Principal Investigator
Nicole Hynson
Professor
[Click for my CV] [Google Scholar]
email: nhynson [at] hawaii [dot] edu
I received my Ph.D in 2010 from the University of California Berkeley where I worked in the Bruns Lab. After which I was a postdoctoral researcher in the lab of Prof. Kathleen Treseder at the University of California Irvine.
I study the ecology of plant and fungal communities. I employ a multifaceted approach to my research by using tools from molecular biology and physiology in a range of settings from microcosms to field sites across continents. I am enthusiastic about teaching and mentoring and have a passion for the natural world, especially fungi.
I am originally from Maui, but mostly grew up on the continent. My family has a long history on the Islands and I consider Hawaiʻi home. Some activities that I enjoy are hiking, mushroom hunting, and cooking.
Lab Manager & Postdocs
Danyel Yogi
Lab Manager
email: danyelk [at] hawaii [dot] edu
Hello! I’m Danyel, I’m born and raised on the windward side of O‘ahu and I’m the lab manager for both the Hynson and Amend lab. I started working as an undergraduate assistant in the lab way back in 2018, since then I’ve received my B.S in Microbiology and become the lab manager. I have assisted with a wide range of projects studying plant-fungal interactions here in the Hynson lab and completed an NSF REU under Dr. Teresa Pawlowska studying the bacterial endosymbionts of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi at Cornell University.
While fungi have a very special place in my heart, environmental microbiology as a whole is where my passion lies. My goal is to dedicate my career towards learning all I can about microbes and how they interact with the environment around them in order to aid conservation efforts here in Hawai‘i. Outside of the lab, I enjoy spending time with my family, volunteering at lo‘i and fishponds, and going to coffee shops.
Dr. Nicola Kriefall
Postdoc
email: nicolagk [at] hawaii [dot] edu
Twitter link: twitter.com/reef_building
Google scholar link: https://scholar.google.com
I earned my PhD from the Davies Lab at Boston University, where I investigated how microorganisms within coral hosts are structured by reef environments, through lab-based tank experiments in Boston and field sampling in the Florida Keys. Now, I’m dipping my toe into terrestrial study systems under the guidance of Drs. Hynson and Medeiros. Specifically, I’ll be exploring aquatic pools hosted by bromeliad plants to better understand the roles of microorganisms in food webs. Having spent most of my life in the state and city of New York, and then Boston, I am learning how to spend time in consistent sun and warmth on the island of O’ahu. It was a hobby of mine to try to keep tropical houseplants alive in Boston, which seems easier here so I’ll have to find new hobbies. Snorkeling and beach reading are the top contenders.
Graduate Students
Kacie Kajihara
MSc Student
email: kaciekaj [at] hawaii [dot] edu
I am pursuing a Master’s degree in the Department of Botany and recently earned my Bachelor’s in Molecular Biosciences & Biotechnology at UH Mānoa. As an undergraduate, I worked as a research assistant in the Hynson Lab for all four years and did my capstone research on the differences in mycorrhizal fungal communities between native Hawaiian forests and reforested pastures. I am interested in using computational methods to study the ecology of microbiomes with the hope that this research can aid the preservation and restoration of native ecosystems. Born and raised in Kaimuki, I am excited to contribute to our understanding of the natural world and the interactions that sustain it. Outside of science I enjoy cooking, Korean dramas, and learning to play the guitar.
Allie Hall
PhD Student
email: alliej [at] hawaii [dot] edu
Aloha! Allie here, and I meet fungi in the wilderness. I consider myself nomadic by nature and have called many places on this beautiful planet home. In 2019, I received my B.S. from the University of Colorado in Biology, emphasis in Biochemistry. I worked under Dr. Meghan Lybecker as an undergrad and post-bacc researcher investigating mechanisms of sRNA and RNA-chaperone regulations in bacterial pathogens. Later, I was awarded an ORISE Fellowship to continue research at the CDC. I joined Dr. Hynson’s Lab Fall of 2022 to pursue my PhD in Botany focusing in fungal, microbial, and molecular ecology. Research interests include plant and fungi microbiomes, distance-decay relationships of microbiomes, fungi-plant co-invasions, fungal symbiosis, and evolution of microbes influenced by major disturbances. Outside of academia you could say I’m an amateur poet, backcountry backpacker, free-diver, surfer, and rock climber.
