Junior Scholars

Growing up in a multi-ethnic community in Southern California, Kaori feels inextricably linked to the social, political, and economic problems faced by the Asia-Pacific. After engaging in SUA’s international studies and humanities curricula, opportunities such as the Dark Tourism Learning Cluster, and my current study abroad in Tokyo, Japan, she has felt a united Pacific to fight the gloom of conflict is more imperative than ever. With the support of the PBRC, she seeks to research connections in the realm of humanistic education, culture, and law throughout the Pacific. In the future, she hopes to help bring together the global community and resolve seemingly irreconcilable differences.

Arnav Pandey is a third-year student from Nepal concentrating in Life Sciences. As a research assistant for Dr. Afrasiabi in the summer of 2022, Arnav worked along with other lab members to compare the efficacy of functional group modification in different kinds of biochar, examined the usefulness of modified biochar in the remediation of heavy metal contamination in soil, and presented their results at American Chemical Society Conference. He also worked with Dr. Walsh this summer to find the function of the yeast protein encoded by a gene of unknown function and is preparing to attend the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Conference in spring. Expressing his aspirations as an emerging research scientist, Arnav emphasizes that the hands-on research experiences at SUA, along with opportunities to present his findings to diverse audiences and establish connections, boost him to contribute significantly to research and development, benefitting the Pacific Basin region and beyond.

My name is Sofia Vitale and I am a third-year student concentrating in Life Sciences. I was born and raised in San Diego, California. Growing up as the daughter of a single, hardworking mother in a low-income circumstance, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges many families endure. Now, I am working towards my dream of supporting vulnerable women and children facing circumstances similar to my own. My ongoing research at the Perinatal RISE lab at Columbia University Irving Medical Center dovetails with PBRC’s mission by investigating perinatal psychobiology, aiming to uncover the mechanisms through which social inequities affect individuals across generations. Specifically, I am exploring DNA methylation (DNAm) as a potential biological marker for assessing the impact of perinatal interventions. My work extends to countries along the Pacific Basin including countries in Latin America. I am extremely grateful and excited to uniquely contribute to the PBRC’s pursuit of a more equitable and humane world.  

My name is Mareva Dijoux (She/Her/Hers), and I am a second-year student from France. I am concentrating in Environmental and International Studies, and I am currently learning Spanish at Soka. I am passionate about sustainability and ecology, notably marine ecology, and I am hoping to work with non-profits to restore endangered ecosystems in the future. In January, I had the opportunity to be part of a research project in Moorea, French Polynesia about the impacts of climate change on coral reefs with Professor Anthony Mazeroll. This project made me realize the importance of protecting marine organisms to maintain all ecosystems on earth. 
I am also interested in learning about how we can empower Indigenous communities and allow them to share their knowledge as a way to acknowledge their voice and better protect the environment. I am currently doing an independent study with Professor James Spady on the federal recognition process of the Acjachemen tribe, a native group of California and I am going to be part of a learning cluster addressing the same issue this January. I am looking forward to keeping learning and contributing to these different fields during and after my time at Soka. Thank you so much!

Miyu Funahashi is a junior-year student at Soka University of America, concentrating on Social and Behavioral Sciences. Her academic interests align with how the parental relationship differently influences children’s cognitive and emotional development in distinct cultures. In SUA, she has researched with Dr. Chang about the association between the mother-daughter dyad and daughter’s eating disorders. Moreover, with the support of a 2024 PBRC summer grant, she has participated in a research project in Dr. Chen’s lab at the University of California, Irvine, exploring the gender differences in depressive symptomology in China. These research opportunities made her realize the majority of psychological research is oriented in Western countries (commonly called WEIRD culture: western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic nation). Different cultures largely influence psychological pathologies and child development; therefore, the findings from the WEIRD cultures are not necessarily accurate in other regions, such as East Asian countries. In order to contribute to filling the gap, Miyu will continue researching with Dr. Chang and Dr. Chen and conduct independent research on how different parenting styles in different cultures influence children’s development.

