By Kyle Young LOW​

I had the honor of participating in the 1st International Joint Meeting of Young Researchers for Future Research Collaboration (The 1st iCollab) held in Ehime, Japan on March 14, 2025. This meeting fostered academic exchange between young (pun not intended) researchers from Ehime University and its overseas partner universities through research presentations. Aiming to build sustainable international research networks.

The event started off with an opening remark from, Prof. Noriaki Mitsuda, head of the Management Information Analysis Office here in Ehime University, followed by two plenary speeches from invited guests, Professor Greg Tabios Pawilen and Professor David Weissbrodt. Although both speakers came from different backgrounds, both emphasized that working collaboratively helped them achieve tangible progress in their respective fields. Dave Robledo, an upcoming PhD graduate, then delivered an inspiring keynote on killer whales.  

Once the plenary session concluded, we moved towards the panel session. As an invited speaker, I got a chance to present my work "Establishing Wastewater Metaviromic Sampling Standards" and shared contacts for potential collaborations. When not speaking, I got to listen, and I am happy to report that the panel session covered wide variety of subjects ranging from deducing physical properties of moon stones to figuring out the relative distance of spaces using of circular objects—a mind enriching experience. 

Once all the speeches had concluded. The event concluded with a networking dinner at Maple where I was glad to have used this opportunity to interact directly with all three invited speakers. These moments are invaluable to my PhD journey and I am thankful for the candid conversations made. At the end, certificates for outstanding presentations were awarded by the organising chair. 

As an international student residing in Japan, I am thankful for the collaborative opportunities that MEcoH gave me. All in all, it's been a rewarding and inspiring experience for me.

Prof. David Weissbrodt from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway was invited to MEcoH on March 13th to establish potential collaboration and networking. Hailing from Switzerland, Prof. Weissbrodt is an environmental chemist, microbiologist, biotechnologist, engineer, and educator with a deep fascination for water environments. Also, he chairs the environmental engineering education specialist group of the International Water Association. This marks his first (and hopefully many more) visit of Prof. Weissbrodt to Ehime University, Japan. Thanks to his current institute's association with past collaborations, like the Kyoto International Forum for Environment and Energy (KIFEE), he is here to strengthen old ties. 

While speaking to a crowd of young researchers, Prof. Weissbrodt'sshared his secret to success, by staying curious and embracing new opportunities!  He highlighted his core research interest of antibiotic resistance, particularly in drinking water, aquaculture, and wastewater systems. Specifically, he and his team are interested in the presence and behavior of antibiotic-resistant genes in various human-related water sources, especially in aquaculture systems and wastewater treatment plants, where antibiotics are commonly detected.

On that very same day, there was a break-out session with the wastewater antimicrobial resistance gene and virome group. The team discussed collaboration opportunities and research gaps. It was a constructive session.

Prof. Weissbrodt emphasizes the importance of improving risk assessments related to antibiotic resistance in environmental systems, particularly in water treatment processes. He advocates for greater focus on studying the release and persistence of resistant genes and microbial elements in the environment, as well as the development of practical solutions to assess risks. 

Collaboration and innovation can lead to meaningful progress. With continued dedication and global cooperation, Prof. Weissbrodt believes that we can develop strategies that solves public health and the environment issues. 

Thank you for visiting! We hope to meet again soon. 

Molecular Ecology and Health (MECOH) Lab of Ehime University, Japan (PI: Prof. Kozo Watanabe; lab URL https://www.mecohlab.com/ ) is advertising for two (2) opening positions of international (non-Japanese) doctoral students with full financial support for the two research areas: 1) Molecular Ecology in Rivers and 2) Antimicrobial Resistance Genes (ARGs) in Water Environment. Applicants need to specify one research area that they want to study on their application letter.
 
Description of the positions:
 
Research Area 1: Molecular Ecology in Rivers
The successful candidate will conduct field surveys using riverine organisms (macroinvertebrates, bacteria, and fish) and environmental DNA (eDNA). The main focus will be on the bioinformatics analysis of next-generation sequencing (NGS) data, such as metabarcoding, metagenomics, ddRADseq, and transcriptomics, to understand biodiversity (genetic and species diversity) and evolutionary patterns. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to a recently funded project entitled “Optimization of River Habitat Structure Based on Functional Diversity of Aquatic Insect Communities.” The aim of this research is to propose a molecular biological approach to evaluate the various functions of river ecosystems, such as organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling, which have lost habitat diversity (e.g., rapids, pools, backwaters) due to human influence and are no longer able to demonstrate these functions. If the selected candidate contributes to the above-mentioned project, he/she will be able to propose and carry out other research projects, such as NGS-based analysis of fish and bacteria at community and population level, if he/she wishes.

