Georges Frem, a University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 graduate from Lebanon, traded a career in engineering for a future dedicated to science and service, inspired by the deep cultural values he encountered in Hawaiʻi.

Frem will cross the stage in December 2025 to accept his bachelor of science in biology from the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 , marking the completion of an academic journey that started and ended on opposite sides of the globe. After finishing his first degree in mechanical engineering at the American University of Beirut, Frem made a life-changing decision to pursue his true passion for nature and animals at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补.

From classroom to independent research

Frem pointed to his experience with the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 (UROP) as the single most valuable part of his academic career. After taking a BIOL 305 course with Associate Professor Amber Wright in fall 2024, he reached out to her about a project.

“We brainstormed ideas and decided to apply for a UROP grant to conduct field collections to gain insights about trophic interactions among lizards on Oʻahu through stable isotope analysis,” Frem said. “I secured the money and managed to conduct my own personal research project from start to finish.”

Frem has remained a part of the Wright lab and is currently writing a manuscript based on his UROP work for potential publication. “This immersion in the scientific process has served as extremely valuable data for the deliberation of my future career choice,” Frem said. “Having had the privilege to execute science in this manner has definitely incited me to consider a career as a scientist a lot more seriously.”

Inspired by kuleana

Frem came to Hawaiʻi partly looking for cultural exposure, but he wasn’t prepared for the commitment he found within the 东精影业 community. He was surprised by the university’s role as a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning, integrating place-based science into academics and the collective consciousness.

“The fierce passion expressed by members of the 东精影业 community when talking about Hawaiian culture and place-based science was surprising to me,” Frem said. “I was saddened by the realization that we Lebanese, seldom exhibit that same awareness, pride, and responsibility when it comes to our own culture and nation, especially as it relates to our unique ecosystems.”

This realization inspired him to act. He joined community work days and got a firsthand taste of the community’s sense of kuleana (responsibility). These efforts included:

• Helping out at 东精影业’s Ka Papa Loʻi Kanewai and planting kalo (taro) at the Waiman膩lo Research Station.
• Volunteering at Loko Ea fishpond to remove invasive grasses.
• Assisting the 惭腻苍辞补 Cliff Restoration Project to remove invasive ginger.

“I have been humbled by the deep sense of care fostered by 东精影业 and the Hawaiian community in general, and am deeply inspired to promote those same values in my own ʻ腻颈苍补,” he said.

Returning home

As his undergraduate journey ends, Frem is focused on how he can be useful to his home country, Lebanon.

“I know I want to contribute to Lebanon and bring forth the best in it,” he stated. His future will involve science, although he is still weighing options—possibly as a researcher studying Lebanon’s native ecosystems, or starting science-based businesses to fund community initiatives.

One thing is certain: he is ready for the next step. “I am most likely going to be applying to grad school, and my time here has undoubtedly prepared me very well for that,” Frem said.

Improving our ability to predict and manage water quality risks in Hawaiʻi鈥檚 coastal zones is the focus of a University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa project that was awarded a .

Coastal beaches are vital for recreation, tourism and ecosystem health; however, they are increasingly threatened by fecal contaminants. These fecal bacteria can enter beach environments through human wastewater, stormwater runoff and animal waste, accumulating in the sand and shallow groundwater. Natural coastal processes, such as tides and waves, can then mobilize and transport these contaminants across the land鈥搒ea boundary, posing risks to both public health and marine ecosystems.

This project will investigate how coastal hydrologic forces, including tidal fluctuations and wave action, influence the accumulation, movement and discharge of fecal contaminants in beach aquifers. The research team will conduct fieldwork and groundwater sampling at two beaches in Hawaiʻi, where fecal contamination is known to occur, and will develop advanced computer models to simulate how bacteria move through beach sediments. The findings will improve our ability to predict and manage water quality risks in coastal zones.

Xiaolong “Leo” Geng, the project鈥檚 principal investigator and assistant professor at 东精影业鈥檚 (WRRC) and in the , will direct the project activities and supervise graduate and undergraduate students hired by this project.

“Beaches are at the heart of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 culture, economy and ecosystems, yet they are increasingly vulnerable to fecal contamination,” Geng said. “Our research will shed light on how bacteria move through sand and groundwater, helping to safeguard public health and marine environments. Just as importantly, we hope to inspire the next generation of scientists and strengthen community stewardship of our coastal waters.”

Geng鈥檚 co-principal investigator is Tao Yan, WRRC director.

Student and community outreach

Broader benefits of the project include training two graduate students and engaging undergraduate students through 东精影业 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 . The team also plans to involve local communities through educational outreach and citizen science activities to support long-term coastal water stewardship in Hawaiʻi.

Growing up in Chandler, Arizona, thousands of miles from the nearest coastline, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa major and undergraduate student Landon Schumaker never imagined his future would take him to the farthest reaches of the deep sea. But this summer, Schumaker conducted research in Perth, Australia, with the support of the , a funding opportunity administered by the 东精影业 Mānoa (UROP) and the .

From June through August, Schumaker worked with the Minderoo-University of Western Australia Deep-Sea Research Centre to study the Nova Canton Trough, a hadal region more than 6,000 meters deep. This area had never been studied at such scale and depth until recently.

Schumaker said that last year scientists conducted an expedition to the Nova Canton Trough and deployed cameras to assess deep-sea biodiversity between 2,471 and 7,983 meters deep. He contributed to meticulous work on this footage, including taxonomic identifications, statistical analyses and visualizations.

“The deep sea fascinates me because it feels like an entirely different world,” Schumaker said. “It鈥檚 a world that is perceived to be so far away, yet in reality, is on our planet and right beneath our surface waters. There are vast knowledge gaps, and every expedition brings the possibility of discovering something new.”

Schumaker鈥檚 work was complemented by monthly virtual check-ins with his 东精影业 Mānoa mentor, Professor Jeff Drazen in the , who has guided him for more than a year.

“Landon was pretty familiar with the deep ocean when he departed for Australia, and he had already analyzed deep-sea videos. But in Australia he really dug into big datasets, and he dramatically increased his ability to use statistical modeling to explore research results,” Drazen said. “I鈥檓 really impressed that he analyzed the data and has a draft of a peer reviewed paper. This was a stellar opportunity for Landon and he really capitalized on it.”

Looking ahead, the results from the Nova Canton Trough study are expected to lead to at least two scientific publications, with Schumaker as a co-author, and potentially lead author. Long-term, he hopes to pursue a PhD in biological oceanography and dedicate his career to exploring and protecting the deep sea.