I am Bidisha Kaphle, a sophomore student from Nepal, majoring in International Studies with a passion for International Development, particularly in South Asia. I am interested and involved in advocating for women’s issues and equitable education in the region. With support from the PBRC Summer Grant, I completed my project, Pratidhwani, which worked to bridge the gap between education and advocacy for high school students and middle-aged women in Nepal. Currently, as a Research Assistant for Prof. Lisa MacLeod, I contribute to her study on Women, Peace, and Security—a UN Thematic issue, enhancing my understanding of this field. Serving as a board member of the UNA Chapter at Soka, I have been able to actively work towards the SDGs on campus and in the community. My passion for education and advocacy stems from my hope for a globally accessible and aware community, particularly benefiting those in the developing world.

Vedant Kohli is a sophomore concentrating in Social & Behavioural Sciences, hailing from India. Having witnessed the dawn of the Information Age, Vedant found immersive storytelling as a commercially squandered niche. Recognizing its power to alter space, time, consciousness, and the texture of social reality, he observes that immersive storytelling is being tremendously underutilised for positive contributions to humanity. Consequently, he is interested in researching the effects of a global synthesis of Film, Artificial Intelligence, and Politics. Vedant hopes to predict the impact of strategically influencing public sentiment using soft power, amplifying its effects at the political level through an automated voting interface aimed at democratising policy-making. Thereby, renewing people’s interest to participate in democracy and empowering them to do so in a meaningfully entertaining way.

Subodh, a second-year student, is pursuing a Life Sciences Concentration at Soka University of America. Having grown up in Nepal, he witnessed the firsthand challenges of the country’s underdeveloped healthcare system. He aspires to improve healthcare in Nepal and in other Pacific Basin countries. Currently, he is undertaking an Engineering Internship at a startup called Equilibrio, Inc. His current focus involves working on electrochemical sensors for glucose testing, where he assists scientists in performing quality control tests for these sensors.

Hi, this is Khue, a sophomore at Soka University. I grew up in Vietnam, the Tiger Cub of the Pacific Rim. Two years ago, I researched E-waste and Human Rights in Northern Vietnam. For the first time, I witnessed the downside of the Pacific Basin’s interconnectedness. One told me: “We had no choice…the waste came from richer communities…” With an economy’s rapid switch to automation, lower-income communities tend to be left behind. Along with that growth are environmental consequences: pollution, resource shortages, or species extinction appeared frequently in the news of Pacific countries. At Soka, my passion for sustainable growth and environmental justice in the Pacific Basin fuels my commitment to finding the potential for the coexistence between human development and the environment. I am eager to become a Pacific Basin student scholar to bridge academic studies with practical and sustainable community engagement, ultimately making a meaningful and tangible impact! 
Besides the academic field, I enjoy hiking, kayaking, reading, playing the piano, and volunteering. I love learning new skills and collaborating with diverse and talented people with the same vision for a more sustainable world!

Jun Sawada is a sophomore working in academic research and filmmaking.  Born and raised in South America’s largest city, São Paulo, in a third-generation nikkei household, Jun’s research interests are Japanese-Brazilian history and Asian-Latino identity. He is concentrating in Humanities and International Studies. 
 
In the Summer of 2023, through the PBRC Research Grant, Jun worked as the research assistant to Dr. Monica Okamoto, who investigated the concentration camps and persecution of Japanese-Brazilians in the 1940s for the University of Victoria’s project Landscapes of Injustice. Gaining experience in historical document management, investigation, and outreach, Jun is involved in the pioneer movement of rescuing the forgotten history of the persecution of Asians in Brazil. Alongside research projects, Jun is a Transnational Filmmaker, producing short films and documentaries that vocalize different subjects through narrative. 
 
Besides his native language, Portuguese, Jun is fluent in English, Advanced in French, Intermediate in Spanish, and Beginner in Japanese. 
 
It is amidst his diverse backgrounds, languages, research interests, and artistic productions that Jun seeks to bring different voices and narratives to the Pacific Basin Research Center.

I am a sophomore student who concentrates on Social and Behavioral Sciences. Through my education in high school and college, I have developed my interests in societal empowerment of individuals. Immersion into the idea of capability approach presented by Amartya Sen led me to the interests in economics as a means of empowerment. My current interests consist of political economy and economic development, focusing on the Pacific Rim Asia. The region’s economic movement shall offer a meaningful insight on the well-being of individuals of the region and world economy due to the massive amount of population of the region and various emerging economies such as Indonesia and Vietnam.

Blair Tran is a junior concentrating in Environmental Studies and Social Behavioral Sciences at Soka. Originally from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, she is an avid policy advocate whose research interests lie at the nexus of economics, energy policy, and environmental sustainability. She is passionate about the energy markets, policy and technology, with a commitment to advancing decarbonization strategies that ensure an inclusive energy transition for all walks of society.

Blair’s dedication to advancing low-carbon solutions is reflected in her research and consulting roles at United Nations Development Program in Hanoi, Vietnam and the Zero Emissions Innovation Center (ZEIC) in Vancouver, Canada. These experiences have deepened her understanding of clean energy policy, impact analysis, and stakeholder engagement in renewable energy projects. Looking forward, she aspires to leverage her analytical skills to help businesses achieve their corporate sustainability goals incorporating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, while continuing her studies in exploring innovative policy solutions for climate and energy issues.

Outside of academics, Blair enjoys slow days by the Laguna Beach waters, exploring museum exhibitions and documenting her travel experiences with friends.

Hoa Tran is a sophomore from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, concentrating in International Studies. Her academic interests stem from minimal exposure to politics while growing up in Vietnam. Since arriving at Soka University, Hoa has been fascinated by political science courses revealing the influential and dynamic roles government and policy play in global affairs.
Having lived in Japan for four years during high school, Hoa also developed strong interests in the intersection of economic development and international relations. She hopes to focus her research on exploring how evidence-based and ethical policymaking in both economics and politics can support greater environmental sustainability.
As one of our biggest collaborative tasks worldwide, Hoa believes understanding how to balance economic growth, good governance, and ecological protection is essential for current and future international scholars. She looks forward to cultivating her research abilities and contributing meaningful perspectives on this critical challenge.

Masashiro Uchida is a third-year student from Japan concentrating in Social and Behavioral Sciences. Fascinated by the beauty of logic in mathematics, he has experience in researching graph theory and tutoring linear algebra at the university level. At Soka University, he has learned about the diverse applications of mathematics in fields such as physics, economics, and social sciences and is now interested in using his mathematical knowledge to analyze real-world phenomena, particularly human behavior and decision-making.

Born and raised in Japan, he has witnessed significant hatred among some people in Asia, especially among East Asian countries. He has observed that the rise of social networking services (SNS) has amplified negative emotions toward other countries by rapidly spreading biased information. As a result, he is currently exploring the spread of hatred via SNS in the Asia region using his knowledge of graph theory. He aims to determine the network dynamics on SNS and identify which parts of the network influence the spread of such information. He believes that understanding the factors causing people to spread hatred toward other countries will help in finding ways to address and mitigate these negative emotions.

Richmond grew up in Accra, Ghana, and is a sophomore concentrating in economics. His research focuses on the economic drivers behind Ghana’s national debt crisis and persistent inflation, investigating fiscal policies, external influences, and their social and economic implications. His entrepreneurial background also includes co-founding Banaweave, a startup based on banana fiber innovation, which won a $10,000 seed grant at the Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge in San Diego in 2023.

In addition to his research, Richmond is passionate about the transformative role of technology in driving development in emerging economies. He recognizes how advancements like secure digital infrastructures, blockchain, and artificial intelligence have improved access to financial services, enhanced governance transparency, and promoted global trade participation in developing countries. These innovations address structural barriers by enabling scalable solutions in areas like financial inclusion, e-commerce, and education.

In January 2025, Richmond explored the impact of cryptography and information security on international trade and policy in his Learning Cluster with Dr. Sonwabile Mafunda. This program, with curated symposiums in the U.K. and the U.S., complements his work in macroeconomic stability and international relations. In his research, he analyzes the power dynamics between the West and emerging economies in integrating technological innovation to advance global equity.

Shota Maeda is a sophomore student from Tokyo, Japan, pursuing International Studies at Soka University of America. Since high school, Shota has had a strong passion for peace and nuclear disarmament. As a Youth Communicator for a World without Nuclear Weapons appointed by the Japanese Government, he has engaged in disarmament activities, including developing an educational card game to learn about nuclear issues and serving as a panelist at a student conference on nonproliferation education. As a research assistant for Professor Alexander Harang, Shota also contributed to translating Daisaku Ikeda’s essay collection, Hope is a Decision, into Norwegian. His current research interests include “Nuclear Disarmament in the Pacific Basin” and “Daisaku Ikeda’s Peace Philosophy on Counterterrorism.”