Lab Members

(Left-Right: Christian, Sarah, Maya, Ikkei, April, Laura, Kevin)

  Ikkei Shikano, PhD

  Principal Investigator

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Maya joined our team in January 2022 as a Graduate Assistant under the co-mentorship of Dr. Ikkei Shikano and Dr. Andrea Jani. Her research is primarily focused on the gut bacteria of the diamondback moth (Plutella Xylostella), exploring its role in insecticide resistance and the influence of farming practices on the bacterial profile of these moths across farms on Oahu and Maui.

Maya's involvement in various projects highlights her expertise in entomology and microbiology, including research on microbial communities in soil and terrestrial crustaceans, and her role as a Teaching Assistant in UH's entomology lab. Possessing skills in molecular methods, statistical analysis, and field sample collection, Maya has been instrumental in advancing our understanding of DBM-microbe interactions. She is eager to continue her learning in the years ahead.

Sarah first joined the lab in summer 2020 as part of the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program at UH Manoa and became the lab’s technician/manager in Fall 2022. She's been involved in a number of projects including the effects of plant growth promoting bacteria on aboveground plant-insect interactions and applied projects on fruit fly management. In Fall 2023 Sarah became a MS student conducting research on insecticide resistance in Tephritid fruit flies and developing new IPM methods using microbial insecticides for Tephritid fruit fly control. Tephritid species targeted include melon fly (Zeugodacus cucurbitae), oriental fly (Bactrocera dorsalis), and Mediterranean fly (Ceratitis capitata).

April switched over to our lab in Fall 2021 when her advisor moved to Texas. She was initially studying the effects of diet on honeybee resistance to parasites. Now she studying the effects of nutrient concentrations on insecticidal bait consumption by melon flies.

Trish is our lab technician based in Hilo at the USDA ARS Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center. She is working in Dr. Dara Stockton's lab and is surveying invasive tephritid fruit flies for spinosad resistance.

Christian first joined the lab as a lab/field technician in summer 2020 and is now an MS candidate as of Fall 2020. He is working on developing new IPM methods to control melon flies (family Tephritidae).

Kevin joined the lab in Fall 2021. He is testing the effectiveness of planting insectary plants in avocado and cabbage agroecosystems to facilitate predation on pest insects.

Undergraduate students

We are always looking for students interested in insects, ecology and pest management to volunteer as a lab helper or conduct independent research as part of a directed research course (PEPS 499). Please contact me (ishikano[at]hawaii.edu) if you're interested.

MS and PhD opportunities

We are currently (as of Nov. 28, 2023) considering accepting applications for a PhD student. Please email me (ishikano[at]hawaii.edu) ASAP to discuss research ideas and to see if our lab would be a good fit for you! 

Postdoc opportunities

The Shikano Lab (University of Hawaii) and the Mason Lab (USDA-ARS Hilo) are currently (as of Nov. 28, 2023) recruiting a Postdoctoral Scholar to assist with a project to formulate microbial inoculants for establishment in the guts of Tephritidae fruit flies, and assess their effects on fly performance. More information and application details can be found here: Postdoctoral Research Specialist (Microbial Inoculants) 
Note that while the position is technically with University of Hawaii at Manoa, the position will be based in Hilo, HI, at the Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center.
Feel free to contact me (ishikano@hawaii.edu) if you have any questions or need further information.