More on the Tyler Fellowship

“The Tyler Fellowship provided me with the financial support I needed to travel, live abroad for an extended period and gave me the opportunity to learn about so many different projects going on around the world,” Schumaker said. “This fellowship meant a lot to me, as it was something I put a lot of effort into between developing a proposal and a project plan, and then being entrusted with this award. Receiving it was both rewarding and humbling.”

• Related 东精影业 News story: New UROP fellowship supports international undergraduate research, creative work, March 11, 2025

Applications for the Tyler Fellowship for summer 2026 are expected to open in spring 2026.

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From tracking invasive marine species, to exploring vegetation recovery on degraded, uninhabited islands, to studying tiny beetles threatening mangroves, eight University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa undergraduates spent two months this summer in the Galápagos Islands. Funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation with additional support from 东精影业 Mānoa, and guided by research mentors from 东精影业 Mānoa and the Charles Darwin Foundation, the students conducted hands-on research on invasive species that connected them to ʻāina (land/sea), k膩naka (people) and mālama ʻāina (stewardship).

The experience built on a preparatory spring course (NREM 491), where students learned the foundations of island invasion biology and developed their own research proposals.

Monitoring invasive species

Cienna Kahrobaie, a major, studied invasive marine species at boat docks around Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. Using settlement plates (small experimental surfaces for marine organisms to grow on) deployed for two months, she compared species richness, percent cover, and community composition at docks experiencing differential boat traffic, and learned valuable identification techniques from experts at the Charles Darwin Foundation and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama.

“Settlement plates allow scientists to get a glimpse of what is growing in marine communities around boat docks, so if we employ them at sites with specific maritime traffic patterns, we can more quickly detect invasive species of concern,” Kahrobaie said. “This would allow conservationists to respond quicker to these marine invasions and prevent their establishment.”

While conducting research, she found a moment of discovery while resting in a tidepool. By staying still, she observed fish, hermit crabs and even an octopus up close, learning that sometimes slowing down revealed more than trying to see it all at once.

Studying connections between islands

Riley Herron, a major, conducted research on Santa Fé Island, a remote, uninhabited Galápagos island recovering from heavy feral goat degradation and resulting ecological damage. She studied how the island鈥檚 microtopography affects microclimates critical for woody plant seedling establishment, setting up large plots to measure environmental conditions and seedling presence for the island鈥檚 three dominant woody species. Through her research, Herron found connections between the Gal谩pagos and Hawaiʻi.

“I hope my research helps highlight the interconnectedness of our ecosystems,” Herron said. “There are so many large-scale processes that shape what happens on the micro level, and as our climate continues to change, understanding those small-scale interactions becomes more important than ever. As island ecosystems are isolated, limited in resources and filled with endemism, they are the first to be impacted, emphasizing how important island conservation is globally.”

Tiny threatening beetles

Lana Mitchell, a major, studied how an invasive mangrove bark beetle affects native red mangrove seedlings, testing whether fertilizer could offset beetle damage. The project challenged her to conduct independent research while navigating new skills, from kayaking to communicating in Spanish, all while deepening her passion for conservation.

“I hope that this can aid scientists in measuring how much of a difference in survival and growth a propagule (a young mangrove seedling) can undergo with and without beetle infestations,” Mitchell said. “This research could help to determine the overall survival of native species in exposure to invasives, giving scientists a window of time in which to provide native species with resources to better sustain their growth and longevity in island ecosystems.”

Mitchell was struck by how comfortable Galápagos wildlife are around humans, spotting sea lions resting just steps away during her research. According to Mitchell, the experiences reinforced the local community鈥檚 dedication to conservation and strengthened her connection to the islands鈥� unique ecosystems.

“This immersive summer research program in the Galápagos is a collaborative effort that provides applied research experiences in invasive species ecology to 东精影业 Mānoa undergraduate students from across campus,” said Creighton Litton, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management professor, (UROP) director, and one of the eight 东精影业 Mānoa faculty members who designed and implemented the program over the past three years. “The success of this program stems from committed research mentors from both 东精影业 Mānoa and the Charles Darwin Foundation, financial support from NSF and 东精影业 Mānoa and, most importantly, fully engaged students from our campus who commit to a full research experience, from learning the basics and developing proposals on campus in the spring, to field data collection, analysis and write-up in the summer.”

This opportunity is the result of a collaboration between 东精影业 Mānoa and the Charles Darwin Foundation, and is funded by the National Science Foundation–International Research Experiences for Students, the 东精影业 Mānoa Provost鈥檚 Office to align the overall program with the campus goal of becoming a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning and the 东精影业 Mānoa Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Scholarship.

The deadline to apply for the 2026 program is October 15. .

Approximately 90 undergraduate students from the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补, Leeward Community College and other universities across the nation showcased their research and creative projects at the 2025 (SURE) Symposium on August 1.

Hosted annually by the 东精影业 Mānoa (UROP), the event featured oral and poster presentations at the Hawaiʻi Imin International Conference Center.

“The symposium reflects the breadth and depth of student scholarship across all disciplines at 东精影业 Mānoa, as well as the university鈥檚 profile as an institution of academic excellence,” said UROP Program Coordinator Noah Perales-Estoesta. “As a land-grant and R1 university, 东精影业 Mānoa has a three-part mission to advance student education, promote research and serve the broader public. UROP is very proud to administer programming like the SURE Symposium that supports every part of that mission.”

Students presented research and creative work on topics including the potential of generative AI for personalized language learning and persistent organic pollutants in the waters of Pearl Harbor. Their projects also included studies on sustainable agriculture and the impact of performing arts as an interdisciplinary experience.

Presenters included UROP funding recipients, participants in National Science Foundation-funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates and participants in the 鈥檚 new Summer Research Institute.

东精影业 President Wendy Hensel and 东精影业 Mānoa Interim Provost Vassilis Syrmos delivered opening remarks, highlighting the value of undergraduate research and creative work.

UROP funding support

Each year, UROP awards more than $500,000 in merit-based scholarships directly to students to support mentored undergraduate research and creative work projects and presentations. An additional $135,000 is awarded directly to mentors to support undergraduate research and creative work during the summer. The SURE Symposium is one of several regular on-campus presentation venues organized/co-organized by UROP. During the fall and spring semesters, UROP co-organizes the with the .

As a kid, Maya Singh heard from her family stories about the ocean and land in Fiji that inspired her passion for the outdoors and, ultimately, for environmental science.

“I grew up in British Columbia, Canada, but my family is from Fiji,” said Singh, who will be graduating this month from the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in (GES). “My grandpa would tell me stories of him and his brothers catching shrimp outside and playing in the ocean and rivers. It really inspired me to want to live closer to the ocean.”

