Koichi Kanaoka
About Koichi Kanaoka
Koichi Kanaoka is a Teaching Fellow at Yale University and a PhD student, focusing on the strategic and environmental benefits of industrial symbiosis. He has held various research and teaching positions at prestigious institutions, including Duke University and the United Nations Environment Program.
Current Role at Yale University
Koichi Kanaoka serves as a Teaching Fellow at Yale University since 2021. In this role, he engages in educational activities and supports students in their academic pursuits. His work includes projects related to eco-industrial parks and climate competitive industries, where he examines how environmental strategies can enhance firm competitiveness and contribute to the circular economy transition.
Previous Experience at Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies
Kanaoka has held multiple positions at Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. He worked as a Research Assistant for the United Nations Environment Program International Resource Panel in 2019 for four months. He also served as a Research Associate at the Yale Center for Industrial Ecology from 2017 to 2019 for two years, focusing on industrial symbiosis and its benefits.
Research and Consulting Roles at Duke University
At Duke University, Kanaoka contributed to various initiatives. He was a Research Assistant at the Duke Household Energy & Health Initiative from 2016 to 2017 for eight months. He also worked as a Research Consultant for the REI and U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation from 2017 to 2018 for one year. Additionally, he served as a Teaching Assistant at the Nicholas School of the Environment from 2017 to 2018 for eight months.
Educational Background and Specialization
Kanaoka studied at Duke University, where he earned a Master of Environmental Management with a concentration in Energy and Environment from 2016 to 2018. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, in Liberal Arts with a concentration in Environmental Studies from Soka University of America, where he studied from 2012 to 2016. Currently, he is pursuing a PhD in Environment at Yale University, expected to complete in 2024.
Consulting Work and Research Focus
In addition to his academic roles, Kanaoka is the Owner and Consultant at Symbiosis Consulting Group LLC since 2018. His research focuses on the strategic, economic, and environmental benefits of inter-firm reuse of industrial by-products, known as industrial symbiosis. He has also been working as a Short-Term Consultant at The World Bank since 2021, contributing to projects that align with his expertise.