Ai E. Oikawa

Ai E. Oikawa, Ph.D. has extensive experience in the field of biotechnology and research. Ai E. is currently the CEO/CSO of AFINGEN® where they are focused on addressing the increasing demands for global crop production. Ai E. is also the Founder of Astalake Biosystems, Inc.

Dr. Oikawa has had several roles at Berkeley Lab, including Affiliate Scientist and Postdoctoral Research Fellow & Project Scientist. During their time at Berkeley Lab, they contributed to the field of Biological Systems and Engineering.

Ai E. has served as the Project Director & Principal Investigator for various programs, including those funded by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, NASA, and the U.S. Department of Energy. In these roles, they developed regulatory DNA approaches for crop growth and biomass yield improvement, as well as nutrient recycling systems for Mars and Earth.

Additionally, Dr. Oikawa has been the Director and Scientist at AFINGEN, Inc. Ai E. led and executed research projects in crop biorefinery, focusing on lignocellulosic biofuels.

Before joining AFINGEN, Dr. Oikawa worked as a Freelance Translator specialized in Scientific Certificates at SCS Global Services. Ai E. also conducted research as a Visiting Graduate Research Scholar at Yale University.

Throughout their career, Dr. Oikawa has demonstrated expertise in biotechnology, crop production, and bioenergy.

Ai E. Oikawa, Ph.D. has a diverse education history. In 2005, they earned their Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Bioprocess Engineering from Iwate University. From 2007 to 2007, Ai was a visiting scholar at Yale University, where they focused on Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (MCDB). Following this, they pursued a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, Berkeley, in the Department of Plant & Microbial Biology (PMB) from 2008 to 2012.

In 2017, Ai attended the Agribusiness Seminar at Harvard Business School Executive Education, earning a certificate. Ai E. furthered their education in 2018 through the Tech-Transfer Education Program (Certificate; Non-Degree Program) at the University of California, Davis - School of Law.

Aside from their academic pursuits, Ai has also obtained several certifications. In 2002, they earned the Diplôme d'aptitude pratique au français (DAPF) from L’Association pour la Promotion de l’Enseignement du Français au Japon (APEF), showcasing their proficiency in the French language. Additionally, they became a certified Scuba Diver with an Open Water qualification from PADI in 2012.