With a passion for the environment and ocean, Singh moved to Hawaiʻi after graduating high school to pursue a degree at the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 . For her senior research, Singh worked with mentor and Assistant Prof. to support coastal management and preservation on 尝腻苍补ʻ颈. She developed a beach carrying capacity tool to determine the maximum number of visitors a beach can hold without surpassing the limits of acceptable environmental or social change at the beach.

As the culmination of this research effort, Singh wrote a senior thesis and presented her findings at the Spring 2025 GES Symposium, a showcase of the research conducted by graduating GES students.

“This tool was developed as a means to understand the changes at the beach and how we can best preserve the beach for future generations,” said Singh. “The thing I enjoy most about conducting this research is being able to work with the community and make a difference. Talking to the local community in the field and connecting with high school students to share the research we are conducting and why it’s important is very fulfilling.”

Meet more amazing 东精影业 spring graduates

Supported by funding from the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 , Singh also worked with Keiko Wilkins, a doctoral candidate in Bob Richmond鈥檚 research group at , to investigate how plastic pollution threatens marine ecosystems. Specifically, she tested the effects of microplastics on sea urchin fertilization. Singh also assisted with collecting and preparing coral samples for Wilkins鈥檚 dissertation research on microplastic effects on corals in the Pacific Ocean.

The academic and research experiences Singh has had through the GES program have solidified her commitment to pursuing a career in Hawaiʻi in environmental science after graduation. Eventually, she hopes to continue with her education by working toward a graduate degree in oceanography.

—By Marcie Grabowski

A hands-on learning initiative designed to introduce Hawaiʻi preschool keiki and their ʻohana (families) to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, agriculture and mathematics) concepts is expanding, thanks to funding from the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 (UROP).

The S.T.E.A.M. on the Bookshelf program, developed in collaboration with 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 (CTAHR) Cooperative Extension faculty with initial funding from the Maui County Department of Agriculture, has already engaged over 200 ʻohana on Maui. Designed to support parent-child learning, the program provides preschoolers with themed books, interactive activities and family workbooks aimed at making STEAM curriculum accessible in a home-based setting.

“Parents state that their children love completing the learning activities and often request the books as bedtime stories,” 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 Instructor Chad Junkermeier said. “We鈥檝e heard from parents that were in the program that their children are now reading the books to younger siblings.”

Bringing learning home

The initiative builds on an idea first proposed nearly 15 years ago by Heather Greenwood, a 东精影业 CTAHR associate extension agent based on Maui. Recognizing that many Head Start ʻohana struggled to attend evening financial and nutrition training sessions, she helped develop a model where young children brought home books and activities covering these topics, effectively engaging parents through their children鈥檚 learning experiences. This project built on the initial model, enhancing it to incorporate more parent-child interaction and hands-on learning.

The initial age-appropriate physics and engineering curriculum was piloted with families and 东精影业 Maui College faculty and staff in 2021. With additional funding from the Maui County Department of Agriculture in 2023–24, the project expanded to include an agriculture and gardening curriculum, reaching 213 ʻohana across 15 preschool classrooms that school year.

Of the physics and engineering curriculum, one of the preschool parents stated, “They are learning advanced concepts in an easy to [understand] format.”

With support from 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program鈥檚 , two undergraduate students will work with the team to refine and expand the physics and engineering curriculum into three tracks: physics, astronomy and engineering. The funding, totaling $10,000, will allow the team to develop engaging learning activities tailored for young children.

As the program grows, efforts are also underway to incorporate new subject areas. 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 Associate Professor Sladjana Prišić has joined the project to develop a microbiology curriculum, further broadening the educational scope of S.T.E.A.M. on the Bookshelf.

The program鈥檚 success is gaining academic recognition, with its first peer-reviewed manuscript recently accepted for publication in the Journal of Extension. The study highlights the effectiveness of the home-based model in fostering early STEAM learning and strengthening family engagement.

The Department of Physics and Astronomy and the School of Life Sciences are housed in 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 .

Undergraduate students from the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 traveled to Washington, D.C., in March, as part of the (STR) program. Chloé Houy, Kayla Lum and Kristyn Miyamoto participated in months of research advocacy training, preparing them to effectively communicate the importance of undergraduate research to policymakers. They are mentored by Associate Professor Sladjana Prišić and work on research projects in the Prišić Lab.

Their training, which began in November 2024, included workshops on relationship building with legislators, writing policy briefs and crafting persuasive op-eds. The students鈥� efforts culminated in meetings with the offices of Sen. Mazie Hirono, Sen. Brian Schatz and Rep. Ed Case.

Drawing from their experiences conducting microbiology research in the Prišić Lab, the students highlighted how undergraduate research fosters scientific discovery and professional development. They emphasized the critical role of federal support from agencies such as the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health in sustaining research opportunities that shape future scientists and medical professionals.

“Advocating for undergraduate research on Capitol Hill was an incredible experience that showed me how science and policy intersect to shape the future of research opportunities,” Lum said.

Prišić added, “Seeing my students confidently communicate the impact of their research to policymakers reinforced the importance of mentorship and the role of advocacy in advancing scientific discovery.”

Through the STR program, the students gained hands-on experience in research advocacy while refining their ability to communicate scientific concepts to a broad audience. Their participation not only amplified the value of student research at 东精影业 but also underscored the broader impact of continued investment in scientific exploration and education. Their research and trip were funded by the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 (UROP) and a grant from the National Science Foundation awarded to Prišić.

Expanding support for undergraduate research

Noah Perales-Estoesta, UROP program coordinator, also participated in the STR program. His goal was to explore how UROP can adapt programming similar to what is offered by STR for undergraduate students at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补.

“A major part of what UROP does is support the dissemination of student research and creative work, usually in the form of presentations and publications,” Perales-Estoesta said. “Especially in today鈥檚 university climate, I think we should be encouraging students to think more creatively about the broader impacts of their work and, from the administrative side, about how to provide them with the infrastructure to realize and articulate those impacts. STR provides a great model for this, and I look forward to exploring what similar efforts UROP can develop.”

Each year, UROP awards more than $500,000 in merit-based scholarships directly to students to support mentored undergraduate research and creative work projects and presentations. An additional $135,000 is awarded directly to mentors to support undergraduate research and creative work during the summer via the .

The (UROP) at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 is offering its first-ever funding opportunity specifically for undergraduate students to perform research or creative work projects abroad.

东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 was selected as one of 12 institutions nationwide to apply and receive up to $20,000 in private funding to support international research from the Tyler Center for Global Studies. According to the center, the awarded institutions “have articulated the significance of inquiry, cross-cultural engagement and experiential learning in undergraduate research.”

