Author: Guam EPSCoR

SACNAS 2018

Guam EPSCoR student, Jordan Barcinas, receives coveted “Outstanding Research Presentation” award in the General Biology/Life Sciences division.Last month, a total of 17 UOG students and faculty attended the 2018 Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) National Conference. The 45^th annual conference was held in San Antonio, Texas from October 9 – 13. The SACNAS National Conference is regarded as the nation’s largest diversity in STEM conference with over 4,000 student and professional attendees annually. 

UOG students competed against thousands of students from across the country during poster presentation sessions. Jordan Barcinas, a UOG Biology student, received a coveted “Outstanding Research Presentation” award in the General Biology/Life Sciences division. 

“Winning the award felt surreal, but I am honored that my experiment and presentation was held in such high regard,” elated Barcinas. “I really enjoyed the 2018 SACNAS conference, and I’m thankful to UOG for the experience.” Dr. Bastian Bentlage from the University of Guam Marine Laboratory and Guam EPSCoR mentored Barcinas in his hydroid (jellyfish) research project.

Travel for the Guam delegation to the SACNAS National Conference was made possible through grants awarded to the University of Guam, including the Guam Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (Guam EPSCoR), National Science Foundation INCLUDES Pilot: Growing STEM, UOG Sea Grant, UOG School of Nursing and Health Science’s Build Exito program, the UOG Professional and International Programs, and the Research Corporation of the University of Guam. 

Dareon Rios

Bachelor of Science in Human Biology; University of Califronia, San Diego 
Thesis: “Population Genomics of Acropora pulchra in Guam“

Matt Mills

Bachelors of Science in Biology with minors in Chemistry and Spanish, Georgia Southern University, Spring 2015
Thesis: “Coralline algal diversity in Apra Harbor: a molecular approach”

Coralline algae play an important ecological role in coral reefs and are some of the most sensitive organisms to climate change and ocean acidification. Matt’s study will examine the diversity and community structure of coralline algae in Apra Harbor. Coralline algal DNA sequences will be compared to the known morphospecies of coralline algae within Apra Harbor, and community analyses will be conducted to examine coralline diversity and community composition along an established environmental gradient present throughout the harbor.   

Alisha Gill 

Bachelor of Science in Organismal Biology, Montana State University, 2015
Thesis: Egg predation rates and spawning success among mating territories in a lek-like mating system of Gomphosus various (Pisces: Labridae) 

Guam EPSCOR is a 5-year, $6 million grant to the University of Guam from the National Science Foundation. The program aims to develop a Guam Ecosystems Collaboratorium to ensure the sustainability of coral reef ecosystems in the face of environmental change. Guam EPSCoR aims to situate Guam as a premier research and STEM (Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education hub bolstering sustainability, economic development, and informed decision-making by engaging communities in 21st-century science.

In addition to its research goals, Guam EPSCoR seeks to increase the number and diversity of students who choose STEM careers by engaging students in its Graduate Research Assistantship Program (GRA). The GRA program is a year-long program open to select graduate students seeking research opportunities with Guam EPSCoR faculty. Student research training and tasks may include field work to investigate coral reefs or to deploy and retrieve oceanographic instruments, as well as work in the University of Guam Marine Laboratory’s Molecular Lab. Selected students will learn about DNA extraction and sequencing and/or how to readout and analyze data to characterize marine environments. Ideal candidates are self-motivated, well organized, and have research interests related to the objectives of the Guam Ecosystems Collaboratorium.

The University of Guam and Research Corporation of the University of Guam are Equal Opportunity Employers that have received NSF funding to broaden the participation of underrepresented students in STEM fields. As such, the GRA Program remains open to all qualified students, but women, minorities, and students with disabilities are particularly encouraged to apply.

ELIGIBILITY

• Must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident of Guam, or non-immigrant alien admitted into Guam under the Compacts of Free Association
• Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 in undergraduate studies or 3.25 in graduate studies

BENEFITS

• Research experience and training
• Faculty/Researcher mentoring
• Annual stipend of up to $18,000.00
• Tuition Waiver of up to 21 credits per semester for up to three academic years for graduate students
• Possible travel opportunities

APPLICATION SUBMISSION

• Drop off this application and transcript to:
  Guam EPSCoR Office, University of Guam, Dean Circle House #4
  Office Hours 8AM – 5PM, Monday – Friday
• Or, you can email documents to Mellani Lubuag at lubuagm@triton.uog.edu. PDF format only. Please put “2018 Guam EPSCOR GRA Application” in the subject line.

SPACE IS LIMITED.
DUE DATE: JULY 2, 2018 (CHST)FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Mellani Lubuag, Program Manager
lubuagm@triton.uog.edu  /  (671) 735-0301/09

Mildred Kelokelo

Bachelors of Science in Fisheries and Marine Resources, Papua New Guinea University of Natural Resources and Environment, 2014
Thesis: “Sexuality and Reproductive Cycle of the Arc-eye Hawkfish, Paracirrhites arcatus (Cirrhitidae)”

Mildred’s work will compare patterns of sexuality, gonad structure and maturity, and reproduction.  This work will compliment previous studies on other members of the family, geographic variation, reproductive behavior and phylogeny.

Guam EPSCOR is a 5-year, $6 million grant to the University of Guam from the National Science Foundation. The program aims to develop a Guam Ecosystems Collaboratorium to ensure the sustainability of coral reef ecosystems in the face of environmental change. Guam EPSCoR aims to situate Guam as a premier research and STEM (Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education hub bolstering sustainability, economic development, and informed decision-making by engaging communities in 21st-century science.

In addition to its research goals, Guam EPSCoR seeks to increase the number and diversity of students who choose STEM careers by engaging students in its Summer Research Experience (SRE) Program. The SRE program is a six-week program open to select undergraduate students seeking research opportunities this summer. Student research training and tasks may include field work to investigate coral reefs or to deploy and retrieve oceanographic instruments, as well as work in the University of Guam Marine Laboratory’s Molecular Lab. Selected students will learn about DNA extraction and sequencing and/or how to readout and analyze data to characterize marine environments. Ideal candidates are self-motivated, well organized, and have basic training or experience in lab procedures and microscopy.

The University of Guam and Research Corporation of the University of Guam are Equal Opportunity Employers that have received NSF funding to broaden the participation of underrepresented students in STEM fields. As such, the SRE Program remains open to all qualified students, but women, minorities, and students with disabilities are particularly encouraged to apply.

ELIGIBILITY

• Must be a U.S. citizen and/or permanent resident of Guam
• Undergraduate student in good academic standing
• Available 8AM – 5PM between June 11 – July 20, 2018, and flexibility to work some nights and weekends

BENEFITS

• Research experience
• Faculty/Researcher mentoring
• $2500 stipend
• Possible travel opportunities
• On-campus housing and up to $1500 travel reimbursement for off-island participants

APPLICATION SUBMISSION

1. Drop off this application and transcript to:
   Guam EPSCoR Office, University of Guam, Dean Circle House #4
   Office Hours 8AM – 5PM, Monday – Friday
2. Or, you can email documents to Mellani Lubuag at lubuagm@triton.uog.edu. 
   PDF format only.

SPACE IS LIMITED.
DUE DATE: February 28, 2018 by 5:00PM

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Mellani Lubuag, Program Manager
lubuagm@triton.uog.edu  /  (671) 735-0301/09