Research Area 2: Antimicrobial Resistance Genes (ARGs) in Water Environment
The successful candidate will investigate the emergence and transmission of antibiotic resistance genes across patients, livestock, and water environments (rivers and wastewater treatment plants). The candidate will be required to contribute to a recently funded project titled “Understanding the relationship between antimicrobial-resistant indicator bacteria in water environments and strains from humans and animals through genome analysis.” This research aims to propose indicator species and indicator ARGs suitable for inter-sector comparisons based on the whole genome information of antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli and ESKAPE pathogens isolated from the human, animal, and environmental sectors. Additionally, by understanding the localization of ARGs within the chromosomes and plasmids of indicator species, the research will estimate the inter-sector diffusion of gene cassettes that include mobile genetic factors and explore ARGs that co-localize with pathogenic genes of public health concern and their environmental factors. If the selected candidate contributes to the above project, they may propose and execute other research projects, such as bacterial community analysis based on metagenomic analysis, if he/she wishes.
 
Application deadline and start date of the position:

• Application deadline: 30 April 2025 or until all positions are filled - up.
• Start date of the position: Between July 2025 – February 2026 (flexible and late start also negotiable)

 
Eligibility:

1. Only non-Japanese nationals are eligible to apply for this position (Japanese nationals are not eligible).
2. Master's degree in related fields (e.g., biology, environmental science, ecology, microbiology) is required before the start date of the said position (not by the time of application).
3. There is no age limit.

 
Contract details:

• Duration of contract: Maximum of 4 years and 6 months.

• Full financial support (stipend, tuition, and round-trip ticket) is guaranteed by MECOH’s research projects, and can also be complemented by additional support from scholarships from private foundations in Japan.
• The candidate should be able to work independently, with very good or excellent English communication skills, and can work harmoniously with a team of multi-disciplinary field.

 
Application and selection processes:
   Application and selection processes: Applicants are encouraged to send the following files to Prof. Kozo Watanabe by email ([email protected]). ​In the "Subject" field, please write: “MECOH PhD Application”.

1. CV (any format). You can use any format you like, but please be sure to include your photo and your date of birth.
2. An application letter, limited to 3 pages, that explains the applicant’s past research activities and motivation for the PhD project. Applicants need to specify one research area that they want to study on their application letter. At the end of your application letter, please include the names, affiliations, and contact details of two references that Professor Watanabe can contact for an online meeting.
3. A PDF of any published papers if the applicant has any reviewed journal publications.

   
If you have any questions regarding the said position, please contact the email address above.

Professor Satoru Suzuki’s career spanned viral ecology, chemical waste contamination, and environmental microbiology, with notable contributions to antibiotic resistance research and collaborations across Asia, Europe, and Africa. Without Prof. Suzuki, MEcoH will not be the same. With that said, we are honored to have him deliver his last lecture with us at the seminar hall of MEcoH. 

​Professor Suzuki’s journey in research started with viral studies. With that background, his career took him across institutions, including Hokkaido University and Kochi University, where he played a key role in viral ecology and fish disease research. By the time he joined here in Ehime University, his research broadened to environmental microbiology, while integrating antibiotic resistance studies with antibiotic residue pollution research.

Given the need for global collaboration, Professor Suzuki forged partnerships with esteemed scientists. These collaborations enabled large-scale environmental sampling across Asia, Europe, and Africa, resulting in influential publications on chemical contaminants and microbial interactions. His findings gained attention from the scientific community and international community.  Notably, the largest contribution from Professor Suzuki’s work is his study on ARG dissemination where his findings have deepened our understanding of the environmental factors that accelerate antibiotic resistance. His studies revealed that tetracycline and sulfonamide-resistant genes serve as crucial markers of resistance dissemination. Of which a significant contribution was given to the 'One Health' initiative, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health to combat antibiotic resistance. 

Today, Professor Suzuki never slowed down and is actively providing feedback to the young scientists here in MEcoH. As a final message, Professor Suzuki reminds us of the words of Louis Pasteur: “Chance favors the prepared mind.” He encourages the next generation of scientists to embrace preparation and continuous learning, ensuring that future discoveries continue to advance our understanding of microbial resistance and environmental health.

While Professor Suzuki is about to step back from active research, his legacy will continue to shape microbiology and environmental science for years to come. Without a doubt, he have left an indelible mark on the scientific community of Japan.