“While UROP has always provided financial support for students to conduct research abroad, we anticipate that this new funding opportunity specifically geared for international experiences will inspire even more students to pursue their scholarship goals around the world,” UROP Director Creighton Litton said. “The Tyler Fellowship is much more than an academic opportunity—it鈥檚 a chance to make a meaningful impact on the global stage, and then bring that newly acquired knowledge back home to Hawaiʻi.”

While the deadline to apply for summer 2025 has passed, Litton hopes UROP will continue to offer this fellowship in the years to come.

Angel Sanchez, a 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 student majoring in , conducted research in Venice, Italy in summer 2024 and was supported through funding from UROP. Her project was about comparing European and international cinema at the Venice International Film Festival. Sanchez encourages 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 students to take advantage of this new funding opportunity.

“Curiosity and understanding of international culture allows for future collaboration, meeting different people, learning from each other, creating something new and sharing things you create to a wider audience,” Sanchez said. “Overall, international research gives you an opportunity to expand your worldview knowledge and reflect about your own lifestyle and culture as you try to apply what you learned to yourself and from there, create something new.”

This new funding opportunity is possible via a collaboration among UROP, 东精影业 Foundation and the Study Abroad Center that provides a funding mechanism and student/mentor international travel training.

Each year, UROP awards more than $500,000 in merit-based scholarships directly to students to support mentored undergraduate research and creative work projects and presentations. An additional $125,000 is awarded directly to mentors to support undergraduate research and creative work during the summer via the .

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Aaliyah Thomas, who is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (SOEST), was selected to participate in an in summer 2024.

Born and raised in Waimānalo, Thomas graduated from Kamehameha High School and attended . Though she loves musical theater and earned an associate鈥檚 degree in liberal arts at Windward CC, Thomas enjoyed her STEM-oriented classes most. During her transition from Windward CC to 东精影业 Mānoa, she enrolled in the .

Galapagos summer internship

Thomas was thrilled by the opportunity to visit the place that inspired Charles Darwin鈥檚 theory of natural selection. Once she was selected for the program, she spent a semester preparing a project to analyze the water quality surrounding areas with a high abundance of an invasive algae.

“When I arrived I was told that they had run out of lab equipment crucial for my study, and that if we were to purchase more it would take too long to arrive; thus I was unable to do the water quality analysis,” Thomas said.

Turning challenge into opportunity

Living on the research station, Thomas visited the beach frequently and noticed there was always a sheen on the top of the water and that it was more obvious during low tide.

“The ocean water seemed less buoyant than what I was used to in Hawaiʻi, and my teaching assistant, James Fumo, noticed little rivulets of water flowing from the rocks at the shore during low tide,” Thomas said. “Sure enough when we tasted it, it tasted notably fresher than ocean water. Quickly my biggest challenge became the beginning of one of my most enjoyable experiences.”

The island of Santa Cruz, Galapagos is thought to be waterless and prior to Thomas鈥檚 arrival, she was told by members of the research station that submarine groundwater discharge was not a factor on the island in the same way it is in Hawaiʻi. However, all of her chemical data, and the lack of streams, runoff and rain, suggested it is very plausible that what she was measuring was submarine groundwater discharge.

“This was an exciting discovery!” Thomas said. “My biggest hope is that my work in the Galapagos can help decision-makers who are responsible for that land. I hope that showing there’s SGD going into the Galapagos Marine Reserve will bring awareness to everyone within the watershed that their contaminants or over withdrawal can most definitely impact the coastal ecosystem they are so well known for.”

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–By Marcie Grabowski

University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 Provost Michael Bruno was awarded the 2024 National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Region VI President’s Award, recognizing his leadership and commitment to advancing the quality of student life on campus by supporting student affairs staff and initiatives. Bruno received the award at the Western Regional Conference in San Diego in November.

Bruno has served as 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 Provost since 2019 and previously as vice chancellor for research. He has earned praise for his dedication to students, particularly during challenging times such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2023 Maui wildfires. Colleagues have commended his transformative impact on the university and the broader community.

“Every student deserves the opportunity to succeed鈥攏ot just academically, but in all aspects of their development,” said Bruno.“This award is actually a reflection of and a testament to the dedication and hard work of my colleagues at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补. Together, we鈥檝e created a supportive environment that empowers all students to reach their full potential. It鈥檚 about fostering a campus culture where students can thrive and become the leaders of tomorrow.”

Student-centered leadership

Lori Ideta, vice provost for student success (retired in 2023), highlighted Bruno鈥檚 prioritization of student well-being, even during crises. Reflecting on his leadership during the pandemic, she said, “Provost Bruno was acutely aware of the essential staff鈥檚 unwavering commitment to student success, even when their own healths were at risk. He was, and remains, their biggest cheerleader.”

Colleagues also noted Bruno鈥檚 commitment to equity and student support services, including mental health resources, disability access, and advocacy for military-connected students. Ideta underscored his determination to preserve vital student and academic affairs programs during financially challenging times, even as many campuses faced budget cuts鈥攁n approach she described as a defining example of his student-centered leadership.

Laura Lyons, interim vice provost for academic excellence, credited Bruno鈥檚 personal experience as a first-generation college student for shaping his holistic approach to leadership. “He and his twin were the first in his family to attend college, so he knows the generational challenges and opportunities his parents鈥� migration made possible and that experience resonates with many 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 students, helping them see that they are not so different from this man who leads their campus.”

Bruno鈥檚 leadership was also evident during the recent Maui wildfires. Lyons said, “He understands that, while immediate needs are overwhelming and must be addressed, we, as a university, must demonstrate that our commitment will last as long as necessary.”

Impact on research, graduate student support

An ocean engineer by training, Bruno is passionate about research. He understands firsthand the impact that research opportunities can have on students and has championed programs that provide the resources necessary for students to succeed.

With his support, 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 has allocated more than $4.5 million to fund the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) since its inception a few years ago, enabling transformative undergraduate research and capstone projects.

Mark Willingham, Jr., president of the , also commended Bruno鈥檚 transparent leadership and advocacy for graduate students, including increasing graduate assistant pay, improving grievance policies and implementing sick and bereavement leave.

“Every institution should have a Dr. Michael Bruno, but there is only one, and we鈥檙e so fortunate to have him. His impact is palpable and contagious in all the great ways leaders should be,” said Nikki K膩healani Chun, vice provost for enrollment management, who credits Bruno for fostering her professional growth and leadership as a Native Hawaiian and first-generation college graduate.

Eight undergraduate students from a variety of disciplines at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 experienced an all-expenses-paid research trip of a lifetime—spending eight weeks in summer 2024 immersed in the Galápagos Islands. They engaged in mentored research via a transformational journey that promoted deep connections to ʻ腻颈苍补 (land/sea), k膩naka (people) communities and m膩lama ʻ腻颈苍补 (stewardship of places and people).

