Join Guam EPSCoR at the Chasing Coral Mini Expo at 2PM on Saturday, September 9th at the Guam Museum.
This event will include the Chasing Coral film viewing (2PM), a panel discussion (3:40PM), and exhibits by participating organizations and programs (4:00PM) including the Guam Department of Agriculture (DAWR), Guam Community Coral Reef Monitoring Program, UOG Sea Grant, Micronesia Conservation Coalition, the Center for Island Sustainbility and the University of Guam Marine Laboratory.
NSF EPSCoR is hosting webinars for those interested in learning more about the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). Please join us for one of these informative sessions by clicking a link in the table below and calling in.
The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program provides a prestigious award that supports research-oriented students in a wide range of STEM and social science fields during graduate school. This webinar will provide an overview of the GRFP and program updates for the FY 2018 competition (incl. deadlines, application and review processes) and other program activities.
The intended audience is students, faculty and university administrators. No registration necessary. For more GRFP information visit www.nsfgrfp.org. Login instructions for the webinars are below.
Note: This virtual meeting/webinar will consist of both an audio portion via teleconference and a visual component via WebEx. In addition to a computer connection for the visual part of the meeting, you will need a separate phone connection to participate in the teleconference.
Audio Component – Teleconference
Direct Call-in Number: 1-415-655-0002 (Use Access Code from table above to connect to your meeting)
The meeting will be open 15 minutes prior to the start time for you to login/call-in. You are encouraged to login/call-in early to ensure connectivity.
Visual Component – WebEx
To join the meeting directly through WebEx:
Click the link (above) for the meeting you are attending.
When requested, enter your name and email address.
Click “Join.”
You are now in the “web” portion of the webinar.
WebEx will automatically setup Meeting Manager the first time you join a meeting using WebEx. To save time, we strongly encourage you to setup prior to the meeting to ensure connectivity. To set up the meeting manager, click this link: https://nsf.webex.com/nsf/meetingcenter/mcsetup.php.
If you cannot access the direct login link for the webinar, you can still login through WebEx.
To join the online meeting through the WebEx Website:
Enter the WebEx Meeting ID (Access Code from the table above), then click “Join Meeting.”
When requested, enter your name and email address and passcode; it is EPSCoR17!4. Click “Join”
Administrative Support
If you have any questions about WebEx meeting access, please contactLiz Lawrence at least 24 hours prior to the webinar (Email: elawrenc@nsf.gov; Phone: 703-292-8997)
The playback of UCF (Universal Communications Format) rich media files requires appropriate players. To view this type of rich media file in the meeting, please check whether you have the players installed on your computer by going to https://nsf.webex.com/nsf/systemdiagnosis.php.
SUMMER RESEARCH EXPERIENCE (SRE) Undergraduate Student Presentations
9AM, Wednsday, July 26, 2017 University of Guam, School of Business & Public Administration, Rm. 129
Please join us for Guam EPSCoR’s Summer Research Experience (SRE) Student Presentations. Under the tutelage of Guam EPSCoR faculty at the University of Guam (UOG), undergraduate students from UOG and Duke University have undertaken research projects this summer and will present their findings to the community on July 26th. Join us to learn how the students’ projects have contributed to Guam EPSCoR’s research mission.
DR. KIANA FRANK 11AM, Thursday, July 13, 2017 University of Guam, Science Building, Rm. 101
Title: Microbial dynamics of Hawaiian Fishponds
Abstract: Native Hawaiians harnessed the natural activity of coastal ecosystems by engineering fishponds that promoted primary productivity to cultivate herbivorous fish. Because the success of fishponds rests on the productivity of algae and photosynthetic microbes, understanding how microbial abundance, diversity, and composition change across time and space – especially in response to climatic anomalies and restoration efforts – is critical to inform current management practices. Here we use comparative phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene data to characterize microbial diversity in the context of the geochemical environment to provide significant insight into 1) the environmental drivers of naturally occurring microbial variability, as well as 2) the science encoded in traditional Hawaiian stories. This research provides a data-rich context to support and innovate Native Hawaiian methodologies for restoring fishponds.
Dr. Kiana Frank, native of Kailua, Oahu, is an Assistant Professor in Pacific Biosciences Research Center at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa whose research is focused on understanding how microbes interact with the environment and influence the functionality, health and sustainability of Hawaii’s land and ocean resources.
Guam’s strategic location in the Pacific uniquely positions the island to become a regional leader for research and education networking. A major goal for Guam EPSCoR is to support the development of a cyberinfrastructure that will promote collaborative academic efforts and research opportunities for higher education, emerging technologies, cultural growth and economic development.
Toward this goal, Guam EPSCoR is proud to share several key milestones that were recently achieved:
UOG Chief Information Officer Hired
The University of Guam named Rommel Hidalgo its new Chief Information Officer in January 2016. This is a new position at the University, and one that oversees all campus IT activities. The Chief Information Officer will provide the leadership and vision to implement improvements to the campus’ cyberinfrastructure and helps to lay the foundation for increased research collaboration.
UOG Hosted NSRC Campus Network Design Workshop
The University of Guam hosted a Network Startup Resource Center (NSRC) Campus Network Design workshop in July 2016. This workshop had multi-institutional participation from around the Micronesian region, including, Palau Community College, Palau Ministry of Education, Northern Marianas College, Marshall Islands, College of Micronesia, Guam Department of Education, and Guam Community College. It also featured direct engineering engagement that resulted in significant changes to the network on Guam.
UOG Bandwidth Increased
The University of Guam campus bandwidth was upgraded from 150Mb to 750Mb in July 2016, with connectivity extended to both the University of Guam Marine Laboratory (UOGML) and Water and Environmental Research Institute of the Western Pacific (WERI) in August 2016.
UOG IT Staff Awarded NRSC/I2 Technology Exchange Fellowship
UOG Junior Network Engineers, Randy Dahilig and Jose Santiago were awarded the NSRC/I2 Technology Exchange Fellowship. The annual Internet2 Technology Exchange, which convenes in September 2016, is the premier technical event in the global Research & Education community and the fellowship marks the University of Guam’s first participation in it.
NSF EPSCoR is hosting a webinar on Monday, August 29, 2016 at 2 pm (EDT) for all those interested in learning more about the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP).
The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program provides a prestigious award that supports research-oriented students in a wide range of STEM and social science fields during graduate school. This webinar will provide an overview of the GRFP and program updates for the FY 2015 competition (incl. deadlines, application and review processes) and other program activities such as GROW (http://www.nsf.gov/grow).
The intended audience is faculty and university administrators, so please distribute this invitation to all who may be interested. No registration necessary. For more GRFP information visit www.nsfgrfp.org.
UOG Professors, Jason Biggs and Tom Schils, pose for the exciting first sequencing run on the new genetic sequencer. This NextSeq 500, which is not much larger than a microwave oven, has the power to concurrently sequence up to 50 genomes.
High-tech genome mapping of coral species from Guam’s marine environment put scientists from the University of Guam’s Marine Laboratory at the forefront of coral reef research. Using the NextSeq 500, a newly installed genetic sequencer, UOG scientists are investigating how fragile coral reefs and marine ecosystems adapt to extreme environmental changes, including impacts associated with climate change such as warmer ocean waters, excessive sedimentation, and ocean acidification.
By studying coral genomes, scientists can better understand why some coral reefs thrive and survive and others die. “Coral reef survival is linked to Guam’s economic survival,” said Dr. John Peterson, UOG Assistant Vice President. “Everything from recreational tourism to fishing is based on the health of our coral reefs. It is in our best interests to better understand the genetic factors that enable coral colonies to thrive.”
The new genetic sequencer at the core of this research was made possible through the University of Guam’s Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) program, a $6 million grant award from the National Science Foundation (NSF). According to Dr. Jason Biggs, Associate Professor of Molecular Ecology and EPSCoR Co-Principal Investigator, the new instruments will allow UOG Marine Laboratory and EPSCoR researchers to sequence genetic information and systematically study Guam’s coral colonies. Other scientists in Hawaii and Australia have already begun such research, but Guam, with its historically warmer climate, poses a new and exciting opportunity for local researchers.
“Having this technology in such close proximity to Guam’s coral reefs will enable our faculty to be at the forefront of molecular reef ecology, tackling questions we are just beginning to ask,” said Dr. Biggs. “These new sequencers are at the core of this research and only a handful of them are stationed in places as unique as Guam and Micronesia. These instruments will allow us, the people of Guam, to study these things for ourselves, and train our students as the next frontier scientists.”
That is part of the goal, explains Dr. Terry Donaldson, Marine Laboratory Director and EPSCoR Principal Investigator. The instruments underscore the University’s increased research capacity and ability to provide scientific services within the region while attracting more researchers, students, and external funding opportunities in the future.
“Through EPSCoR, the University of Guam has joined an elite group of institutions that are building research capacity, improving infrastructure and cyber-infrastructure, and providing greater educational opportunities for students while enhancing research opportunities for young scientists, ” said Dr. Donaldson.
“We have reached a significant institutional and research milestone with the successful acquisition and installation of genetic sequencing instruments,” said President Robert A. Underwood. “Our increased research capacity combined with record enrollment and conferral of a record number of degrees showcase the strides the University has undertaken in the last year; all of which have a major positive impact on our community.”
