Wakako (Waka) joined the Kwon Lab in September 2025 as a Research Technician following her graduation from Northeastern University with a B.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology and a minor in Pharmaceutical Sciences. She works with Meilin, Ben, and Daisy to leverage long chain fatty acids and their metabolites as an adjunctive therapy for recurrent bacterial vaginosis (BV). In her free time, she enjoys illustration, cooking with friends, and starting new jewelry and sewing projects.