Creighton Litton, professor, (UROP) director, and one of the eight 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 faculty members who designed and implemented the program over the past two years, said, “Mentored research opportunities for undergraduate students is a high impact practice that provides myriad benefits to students, mentors, our campus and our islands as a whole. This is an innovative program—possible via a strong collaboration with the (CDF) in Galápagos, and engagement by multiple faculty from across the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 campus—that provides our students with transformative learning experiences in research science within a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning context.”

More than 80 students applied, and 12 were invited to enroll in a new spring course on island invasion biology to provide a base of knowledge for their mentored research projects. Eight traveled to the Gal谩pagos and four conducted research in Hawaiʻi.

Students developed research proposals in spring 2024 with mentors from 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 and CDF. The collaborative mentorship approach allowed students to develop their research skills while contributing to real-world scientific questions. During the summer, the traveling students were housed at the CDF research station in the Galápagos, where they conducted their research projects focused on island invasion biology.

During the summer experience, students wrote research papers on every aspect of the scientific process, including literature review, data collection and analysis, conclusions and the socioecological implications of their findings. Each student also crafted a personal, contemporary kaʻao (epic story, tale) to document their experiences, from their hua (initial inspiration) to their haʻalele (preparing for the journey) to the huakaʻi (journey) to the hoʻina (reintegration) back into their on- and off-campus communities.

Important invasive species research

Matthew Kahokuloa鈥檚 project involved assessing plant diversity after the reintroduction of giant tortoises on Santa Fé Island.

“Being my first time leaving Hawaiʻi, it was amazing to experience the biodiversity and ecology of another archipelago鈥檚 ecosystem,” Kahokuloa said. “This trip provided me with invaluable field experience, especially in terms of working in remote environments and applying research methods.”

Emily Josefina Velasquez studied the impacts of Caulerpa racemosa (species of edible green alga) on sand dwelling benthic invertebrates (small aquatic animals that live on the bottom of bodies of water) in the Gal谩pagos.

“You couldn鈥檛 walk for 10 minutes without running into a lounging iguana, sea bird, or sea lion, and we were always close to the ocean.” — Nicole Buyukacar

“The Galápagos was a place where my personal growth as an individual thrived and reaffirmed my passion and drive to work in academia,” Velasquez said. “It’s an unforgettable experience. You鈥檙e immersed in your project, living, breathing, and dreaming about it. I was surrounded by scientists from diverse backgrounds, and living and working in an environment where everyone shares a passion for understanding the world around them.”

Nicole Buyukacar鈥檚 project was about the developmental dynamics and temperature sensitivity of the avian vampire fly.

“The most remarkable thing about the town we worked in, Puerto Ayora, was the abundance of wildlife living right there on our doorstep all the time,” Buyukacar said. “You couldn鈥檛 walk for 10 minutes without running into a lounging iguana, sea bird, or sea lion, and we were always close to the ocean. The experience was an incredible blend of learning to integrate academically and socially into a completely different place while constantly being in awe of the natural beauty and learning to understand the reason why it all needs to be protected.”

The students presented their research and kaʻao products at the CDF research station and at the UROP SURE Symposium. Most students are continuing to work with their mentors to produce peer-reviewed journal publications.

This unique opportunity is the result of a collaboration between 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 and CDF and is funded by the National Science Foundation–International Research Experiences for Students ($300,000 grant), the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 Provost鈥檚 Office to align the overall program with the campus goal of becoming a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning ($100,000) and the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Scholarship ($80,000). The funds will make the program available to 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 undergraduate students for at least the next two years.

For more information, .

—By Marc Arakaki

Nearly 100 undergraduate students from University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 and Leeward Community College, as well as other universities across the nation, showcased their projects at the 2024 (SURE) Symposium on August 2. Hosted annually by the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 (UROP), the nine-week summer research and creative work program culminated with hybrid oral presentations and poster presentations at the Hawaiʻi Imin International Conference Center.

“东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 undergraduates conduct mature research and creative projects that tackle some of the most pressing issues we face in Hawaiʻi and beyond,” said UROP Program Coordinator Noah Perales-Estoesta. “The Symposium reflects the university鈥檚 commitment to advancing such research and creative work opportunities for students across all disciplines, and UROP is proud to play the role that we have in doing so.”

Sea level rise policy database

Kimberly Ortiz and Iokepa Frederick presented their project called “Sea Level Rise Policy Matrix,” which consisted of a report on a new inventory of sea level rise mitigation strategies, policies, laws, studies, tools, and documents that the state and counties of Hawaiʻi have produced in preparation for sea level rise. Their findings will be developed into a public-facing database that is user-friendly, publicly accessible, and can be used for future community education and input into sea level rise planning.

In addition to the inventory, Ortiz and Frederick reported on an initial analysis of specific actions and indicators that the state and counties have created to measure progress on sea level rise adaptation. Future research will continue with a larger gap analysis of what actions may be missing at a larger scale.

“The SURE Symposium was a wonderful experience and gave my research partner and I a platform to share what we have learned with others,” Ortiz said. “Not only educating ourselves but also having the opportunity to share our knowledge with others in terms of combating climate change, specifically sea level rise, we couldn’t have done it without SURE, UROP, ISR (东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 ) and Dr. Ketty Loeb.”

Loeb, a faculty member with ISR, served as the team鈥檚 mentor.

Marine ecology research

MeiLin Precourt presented two research projects at the SURE Symposium, focusing on marine invasive species in the Galápagos Islands, and global fish extinction risk. Precourt’s first study modeled habitat suitability for Caulerpa algae species in the Galápagos, examining their potential to spread beyond known ranges and threaten native biodiversity. Her second project used machine learning to predict extinction risk for ray-finned fish species not yet assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The model, which shows over 85% accuracy, identifies length, trophic level, and salinity, as key predictors of extinction risk.

“While presenting two projects at the SURE Symposium was a bit nerve-wracking, I enjoyed the opportunity to share my ongoing research,” Precourt said. “I also found it exciting and inspiring to watch the other presenters in my sessions showcase their work.”

Precourt was mentored by 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 PhD candidate McLean Worsham and Professor Megan Porter (extinction risk for ray-finned fishes), and 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 PhD candidate James Fumo (Caulerpa habitat suitability).

UROP funding support

Ortiz and Frederick鈥檚 research was funded through a UROP grant to their mentor. Precourt鈥檚 extinction-prediction project was funded with UROP , and her algae-habitat assessment was funded through an National Science Foundation International Research Experience for Students grant made to 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 faculty.

