate researcher/former REU intern
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (major: Microbiology)
Project: Energy flow along a bromeliad food chain across a microbial diversity gradient
Giovanna Verrico
UROP-funded undergraduate researcher
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (major: Global Environmental Science)
Project: Microbiome assembly of mass-reared mosquitoes
UROP-funded undergraduate researcher
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (major: Global Environmental Science)
Project: Microbiome assembly of mass-reared mosquitoes
Lab Affiliates
Kellen Apuna
Undergraduate researcher/former REU intern
California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt (major: Wildlife Biology)
Project: Leveraging community science to predict Hawaiian forest bird distributions
Undergraduate researcher/former REU intern
California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt (major: Wildlife Biology)
Project: Leveraging community science to predict Hawaiian forest bird distributions
Nicole Yoneishi
InSTAR Manager
Pacific Biosciences Research Center
1993 East-West Rd. Honolulu, HI, 96822
(808) 956-2713
[email protected]
B.S., Biology, 2015, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo
Projects: Various projects associated with rat-borne, avian, and mosquito-borne disease, and the microbiotas of these systems. Nicole also maintains our mosquito colony and manages the day-to-day activity in the lab.
InSTAR Manager
Pacific Biosciences Research Center
1993 East-West Rd. Honolulu, HI, 96822
(808) 956-2713
[email protected]
B.S., Biology, 2015, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo
Projects: Various projects associated with rat-borne, avian, and mosquito-borne disease, and the microbiotas of these systems. Nicole also maintains our mosquito colony and manages the day-to-day activity in the lab.
Lab Alumni
Dr. Priscilla Seabourn
Ph.D. haumana
Ph.D. Entomology, 2021, University of Hawai‘i
M.S. Tropical Medicine, 2014, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai‘i
B.S., Biology, 2011, University of Central Oklahoma
Project: The distribution of mosquitoes and their microbial symbionts in Hawai‘i.
Currently a research scientist with Amazon
Ph.D. haumana
Ph.D. Entomology, 2021, University of Hawai‘i
M.S. Tropical Medicine, 2014, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai‘i
B.S., Biology, 2011, University of Central Oklahoma
Project: The distribution of mosquitoes and their microbial symbionts in Hawai‘i.
Currently a research scientist with Amazon
Dr. Chasen Griffin
Ph.D. haumana
Zoology Graduate Program
Ph.D. Zoology, 2024, University of Hawai‘i
B.S., Biology, 2013, Clayton State University
M.S. Biology, 2018, Georgia State University
Project: Environmental modulators of the capacity of mosquito populations to vector disease
Currently an NSF-PRFB Fellow in the labs of Dr. Vanessa Enzenwa and Dr. Robert Cowie
Danya Weber
M.S. haumana
Zoology Graduate Program
M.S. Zoology, 2023, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
B.S., Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 2015, University of California, Santa Cruz
Project: Environmental sources of the mosquito microbiome.
Paris Boyd
Undergraduate researcher
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (major: Marine Biology)
Project: Diversity and function of invertebrate microbiomes
Undergraduate researcher
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (major: Marine Biology)
Project: Diversity and function of invertebrate microbiomes
Rebecca Kaleialohaonālani Miranda
Undergraduate researcher
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (major: Biology)
Project: Biology of blood-feeding flies
Undergraduate researcher
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (major: Biology)
Project: Biology of blood-feeding flies
Abigail Bierwert
UHROP-funded Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Biology, 2024, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Project: Fungal symbionts of Aedes albopictus
UHROP-funded Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Biology, 2024, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Project: Fungal symbionts of Aedes albopictus
Kahiwahiwa Davis (left)
REU haumana (Hawai‘i)
Project: The influence of native Hawaiian and introduced plant detritus on the development of larval mosquitoes and the assembly of their microbiotas.
Gonzaga University BS: Biology and Psychology
Jeromayln "Joma" Santos (right)
REU haumana (Saipan)
Project: The diversity of Wolbachia strains in Culex quinquefasciatus on O‘ahu, Hawai‘i
University of Guam BS: Agriculture and Life Science
REU haumana (Hawai‘i)
Project: The influence of native Hawaiian and introduced plant detritus on the development of larval mosquitoes and the assembly of their microbiotas.
