Dr. Kevin Djotan | Plant Microbiology | Best Researcher Award

 Education 

• Ph.D. in Forest Science, The University of Tokyo, Japan (2024)
  Thesis: Diversity and Ecology of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Communities associated with Cryptomeria japonica and Chamaecyparis obtusa
• M.Sc. in Forest Science, The University of Tokyo, Japan (2021)
  Thesis: Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Communities Associated with Cryptomeria japonica and Chamaecyparis obtusa
• M.Sc. in Management of Forest Resources, University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin (2019)
  Thesis: Positive Impacts of Climate Change on Forest Health and Species Restoration in Benin
• B.Sc. in Forestry & Natural Resources Management, University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin (2015)
  Thesis: Structural Characteristics of Tectona grandis Plantations in Atchérigbé

   Professional Experience

• Foreign Postdoctoral Researcher, Mie University, Japan (2024–2026)
  Conducting research on forest mycology and microbial ecology under JSPS fellowship.
• Research & Teaching Assistant, Nihon University, Japan (2021–2022)
  Assisted in research projects and undergraduate teaching in life sciences.
• Research Assistant, University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin (2015–2016)
  Studied forest resources management and conservation strategies.
• Assistant Chief Service Forestry & Agroforestry, Ministry of Built Environment & Sustainable Development, Benin (2016)
  Developed sustainable forestry initiatives and climate change mitigation strategies.

 Awards and Recognition 

• JSPS Delegate – Hope Meeting 16 with Nobel Laureates (2024)
• Japanese Forest Society Student Encouragement Award (2024)
• New Phytologist Delegate – Next Generation Scientists Meeting (2023)
• Graduate Student Grant for Conferences, University of Tokyo (2020, 2022)
• Best Presentation Award – 10th International Conference of Clinical Plant Science (2019)
• ITTO Postgraduate Fellowship Grant for Forestry Research (2019)
• MEXT Graduate Studies and Research Scholarship (2018–2024)
• Fieldwork Material Grant – Idea Wild (2017)
• Research Grant – Endangered Wildlife Trust, JRS Biodiversity Foundation (2016)
• Research Grant – University of Kansas, USA (2015)

Research skills On Plant Microbiology

• Forest Microbiology & Mycorrhizal Symbiosis – Expertise in microbial-plant interactions.
• Biodiversity Conservation – Focused on sustainable forest ecosystems.
• Ecological Data Analysis – Application of bioinformatics tools.
• Climate Change Adaptation – Research on forest resilience and species restoration.
• Molecular Techniques – DNA sequencing for fungal diversity studies.
• Field Research & GIS Mapping – Analyzing ecological patterns.
• Scientific Writing & Peer Reviewing – Active in international publications.

Publications

Forest thinning has little effect on the spatiotemporal dynamics of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi community in Cryptomeria japonica roots

• Journal: Jxiv, JST Preprint Server

• Year: 2025 (March 19)

• Authors: DJOTAN AKG, Norihisa Matsushita, Yosuke Matsuda, Kenji Fukuda

The similarity between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi communities of trees and nearby herbs in a planted forest exhibited within-site spatial variation patterns explained by local soil conditions