Each year, UROP awards more than $500,000 in merit-based scholarships directly to students to support mentored undergraduate research and creative work projects and presentations. An additional $125,000 is awarded directly to mentors to support undergraduate research and creative work during the summer. The SURE Symposium is one of several regular on-campus presentation venues organized/co-organized by UROP. During the fall and spring semesters, UROP co-organizes the Undergraduate Showcase with the Honors Program.

A University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa student group was as one of 10 small research satellite developers to launch their satellite into space as early as 2025 through NASA鈥檚 . This is the second project led by students in the (EPET) certificate program to be granted an opportunity to take their satellite project to the deployment phase. The first student-built satellite was selected in April 2023.

“The two groups of EPET students securing opportunities to launch their satellite with NASA highlights both the science and design strengths of the student research groups, and the quality of the EPET program enabling students to invent, design, and build spacecraft with exciting science and educational outcomes,” said Peter Englert, professor in the (HIGP) and EPET course coordinator.

Started in 2020 by HIGP and the in the (SOEST), the EPET certificate program is open to undergraduate students majoring in the physical sciences, such as chemistry, earth sciences, physics or astrophysics, and disciplines. The program has empowered undergraduates through hands-on, student-driven development of science payloads and building of small satellites, called CubeSats, that can be launched into low Earth orbit.

“Our team is very excited to have this opportunity and grateful for all the help we have had to make it to this point,” said Sapphira Akins, CubeSat Relativistic Electron and Proton Energy Separator (CREPES) project manager and graduate student in mechanical engineering and aerospace. “We can’t wait to have something we built operating in space within the next few years!”

The CREPES mission is a student-led project that began at 东精影业 Mānoa in 2022 and aims to study solar energetic particle events and increase knowledge of the Sun. When they launch their satellite with NASA, CREPES will fly a new type of micropattern gaseous detector to amplify the signals of solar radiation. Data obtained from these measurements is expected to contribute to the understanding of space weather and development of space climatology.

“The student research success is an outcome of the high quality of the EPET curriculum, student engagement with the research topics they have chosen, and the resources provided by HIGP, the SOEST dean鈥檚 office, Hawaiʻi Space Grant Consortium, the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program of 东精影业 Mānoa, and private donor support,” said Englert.

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa undergraduate students who have been developing a satellite to launch into space in 2024 earned a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel to Conseil Europ茅en pour la Recherche Nucl茅aire () In Switzerland for its RD51 Detector School November 27–December 1.

The RD51 Detector School is an intensive one week lecture and laboratory course. The school is primarily for PhD students, making it an incredible accomplishment to have three UH Mānoa undergraduate students accepted.

“This is an extraordinary success for the undergraduate students, and for the (EPET) program, which has enabled all of this through its student-centered approach to high-quality undergraduate research and through its support to assist students being successful in their learning and research efforts,” said Peter Englert, a professor in the (HIGP).

HIGP developed the EPET certificate to provide undergraduate students with an opportunity to design research projects and build payloads for Earth, Moon and Sun observing satellites with the goal of producing, launching and operating their satellites.

Current EPET students Sapphira Akins, Howin Ma and Chris Freitas applied to participate in the RD51 Detector School. Akins and Ma were accepted for in-person participation in Switzerland, and Freitas was accepted for participation in the online part of the school. All three students are part of the CubeSat Relativistic Electron and Proton Energy Separator (CREPES) project.

“I feel very grateful to be able to study in a community such as the one at CERN!” said Akins. “Programs like these help me to push myself academically. I hope to gain a deeper understanding of micro patterned gaseous detectors, and ways in which we can implement them in space.”

“I believe that the insights and experiences I gain from being a part of such a prestigious institution will serve as a powerful source of motivation, inspiring me to set and achieve even higher standards for myself,” said Ma. “I also love traveling, and experiencing other cultures so I鈥檓 excited for my time in Switzerland.”

Mentorship from a leading expert

In spring 2023, to learn more about gas electron multiplier (GEM) detectors and their potential application to space research, EPET turned to Fabio Sauli of CERN. Sauli is the world’s leading expert on GEM and micro-pattern gaseous detectors. Sauli provided four Zoom lectures to the CREPES group with extensive discussion sessions, which provided the background knowledge in advancing the CREPES project.

The RD51 Detector School will provide Akins and Ma with additional skills that are important in the final design and assembly of the CREPES flight detector, which will be built in 2024. The learning modules of the school include gas detector physics and technologies, GEM foil manufacturing techniques, detector read out techniques, modeling and simulations. Akins and Ma will bring back advanced knowledge to help contribute to the success of the CREPES mission plan.

“In particular, we are working on a project here at UH that is attempting to put a gas electron multiplier in space, a detector that doesn鈥檛 appear to have any flight heritage,” said Akins. “Being able to receive valuable hands-on experience with this detector, and many similar, will be significant when it comes to understanding how to properly integrate it into a satellite.”

In November, the CREPES group will prepare a proposal to the CubeSat Launch Initiative to obtain support for the launch of their GEM detector mission into space at the end of 2024 or early 2025. Writing such a proposal is a significant task for a student research group.

supported the CERN opportunity through providing travel resources for the student鈥檚 participation. Students have been supported by internships, internships and conference travel grants.

Approximately 24 University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 undergraduate students will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to conduct research over the next three summers. The students who apply and are accepted for the all-expenses-paid project will spend a summer at one of the richest locations for ecological research in the world outside of Hawaiʻi—the Galápagos Islands.

The program encompasses a unique blend of Indigenous and Western science and culture, with a core focus on the field of island invasion biology in the Pacific.

Research areas are:

• Creating the moʻolelo (story) of the huakaʻi (journey) to and from the Galápagos Islands through a Native Hawaiian cosmological and cultural perspective
• Understanding mechanisms of invasion by problematic introduced terrestrial plant and animal species
• Assessing the extent and impact of non-Indigenous species on marine ecosystems of the Galápagos Marine Reserve
• Evaluating techniques to reduce the impacts of the invasive Avian Vampire Fly, Philornis downsi, on Darwin鈥檚 finches and other small land birds

Applicants for the summer 2024 eight-week program must be a 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 undergraduate student with a graduation date no earlier than December 2024. Students from all academic backgrounds and degree programs are encouraged to apply, and at least eight students will be selected. The program covers travel, accommodations and a summer stipend. In addition, students will take a required spring course and will be able to register for summer directed research credits that can be used as elective credits towards degree program requirements.

