Prior to that, she was an assistant professor at Kanazawa Institute of Technology in Ishikawa prefecture. She received her Ph.D. in Architecture from Waseda University in 2006 and an M.A. in Urban Design and Planning from University of Washington (Seattle) in 2004. She is a member of several committees of local governments including city-planning commissions. Uchida engages in field surveys in Ishikawa, Saitama and Tokyo prefectures, where she collects information while working with communities, non-profit organizations, and local governments on urban projects. Her current research focuses on Japanese gentrification, urban revitalization, and community development.