2019 Honolulu Scholars

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2019 Honolulu ARCS Scholars

Lauren Ward Toby Lee Award in Earth Science and 2019 ARCS Scholar of the Year Earth Sciences, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (Bridget Smith-Konter, advisor) Focus: Seismic Moment Dependence on Crustal Rigidity for the San Andreas Fault System BS in geological sciences, University of Arizona Goal: Remain in academia, securing a post-doctoral position and then university teaching position Honors: Hawai’i Space Grant Consortium, Michigan Space Grant Consortium, UH Graduate Student Organization research grant Interests: Yoga, CrossFit, reading

Chantell BAlaan Ellen M. Koenig Foundation Award in Medicine Developmental and Reproductive Biology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai‘i (Masato Yoshizawa, advisor) Focus: Utilizing Cavefish to Understand the Etiology of Autism Spectrum Disorder BA in biology and religion, MS in developmental and reproductive biology, University of Hawai’i at Manoa Goal: Pursue a postdoctoral position or delve into clinical research on therapies for Autism Spectrum Disorder Honors: NIH Travel Bursary Award, Manoa opportunity grant Interests: Physical activities including hiking and going to the gym

Luke Campillo Maybelle C. Roth Award in Conservation Biology Biology, College of Natural Sciences, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa (Robert C. Thompson, advisor) Focus: Do Birds of a Feather Flock Together? BS in biology, Drake University; MS in ecology and evolutionary biology, University of Kansas Goal: Pursue a career in academia, teaching and mentoring graduate students Honors: Jessie D. Kay Fellowship, Society of Systematic Biologist Graduate Student Research Award, Hampton and Meredith Carson Fellowship Interests: Hiking with his wife Bri and dog Haha

Ashley Chontos Columbia Award in Astronomy Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa (Daniel Huber, advisor) Focus: The Sound of the Stars: Using Asteroseismology to Understand Exoplanet Compositions BS in physics, BS in mathematics, State University of New York at Albany; MS in astronomy, University of Hawai’i at Manoa Goal: Remain in academia involved in mentoring students, doing research and participating in public outreach Honors: NSF Graduate Student Fellowship, NASA John Mather Nobel Scholar, IfA Outstanding Outreach Award Interests: Suba diving, hiking, cooking/baking, volleyball

Jessie KAi Helen Jones Farrar Award in Tropical Agriculture Human Nutrition Food and Animal Sciencs, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa (Marie Kainoa Fialkowski Revilla, advisor) Focus: Exploring the Complementary Feeding Practices of Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and Filipino Infants on O’ahu BA in biology, Wheaton College; MS in nutritional sciences, University of Hawai’i at Manoa Goal: Earn Registered Dietician license, teach and conduct research in Hilo and provide outreach to East Hawai’i youth Interests: Spending time with her 90-year-old grandmother, learning recipes, helping garden, hearing stories and absorbing wisdom; diving and fishing; walking her two poi dogs

Evan Kawamura Shelaugh Kresser Award in Engineering Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa (Dilmurat Azimov, advisor) Focus: Integrated Guidance, Navigation and Control for Unmanned Aerial Systems BS in mechanical engineering summa cum laude, University of Hawai’i at Manoa Goal: Complete PhD Honors: Corresponding author on two submitted publications,  HESTEMP Conference Certificate of Achievement, Pi Tau Sigma honorary society, NASA EPSCoR project participant Interests: Basketball, Lego, reading, playing trumpet and keyboard

Evan Lechner Helen Jones Farrar Award in Oceanography Oceanography, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa (Chris Sabine, advisor) Focus: Characterization of CO2 and Oxygen in Restored Hawaiian Fishpond BS in marine science, Stockton University of New Jersey; MS in chemical oceanography (in progress) Goal: A professorship or research position with a strong focus on teaching and outreach Activities: Teaching assistant dedicated to working with undergraduates Interests: Hiking/trail running, former

Christopher Light Sarah Ann Martin Award in Physics Physics, College of Natural Sciences, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa (Veronica Bindi, advisor) Focus: Heliophysics and Space Radiation Using the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer BS in psychology, BS in crime and justice studies, BS in physics, University of Idaho Goal: Work as a physicist in the field of heliophysics Honors: Outstanding Physics Teaching Assistant Award, several publications in Physical Review Letters Interests: Spending time with his wife trying new foods and visiting scenic O’ahu locations

SHAYLE MAtSUDA ARCS Honolulu Award in Coral Reef Science Marine Biology, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa (the late Ruth Gates and Craig Nelson, advisors) Focus: Where You Are Matters: How Coral Structural Architecture Shapes the Microbial Landscape BA in environmental studies and women’s studies, UC Santa Cruz; MS in biology, San Francisco State University Goal: Coral research biologist position in a natural history museum or aquarium or tenured faculty member Honors: Albert L. Tester Symposium Best Paper award; Point Foundation Scholar; COMPASS Scientist Sentinels Fellow Interests: Sketchnoting, hiking, scuba diving, science communication

Alina Pang Kai Bowden Award in Medicine Cellular and Molecular Biology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Univeristy of Hawai‘i at Manoa (Michael Corley, advisor) Focus: The Role of Immune Cells and Metabolism in Disease BS in biology, University of Hawai’i at Manoa Goal: Conduct biomedical research with a focus in immunometabolism and epigenetics Honors: Ola Hawai’i trainee, 5th Global Symposium on Ketogenic Therapies Travel Award, first author on Biomol Concepts journal article Interests: Volunteer work at a children’s home in Thailand

SARAH TUCKER Maybelle C. Roth Award in Conservation Biology Marine Biology, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa (Michael Rappé, advisor) Focus: Population-level Resolution of Dominant Marine Bacteria and Their Ecological and Evolutionary Drivers BA in biological sciences with highest honors, environmental science and policy minor, Smith College Goal: Work as a research professor Honors: NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, US Department of State Fulbright Research Student in Indonesia Interests: Traveling, learning new languages, swimming, scuba diving, kite surfing, science communication

DAVID WEBB Sarah Ann Martin Award in Mathematics Mathematics, College of Natural Sciences, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa (Bjørn Kjos-Hanssen, advisor) Focus: Detecting Complexity Oscillations: New Notions of Algorithmic Dimension BS in mathematics, University of Hawai’i at Manoa Goal: Lecture in college mathematics, “teaching the kinds of logic courses that made me fall in love with the subject” Honors: Kem-Clark Award, publication presented at the International Symposium on Information Theory and Its Applications following month-long exchange at Chiba University Interests: Cycling, spending time with his two dogs, singing and fishing.

Brennan Yamamoto Bretzlaff Foundation Award in Engineering Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa (A. Zachary Trimble, advisor) Focus: Convergent Pose and Twist Estimation for Velocity-Denied Mobile Robots BS in mechanical engineering, MS in mechanical engineering, University of Hawai’i at Manoa Goal: Pursue opportunities in academic research or technology industry Honors: PACE Breakthrough Innovation Challenge Finalist Interests: Skateboarding, fishing, torching, cars, PC gamingand fishing.