“UROP () is very excited to help bring this opportunity to our campus for 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 undergraduate students to get real-world, applied research experience in one of the most iconic and intensely studied island chains in the world,” said UROP Director Creighton Litton. “The parallels between Hawaiʻi and Galápagos are remarkable, both in terms of their biology and geology, but also the threats that native species and ecosystems face today such as the introduction and spread of invasive species. As such, participating students will be able to bring and apply the knowledge and experiences gained in Galápagos back home to Hawaiʻi.”

This unique opportunity is the result of a collaboration between 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 and the , and is funded by the National Science Foundation—International Research Experiences for Students ($300,000 grant), the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 Provost鈥檚 Office to align the overall program with the campus goal of becoming a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning ($100,000) and the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Scholarship ($50,000). The funds will make the program available to 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 undergraduate students for three years.

Research integrates Indigenous knowledge, place-based science

Accepted students will be required to take a four-credit Island Invasion Biology course in spring 2024 taught by 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 faculty. The immersive lab and lecture course will be rooted in place-based science and is designed to equip students with a solid understanding of the impacts of invasive species in island ecosystems, and the options for managing them. But it鈥檚 not just about western scientific knowledge and practice; it鈥檚 also about fostering an appreciation for Hawaiian culture, Indigenous resource management and human connections to land- and seascapes through aloha ʻ腻颈苍补 and m膩lama ʻ腻颈苍补 activities.

“By embracing the values of moʻokuauhau (ancestral connections), kaikuaʻana and kaikaina (mentoring relationships), kuleana (responsibility), m膩lama ʻ腻颈苍补 (environmental stewardship), and h膩nai and hoʻomalu (care and protection) and weaving together Indigenous wisdom with contemporary understanding, our program will provide a transformative experience that encourages students to explore innovative approaches to problem-solving,” said 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 Assistant Professor Kiana Frank. “Our intentional approach will expand students’ thinking beyond convention and equip them to address future ecological challenges in the Galápagos, Hawaiʻi, and other island systems with creativity and adaptability, mirroring the wisdom of our k奴puna (ancestors).”

Throughout the spring, selected students will design research proposals for the summer in Gal谩pagos, collaborate on group projects in Hawaiʻi, and form pilina (connections/relationships) with place, as well as each other and mentors from 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 and the Charles Darwin Foundation.

“There are many parallels between these two Pacific archipelagos and lessons to be learned from each,” said Rakan Zahawi, Charles Darwin Foundation executive director and chief executive officer, and former director of 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 Lyon Arboretum. “Since moving here from Hawaiʻi, I have been amazed at how much similarity there is between them. So, we anticipate that this immersive experience for 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 students will transform how they view and care for these incredibly fragile insular systems and make them better stewards and ambassadors for their conservation.”

UROP is hosting an informational session about the program on October 17, 3:30–4:30 p.m. on Zoom. For more information and to apply, .

Approximately 75 University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 undergraduate students showcased their projects at the 2023 (SURE) Symposium on August 4. Hosted annually by the (UROP), the nine-week summer research and creative work program culminated with hybrid oral presentations in Kuykendall Hall and over Zoom, and poster presentations at the Campus Center Ballroom.

Culturally responsive education system

Sarah Rice and Tristan Fleming-Nazara鈥檚 research project, “Creating A Culturally Responsive Education System and Equitable Outcomes through Hawaiʻi-Based Learning Opportunities,” is based on the idea that to sustain the academic growth of K–12 students in Hawaiʻi, there must be an effort to consider the historical contexts and persistent inequities throughout the islands and within Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities through practices, projects, programs and policies. They showcased their project during the symposium鈥檚 oral presentation session.

Under the mentorship of Professor Kealiʻi Kukahiko, Rice and Fleming-Nazara worked with the Hawaiʻi Department of Education (HIDOE) focusing on schools that engaged in the Office of Hawaiian Education鈥檚 ʻ膧颈苍补 Aloha program in 2022–23. They examined the schools’ implementation of a more culturally responsive education system through the assessment of written narratives, competency surveys and focus group findings.

Their findings explored the extent to which engaging in experiential academic and civic opportunities connected students to place, community, culture and language with a measurable impact on the outlined goals in the DOE Strategic Plan. Rice and Fleming-Nazara discovered that the ʻ膧颈苍补 Aloha program created opportunities for students to experience place-based learning and emphasized engaging, participatory lessons that are accessible to students regardless of background or circumstance.

“We recognize that Indigenous practices and ancestral knowledge hold value that can promote progress toward the stated goals of Hawaiʻi‘s schools,” Rice said. “All those receiving an education, pre–K through PhD, on this ʻ腻颈苍补 can benefit from connection to ʻ艑濒别濒辞 Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language), Kuanaʻike (Hawaiian perspective) and Pilina Honua (Relationship to ʻ腻颈苍补).”

Rice is a senior and presidential scholar, majoring in with a certificate in . Fleming-Nazara is a senior double majoring in and .

Creating art from cultural stories

Adam Joseph Parrilla鈥檚 creative work project, “Weaving Cultural Narratives into Art: Character Design Inspired by Hawaiian Moʻolelo (stories),” revolves around the cultural significance of preserving Native Hawaiian moʻolelo through the art of character design. Parrilla presented his project in the symposium鈥檚 poster session.

Mentored by Hawaiian Language Professor Matthew Kainoa Wong, Parrilla chose the story of “Ke Kumu ʻUlu Mua Loa,” which depicts the Hawaiian akua (deity) K奴 coming to Hawaiʻi in human form and raising a family. During a season of drought, he sacrifices his body and is unable to return to his family to grow the ʻulu (breadfruit) tree, which has continued to be not only a staple of Native Hawaiians, but also a symbol of perseverance and kinolau (embodiment) of K奴.

“My main hope for this project was to inspire an appreciation for Hawaiian culture and moʻolelo by connecting it to something you’re interested in,” Parrilla said. “With this project, I wanted to create a good character design from this story I enjoyed. However, if this project could give anyone interested in Hawaiian stories or culture a reason to integrate what they are learning in school, that would be amazing.”

Parrilla is a senior majoring in and , and pursuing a certificate in .

“I would encourage other students to pursue their passions, seek mentorship and look for opportunities like these for growth and learning.”
—Adam Joseph Parrilla

“This experience has been invaluable, improving both my artwork and project management skills,” Parrilla said. “I would encourage other students to pursue their passions, seek mentorship and look for opportunities like these for growth and learning. Find ways to take your knowledge and skills developed in school and apply them through programs such as these.”

UROP funding support

Both projects received UROP project funding. Each year, UROP awards more than $500,000 in merit-based scholarships directly to students to support faculty-mentored undergraduate research and creative work projects and presentations.