Mike Opgenorth
PhD Student
email: mopgenorth [at] ntbg [dot] org
I am pursuing my PhD at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark under the co-supervision of Dr. Nina Ronsted and Dr. Hynson. My previous education includes undergraduate degrees at the University of Hawaiʻi in Business and Tropical Plant Soil Sciences. Currently, my work in the Hynson Lab focuses on the use of local mycorrhizal fungi from extant subpopulations of Critically Endangered Hawaiian Gardenia spp. to investigate its effect on plant fitness. My research interests include topics that inform how to conserve biocultural resources such as Native Hawaiian and Polynesian-introduced plants. I also concurrently serve as the Director of Kahanu Garden and Preserve of the National Tropical Botanical Garden. Originally from Fallbrook California, I moved to Hawaiʻi in 2007 and have been fortunate to spend that time on Oʻahu and Maui. I am a passionate surfer, horticulturalist, and hiker.
Undergraduate Students
Raul Ruiz
Undergraduate Researcher
email: raulruiz [at] hawaii [dot] edu
I was born & raised on the ‘ninth island’ of Las Vegas, Nevada but I’ve called Hawai‘i home for the past four years. I am an undergraduate student with a Botany and Psychology major. I’m interested in the intersections between plants and humans. I appreciate gaining different experiences in order to further my academic endeavors and lead a fulfilling life. Outside of school, I enjoy beachcombing for shells, hiking, and shopping!
Cadie Young
Undergraduate Researcher
email: cadiey [at] hawaii [dot] edu
I am an undergraduate pursuing a major in biology and a minor in Japanese. I was born and raised in Mililani, O’ahu and have always been interested in the medical field. I have previously conducted research on the antihelmintic effects of noni (Morinda citrifolia) on planarians to provide an effective and affordable treatment for people in poverty suffering parasitic infections and have done health related internships at Castle Adventist Health Hospital. In my free time, I enjoy traveling the world and hanging out with my friends and family.
Mallory Maloney
Undergraduate Researcher
email: mm300[at] hawaii [dot] edu
Aloha! I am an undergraduate majoring in Marine Biology and minoring in Japanese and Music. I was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, and moved to O’ahu four years ago. I’m interested in marine mammal conservation and ecology but love learning from others to expand my knowledge. I studied in Japan in the summer of 2022 and hope to return to facilitate language exchange in the science field. When I have time I like to paddleboard, go to the beach, teach percussion music lessons, and perform.
Zachary Gibson
Undergraduate Researcher
email: gibsonz [at] hawaii [dot] edu
Hello everyone, I’m excited to be part of the lab team! Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, I have found a refreshing change of scenery on O’ahu. Currently, I’m a student at Kapi’olani Community College, pursuing my Associates in Biological Sciences. My academic journey will continue at UH Manoa, where I plan to delve deeper into the fascinating realm of Botany and Mycology. Inspired by a biology class at UH Manoa, I developed a keen interest in exploring the endosymbiotic relationships between mycelium networks and their counterparts. In addition to my scientific pursuits, I’m actively involved in KCC’s Psychology Club and Student Congress. Outside of the lab, I enjoy volunteering with the Maikiki Watershed Initiative, indulging in outdoor activities like paddling, and challenging myself with indoor rock-climbing. I’m thrilled to contribute to the team’s research and make meaningful discoveries together.
James Pulido
Undergraduate Researcher
email:pulidojk [at] hawaii [dot] edu
Hello! James here, I graduated from Moanalua High School and am interested in computer science (cyber security specifically). I was born and raised here on Oahu, but I have spent a big part of my life living on the mainland. I enjoy going to the beach, hanging out with my friends, and playing saxophone. Music is a big part of my life and I love it dearly.