She has a master's degree in Southeast Asian Studies from the Australian National University and D.Phil. in Education from the University of Oxford. Dr. Sato’s research has explored public university reform in Malaysia, the concept of faculty development, lived experiences of FD practitioners in Japan, and identity formation of academic managers and doctoral students. She teaches qualitative research methods and teaching and learning in the university at a graduate level, supervises master’s and doctoral students who are working on various topics. She is currently leading an international research project on academic identity with Dr. Tai Peseta of the University of Sydney and Dr. Barbara Grant of the University of Auckland.