2021 Honolulu Scholars

2021 ARCS Scholar of the Year
George Orton and Mona Marie Elmore ARCS Award
Institute for Astronomy (Dr. Karen Meech, advisor)

Research focus: Using the chemical signature imprinted on comets and small bodies scattered outward in the early days of the solar system to test dynamic models that seek to determine whether the habitable Earth was a common outcome of planet formation or an anomaly requiring a unique set of processes during the evolution of our solar system. View her video to learn more.
Goal: Teach, conduct research, work on space missions to visit comets.
Education: BS in physics (astrophysics) with a minor in mathematics, University of California, Santa Cruz; MS in astronomy, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa
Honors: Institute for Astronomy Best Research Awards, Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science Outstanding Research Presentation Award, Soroptimist Fellowship
Interests: Watch movies, create art, swim, hike and go to the beach.

ARCS Scholar Award
Atmospheric Sciences, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Techonology (Dr. Jennifer Griswold, advisor)

Research focus: Analyzing droplet clustering within atmospheric clouds and determining how that is related to drop size and fluid turbulent intensity to better understand precipitation formation.
Goal: Continue cloud microphysics and boundary layer meteorology research in an academic, government or private institution or forecast weather and project impacts of climate change.
Education: BS in earth system science and atmospheric science, University of Wyoming; MS in atmospheric science, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa
Honors: NASA Earth and Science Space Fellowship since 2017; three first-author publications.
Interests: Landscape photography, camping, hiking and exploring new locations on travels with wife Hanna.

Columbia Communications ARCS Award in Astronomy
Institute for Astronomy (Dr. Mark Chun, advisor)

Research focus: Developing a method to use past measurements of the atmosphere to predict what it will do next and how it’s vertically structured in order to improve the image quality from telescopes with adaptive optics systems. Also, using time series observations to measure the rotation periods of low mass stars with known ages to benchmark the existing models used to measure a star’s age.
Goal: A professorship focused on teaching.
Education: BA and MS in physics, University of Pennsylvania; MS in astronomy, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa
Honors: Friends of the IfA Awards for Research Excellence; two first-author and two additional publications.
Interests: Tea, cooking, hiking, swimming.

George Orton and Mona Marie Elmore ARCS Award
School of Life Sciences (Botany), College of Natural Sciences (Dr. Kasey Barton, advisor)

Research focus: Monitoring plant productivity and growth to gauge the response to environmental stress changes throughout key developmental stages in order to determine patterns beneficial to plant fitness.
Goal: Complete PhD.
Education: BS in Biological Sciences, Florida International University
Interests: Reading across many genres, from nature-themed non-fiction and classical literature to horror and fantasy.

Ellen M. Koenig ARCS Award
Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (Dr. Miaoying Tian, advisor)

Research focus: Using CRISPR/Cas gene editing technology to develop disease resistent sweet basil varieties and develop an agrobacterium-mediated gene editing system to create a model papaya crop that will allow researchers to quickly conduct research on gene function in fruiting trees. View his video to learn more.
Goal: Continue to research gene networks of plants to enhance overall function and production.
Education: BS in tropical plant and soil sciences,  MS in tropical plant pathology, University of Hawai’i at Manoa
Honors: Best Graduate Presentation, University of Hawai’i at Manoa CTAHR Plant Science Symposium.
Interests: Fencing, art, fashion shows, and functional interior design.

Frederick M. Kresser ARCS Award in Engineering
Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering (Dr. Olga Boric-Lubecke, advisor)

Research focus: Developing non-invasive physiological monitoring, including heart and respiratory rates and unique biometric indicators, using ground-based and unmanned aerial vehicle–mounted Doppler radar. Potential application relate to human performance and identification, physiological monitoring in low-visibility settings and smart building technologies. View his video to learn more.
Goal: An academic position conducting research on non-invasive physiological sensors.
Education: BS, MS in electrical engineering, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa
Honors: Veterans of Foreign Wars, Sport Clips Help a Hero and Department of Defense SMART Scholarships; three first-author publications.
Interests: Swimming, running and mentoring underclassmen, community college transfer students and veteran students.

George Orton and Mona Marie Elmore ARCS Award
Oceanography, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (Dr. Jeffrey Drazen, advisor)

Research focus: Studying the ecology and behaviors of deep-ocean animals in a targeted deep-sea mining region to help inform the development of marine protections in this area. View her video to learn more.
Goal: Conduct conservation-focused research and educational outreach for marine and deep-sea habitats.
Education: BS in biological sciences, University of Southern California
Honors: 2019 Saildrone award, John and Anne Flanigan Oceanography award, Leonida Memorial scholarship in Fisheries Science, UH STAR achievement award.
Interests: Distance running, hiking, baking, free-diving.

Dr. George and Virginia Starbuck ARCS Award in Medicine
Cell and Molecular Biology, John A. Burns School of Medicine (Dr. Matthew W. Pitts, advisor)

Research focus: Assessing the impact of the micronutrient selenium on the development of a specific class of neurons and the net-like structure around them which are negatively impacted in neurodevelopmental disorders. Results may provide insight into nutritional contributions that may lead to the formation of these disorders. View his video to learn more.

Goal: Refine skills and knowledge in a postdoctoral position, then work in industry to discover treatment for neurological ailments.

Education: BS in biochemistry, St. Michael’s College
Honors: Sigma Xi nominee, St. Michael’s Book Award for Academic Achievement and Social Conscience; six articles published or in review.
Interests: Ukulele, photography, choral and barbershop singing, hiking, tabletop gaming.

Maybelle F. Roth ARCS Award in Conservation Biology
School of Life Sciences (Botany), College of Natural Sciences (Dr. Curt Daehler, advisor)

Research focus: Whether invasive grasses modify the soil and living organisms within it in ways that impede restoration with native Hawaiian plants and how droughts will impact that dynamic as climate change progresses. View her video to learn more.
Goal: Faculty position in a teaching-focused liberal arts college.
Education: Bachelor’s in organismal biology, Scripps College
Honors: Jacquith Fellowship, Dean’s List, Center for Teaching Excellence Experienced Teaching Assistant Panel participant.
Interests: Animal rescue (volunteering with the Hawaiian Humane Society and Basset Hound Rescue of Southern California), oil painting, student advocacy.

Ellen M. Koenig ARCS Award
Ocean and Resource Engineering, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (Dr. Zhenhua Huang, advisor)

Research focus: Using an ocean-powered wave energy device–whose design was inspired by the Halona Blowhole on O‘ahu–to power unmanned underwater vehicles. Integration of the wave-driven turbine device with a stable buoy design creates an ocean observing and vehicle charging platform that can sustain longer data collection periods and reduce the cost and risk of ship-based operations when conditions are hazardous. View his video to learn more.
Goal: Start a new wave energy company that will demonstrate Hawai‘i’s unique capability to advance both wave energy and ocean observing technologies and create well-paying technical jobs on O‘ahu.
Education: BS in mechanical engineering, Johns Hopkins University; MS in ocean and resource engineering, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa
Honors: Winner, Department of Energy Marine Energy Discover Competition and Ocean Observing Prize Design; presentation at OCEANS 2019 MTS/IEEE meeting.
Interests: Surfing, freediving, scuba diving, ocean conservation.