The SURE Symposium is one of several regular on-campus venue presentation venues organized/co-organized by UROP. During the fall and spring semesters, UROP co-organizes the Undergraduate Showcase with the Honors Program.

—By Marc Arakaki

A new online platform launching this fall aims to connect University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 undergraduate students with a faculty mentor who is willing to introduce and/or guide them in their faculty-mentored research or creative work project.

is being introduced to 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 through the (UROP). The platform is a searchable database of faculty and student profiles and opportunities to help students determine which 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 faculty member may be best-suited to serve as their research or creative work mentor. Faculty members and students must create their own profiles to be added to the database. It features a built-in messaging system to help students communicate with potential mentors, and also contains a searchable database of on- and off-campus undergraduate research and creative work opportunities.

“Our goal with this program is two-fold. One, to lower the barrier for students to engage in research and creative work by helping them discover and connect with a potential faculty mentor, and two, to make it easier for faculty mentors to post, search for and recruit undergraduate mentees,” UROP Director Creighton Litton said.

UROP awards more than $500,000 in scholarships annually directly to students to support faculty-mentored undergraduate research and creative work projects and presentations, including opportunities for students with interest but no prior experience in research or creative work. Faculty-mentored undergraduate research and creative work is a high-impact practice, which means that students who engage in this practice have shown to be more satisfied with their degree programs, more likely to stay in school and finish their degrees on time, and more likely to excel in the workforce post-graduation.

While faculty-mentored research and creative work is a high-impact factor, a primary barrier to student engagement in this practice on our campus is the ability for a student to identify a faculty who is willing to mentor them. Litton is hoping that ForagerOne will help to reduce that barrier.

“We encourage all 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 undergraduate students and faculty mentors to try ForagerOne,” Litton said. “We hope that more students and faculty utilizing this platform will result in more scholarship funding awarded, and more participation in our increasingly popular programs, such as the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience, project and presentation funding, and Entering Research and Creative Work funding.”

UROP is currently collating faculty mentor profiles, and the entire platform will become available to the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 campus, including all undergraduate students, in fall 2023.

Create your profile on . Log in using your 东精影业 username and password, and input your information for your faculty profile. Additional questions can be directed to urop@hawaii.edu.

Two students from the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources鈥� (CTAHR) are furthering the research of their mentor.

In 2020, Associate Research Professor Andre Seale studied how fish recognize and tolerate changes in aquatic environments, such as temperature and salinity—now, in 2023, graduate student Tharindu Malintha and undergraduate student Ke Cao were given an opportunity to shine in this field.

“I鈥檓 extremely proud of these two young scientists,” said Seale. “Through their hard work and dedication, they produced impactful research while making speedy progress toward their personal and professional development.”

Malintha and Seale have also conducted research together, and their work, “,” appeared in Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology.

The students鈥� findings

Under Seale鈥檚 mentorship, Malintha found multiple transcription factors that are sensitive to ambient solute concentration. Transcription factors control multiple genes, including the one that encodes for prolactin, a hormone that in fish is important for salinity acclimation.

“Transcription factors are molecules that turn genes on and off by binding to DNA,” said Malintha, who defended his PhD dissertation with “Environmentally Sensitive Transcription Factors in the Prolactin Cell, Gill and Kidney of Mozambique Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus).”

Malintha added that changes in temperature can activate or inhibit similar transcription factors and characterize the molecular pathways activated in gills and kidneys when fish are in different salinities.

Furthermore, Cao has been working on a project to show how tight-junction proteins help fish cope with change. Tight-junction proteins play a key role in maintaining structural integrity between cells. When fish are challenged with rapidly changing salinities, these proteins act to prevent excessive water movement across the gill.

Cao鈥檚 project was supported by an (UROP) award, and was presented at the 46th annual Albert L. Tester Memorial Symposium and the UROP undergraduate showcase.

Jiin Park presented his undergraduate research on the effectiveness of concussion legal regulation in the U.S. compared to Japan at the (NCUR) held at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire in April 2023.

While there, a local television station interviewed the then University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 undergraduate student about his research, which compared the knowledge and beliefs toward concussions between the two countries, as Japan does not have any legal regulations. Park鈥檚 research, under the mentorship of (KRS) faculty member Kyoko Shirahata, demonstrated that the U.S. participants had significantly higher knowledge and a favorable attitude toward concussions compared with Japanese participants, indicating the importance of legal concussion regulation to participate in sports safely.

Park, a spring 2023 KRS graduate in the , was supported through from the (UROP) at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补.

“Presenting and having a discussion about my study with other participants about their studies at NCUR deepened my understanding of my own study and expanded my views of research,” Park said. “Furthermore, what made my presentation experience even more interesting was the opportunity given to me to be interviewed by WQOW, a television station in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. This experience has been a firm cornerstone of my academic journey of pursuing my doctor of physical therapy degree, and it ignited my passion for research even more.”

Park was also awarded UROP鈥檚 , which supported his trip to Sendai University in Japan for data collection in summer 2022. Shirahata is a former Sendai University faculty member who currently works as a coordinator between the two institutions. As the only university specializing in physical education and sports/health sciences in northern Japan, Sendai University welcomed Park to conduct his concussion research. This research activity further strengthens the more than 20-year relationship between Sendai University and KRS.

“This international research experience has been extremely special,” Park said. “The research process was exciting and the interactions with Sendai students were something that I could not have gained through the classes.”

“Jiin worked very hard to complete this project for over a year, and it was truly fulfilling to witness his success as a researcher,” Shirahata said. “The long-term friendly relationship between the two institutions empowered him to accomplish such great success. I hope to mentor more undergraduate students like Jiin and provide students with a unique international research experience.”

Park was accepted into the doctoral physical therapy program at Northwestern University and aspires to become a professor.

UROP funding available

UROP awards more than $500,000 in scholarship funding annually to support faculty-mentored undergraduate student research and creative work projects and presentations . Most awards go toward supporting student projects; however, UROP also encourages students to take advantage of its , which includes support to showcase their work at local, national, and international conferences, venues, competitions, etc.

“UROP is very proud of Jiin and appreciative of Dr. Shirahata’s faculty mentorship,” said Seung Yang, UROP assistant director. “Sharing one鈥檚 scholarship outside of our campus is an integral part of conducting faculty-mentored research and creative work. We are pleased to have supported Jiin throughout his undergraduate research journey at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 as Jiin applied for and received not only UROP project funding to do research, but also UROP presentation funding to share his research with a national audience.”

Yang added, “UROP encourages all undergraduate students at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 to participate in undergraduate research opportunities, both inside and outside of UROP, to elevate their academic experience at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补.”

For questions about UROP or to get started on your journey, visit or email urop@hawaii.edu.