Current Scholars

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

Research focus: Viral immunity in microbes, developing resistant strains of a single-cell algae for experimental evolution in the laboratory to determine if there are fitness costs to viral resistance
Goal: Complete PhD
Education: BA in Biology, New College of Florida
Honors: 2019 Department of Biology Best Paper
Interests: Yoga, hip-hop and salsa dance, pencil drawing and research on indigenous ancestry

Sarah Ann Martin Award in Natural Sciences
Zoology, College of Natural Sciences (Dr. Robert C. Thompson, advisor)

Research focus: DNA sequencing of Hawaiian birds to study the impact of limited contact with other populations and competition for limited resources on speciation on island archipelagos
Goal: Teaching and mentoring graduate students
Education: BS in biology, Drake University; MS in ecology and evolutionary biology, University of Kansas
Honors: American Ornithological Society Hesse Award, American Museum of Natural History Frank M. Chapman Memorial Fund
Interests: Outdoor activities, birds, food and traveling

Ellen M. Koenig ARCS Award
Microbiology, College of Natural Sciences (Dr. Sladjana Prisic, advisor)

Research focus: Mechanisms employed by the deadly Mycobacterium tuberculosis pathogen to survive severe zinc depletion in the host, a necessary step for disease transmission
Goal: Using microbial genetics in a synthetic biology approach to solving environmental problems in a university faculty research position
Education: BS in biology, MS in molecular bioscience and bioengineering, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa
Honors: Three first-author publications, 2018 ARCS Scholar Award
Interests: Outdoor activities, cooking and sewing related to sustainable, wholesome living

Ellen M. Koenig ARCS Award
Cell and Molecular Biology, John A. Burns School of Medicine (Dr. Axel Lehrer, advisor)

Research focus: Hacking the immune system to uncover protective responses to emerging infectious viruses
Education: AA in biomedical Science, St. Petersburg College; BS in molecular cell biology, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa
Honors: American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Young Investigator Award, American Society for Microbiology 1st Place Poster, IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) Research Experience Award, University Research Opportunities Program Research Experience Award
Interests: Reading, photography and beach barbecues

Starbuck ARCS Award in Medicine
Anatomy, Biochemistry and Physiology, John A. Burns School of Medicine (Dr. Yusuke Marikawa, advisor)

Research focus: Using in vitro model systems to understand the mechanisms of gastrulation, the foremost, crucial and sensitive stage of embryo development, and exposure to tetratogens, agents that can cause birth defects
Goal: Teaching and performing meaningful research
Education: BS in biology, University of Colorado Denver
Honors: American Association for Anatomy Student Travel Award, Frances Davis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching nomination, Society of Developmental Biology Travel Award, two first-author publications
Interests: Cooking, crafting, video games, jigsaw puzzles, playing with dog Dai Dai

ARCS Honolulu Award
Botany, School of Life Sciences, College of Natural Sciences (Dr. Tamara Ticktin, advisor)

Research focus: The connection between agroforest biodiversity and dietary nutrition in Fiji and the ways agroforestry helps people recover from major cyclone disturbances
Goal: Postdoctoral position followed by a professorship
Education: BS in biology, ecology, evolution and conservation concentration, North Carolina University
Honors: National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, Fulbright Student Research Fellowship, US Department of Education Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship
Interests: Songwriting, ukulele, biking, hiking

Frederick M. Kresser Award in Engineering
Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering (Dr. Mehrdad Ghasemi Nejhad, advisor)

Research focus: Develop a novel ceramic based Nano-Paste that can be both 3D printed and molded to optimize and develop ceramic nanocomposite parts with armor as well as space structure and optical applications
Goal: Continue research as a postdoc and develop Flux, a business that take ideas from conceptualization through design, simulation, prototyping and testing to mass manufacturing
Education:  University of Hawai‘i at Manoa
Honors: Three first-author publications, two patents, advisor to several senior design projects that have won national awards, combat and other military awards
Interests: Automotive fabrication, racing and invention, motorcycle and off-road vehicles, building and overclocking computers

Helen Jones Farrar Award
Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (Dr. Matthew Medeiros and Dr. Helen Spafford, advisors)

Research focus: Using DNA sequencing to characterize the microbiome and understand how environmental and ecological factors influence its diversity in Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, a commonly occurring insect that serves as a vector for Dengue and Chikungunya viruses with an eye to improving strategies for disease prevention
Goal: A faculty position that stresses science literacy, emphasizes teaching and training and provides research opportunities
Education: BS in biology with a minor in chemistry, University of Central Oklahoma; MS in biomedical science, tropical medicine, medical microbiology and pharmacology, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa
Honors: Soroptimist Founder Region Fellowship; Best Graduate Presentation, College of Tropical Agriculture and  Human Resources; Biology of Vector Borne Disease Travel Scholarship
Interests: Adventures with her daughter, including hiking, swimming and beach days