Talofa!

My name is Joseph, although I’m known by most as Iosefa, and I work full time as a software engineer at Georepublic while pursuing my phd in ecology with the Kitajima group at Kyoto University.

At Georepublic, I lead small specialized teams to develop GIS solutions and geospatially driven software applications for business and research. I primarily focus on developing server-side applications for geospatially enabled API’s as well as algorithm design for complex optimization and routing problems.

At Kyoto University, I study forest structure and community dynamics in Madagascar white sand forests. I am interested in understanding how spatial patterns of habitat patches affect community dynamics and species composition in nutrient poor forests. I am also a member of a research group to assess ecosystem services of North Western dry forests and the potential of sustainable development with REDD+ in Madagascar.

I received my Masters degree in Environmental Management from Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies at Kyoto University and my undergraduate degree in Physics, Economics, and Environmental Studies from Brandeis University. I was a graduate student researcher with the Saizen Group at Kyoto University where I focused on developing geographically weighted statistical methods, and a teaching assistant in several introductory GIS and Environmental Studies classes at both Brandeis and Kyoto University. I also worked as a student manager and technician at the Brandeis University Technology Help Desk.

You can follow me on Github and LinkedIn.