Gonzaga University BS: Biology and Psychology
Jeromayln "Joma" Santos (right)
REU haumana (Saipan)
Project: The diversity of Wolbachia strains in Culex quinquefasciatus on O‘ahu, Hawai‘i
University of Guam BS: Agriculture and Life Science
Kristen Feato
REU haumana (Hawai‘i)
Project: The microbiome of O‘ahu forest birds.
Ma. Vida Amor Echaluse
REU haumana (Saipan)
Project: Angiostrongylus cantonensis transmission in suburban environments across a rainfall gradient.
Currently an MPH student at Oregon Health and Science University
Mehanaokalāikapōmaika‘i (Mehana) Leafchild
Undergraduate Researcher
Former REU Intern
Chaminade University (major: Environmental Studies)
Project: Symbiotic microbes and cold tolerance in Culex quinquefasciatus
Currently a Hollings Scholar at NOAA.
Undergraduate Researcher
Former REU Intern
Chaminade University (major: Environmental Studies)
Project: Symbiotic microbes and cold tolerance in Culex quinquefasciatus
Currently a Hollings Scholar at NOAA.
Caleb-Matthew Olaso
MARC Scholar/Undergraduate Researcher
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (major: Biology)
Project: Microbiome assembly and lipidomics of Aedes albopictus and Culex quinquefasciatus
Currently a PhD student at Stanford University.
MARC Scholar/Undergraduate Researcher
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (major: Biology)
Project: Microbiome assembly and lipidomics of Aedes albopictus and Culex quinquefasciatus
Currently a PhD student at Stanford University.
Dr. Randi Rollins
former Ph.D. affiliate haumana (Advisor: Robert Cowie)
Zoology Graduate Program
Ph.D. 2023, Zoology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
BS., Zoology (major), Chemisty (minor), 2014, Weber State University
Project: Transmission dynamics and consequences of Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection in Hawai‘i
Randi is a graduate student working within our rat-borne zoonotic disease research group at UH-Mānoa.
Currently a NIH-funded post-doc researchers with Dr. Robert Cowie
former Ph.D. affiliate haumana (Advisor: Robert Cowie)
Zoology Graduate Program
Ph.D. 2023, Zoology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
BS., Zoology (major), Chemisty (minor), 2014, Weber State University
Project: Transmission dynamics and consequences of Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection in Hawai‘i
Randi is a graduate student working within our rat-borne zoonotic disease research group at UH-Mānoa.
Currently a NIH-funded post-doc researchers with Dr. Robert Cowie
Joshua Schreiber
UHROP-funded Undergraduate Researcher
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (major: Biology)
Project: Fungal symbionts of Aedes albopictus
Currently a mosquito technician for Maui Forest Bird Recovery
UHROP-funded Undergraduate Researcher
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (major: Biology)
Project: Fungal symbionts of Aedes albopictus
Currently a mosquito technician for Maui Forest Bird Recovery
Dr. Maria Steadmon
former Ph.D. affiliate (Advisor: Dr. Kiana Frank)
Oceanography Graduate Program
Ph.D. 2024, Oceanography, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
B.S. 2019, Marine Sciences, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo
Project: Environmental correlates of pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus among Hawaiian watersheds (ahupua‘a)
former Ph.D. affiliate (Advisor: Dr. Kiana Frank)
Oceanography Graduate Program
Ph.D. 2024, Oceanography, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
B.S. 2019, Marine Sciences, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo
Project: Environmental correlates of pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus among Hawaiian watersheds (ahupua‘a)
Emily Ka‘anelamakamae Stone
former Post-Bacc Researcher and Undergraduate Honors haumana/REU Intern
Columbia University (major: Environmental Biology)
Project: Assembly of the Culex mosquito microbiome through interaction with environmental substrates
Currently an Environmental Scientist with Jacobs
Rachelle Legaspi Tom
B.A., Business, Seattle University
REU haumana (Hawai‘i)
Project: Mosquito Diversity within the Mānoa-Makīkī watersheds
Currently a natural resource manager with Paepae O He‘eia
Hoa hana
Dr. Robert Cowie, Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Dr. Nicole Hynson, Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Dr. Anthony Amend, Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Dr. Amber Wright, Department of Biology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Dr. Floyd Reed, Department of Biology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Dr. Kiana Frank, Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Dr. Nicole Hynson, Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Dr. Anthony Amend, Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Dr. Amber Wright, Department of Biology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Dr. Floyd Reed, Department of Biology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Dr. Kiana Frank, Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa