Lecturer
Plankton Group
Department of Marine Ecosystem Science
Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo

Research topic: molecular ecology of marine zooplankton

Contact：hirai [at] aori.u-tokyo.ac.jp

Researchmap        GoogleScholar

Please check my Bluesky for recent updates on my research.

I am looking for motivated students who would like to work together on research projects.

Applications for positions such as JSPS Research Fellow (PD) are also welcome.

Feb, 2024 - Present：Lecturer, Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo 

Nov, 2016 - Jan, 2024：Research Associate, Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo 

Mar, 2018 - Feb, 2020：Visiting Researcher, University of British Columbia 

Apr, 2014 - Oct, 2016：JSPS posdoc, National Research Institute of Fisheries Science 

• Aquatic Biology (Ph.D.), Graduate School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo 

• MSc Oceanography (Master), University of Southampton 

• Aquatic Bioscience (Bachelor), Faculty of Agriculture, The University of Tokyo 

• Genomic ecology of marine zooplankton: I will investigate population structures, presence or absence of endogenous viruses, and adaptive evolution of pelagic zooplankton based on whole genome information.

• Interaction between virus and zooplankton: I try to reveal previously-overlooked diversity and ecological role of viruses infecting marine zooplankton.

• Species diversity and food web structures in marine ecosystems: Molecular techniques reveal the basin-scale patterns of biodiversity and prey-predator relationships.

• Taxonomic re-examination of zooplankton: Taxonomic uncertainty of zooplankton are investigated using morphological and molecular analysis.

Please contact me (hirai@aori.u-tokyo.ac.jp) for details of ongoing research projects.

Please see  Researchmap    GoogleScholar

Please contact me (hirai@aori.u-tokyo.ac.jp) for details.