Ruzelle Judicpa - Guam EPSCoR

January 9, 2025January 9, 2025

Near Peer students reflect on 2024 experiences

The 2024 cohort of the Near Peer mentorship consisting of 12 students from NSF INCLUDES SEAS Islands Alliance and Guam EPSCoR came together one final time in November 2024.

From fostering independence to establishing a clear career path — the 12 students who participated in the 2024 Guam NSF EPSCoR Student Research Experience (SRE) and the Guam NSF SEAS Islands Alliance undergraduate fellowship shared their insights at a final Neer Peer mentorship meeting in November.

Overseen by Cheryl Sangueza, Ph.D., the Near Peer mentorship creates an opportunity for student researchers to learn from and mentor each other and shape their career paths in STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics). Sangueza is the student coordinator for Guam NSF EPSCoR and co-principal investigator of Guam NSF SEAS Islands Alliance.

One of the major goals of the program is to prepare the students for the SACNAS National Diversity in STEM Conference, teaching them how to network and best present themselves at the nation’s largest diversity conference. Another goal of the program is to help the students relate their experiences to things outside of science, including how their research connects with identity and culture.

“The process is the product,” said Sangueza during the meeting, driving home that the Near Peer mentorship and research experiences impact the evolution of their self-identity. “It’s the process and the journey that is the product.”

Between bites of pizza, the students discussed their experiences in research, reflected on the year and wished each other well on their future endeavors. While they all had different backgrounds, experiences and intentions in participating, every student was able to clearly communicate the value of the program.

Nicole Pineda, a Guam NSF EPSCoR SRE student, who is in the pre-med biology track decided to participate in the program to widen her perspective on STEM careers. She expressed that she found the mentorship incredibly valuable as she performed research on the ecophysiology of Ostreobiu, a genus of green algae. Despite having no background in marine biology, Pineda was welcomed by her mentors and peers in order to help her build a foundation on the topic.

“I really enjoyed having independence over my own project and something that I could see grow throughout the months,” said Pineda, adding that there was a sense of fulfillment from being able to have questions answered by her research as time went on.

Throughout the year the students not only grew professionally but also personally, finding that the program became a place to learn about themselves. For example, Pineda has become more interested in research-based STEM careers after completing the program.

Despite originally being disinterested in the length of time it takes to earn a Ph.D., Guam NSF SEAS Islands Alliance fellow Nadley Yow realized that she wanted to pursue one after interacting with so many scientists and discovering how much more knowledge there is out there.

Cyril Concepcion, another Guam NSF SEAS Islands Alliance fellow, came to appreciate how empowering it is to be a woman in STEM. Originally feeling the “Women in STEM” label to be tokenizing, her perspective shifted after time with her Near Peer cohort.

“It’s more like an identity that you can help connect with others,” said Concepcion, admitting that she no longer feels limited by the term. “You can be that representation that little girls need.”

Of course, while the program touts itself as a vehicle for self-discovery and career growth, the main benefit of the Near Peer mentorship was the camaraderie. While each students’ research varied, all of the students could agree on one thing: the program gave them a sense of community amongst fellow researchers.

“If you didn’t already feel like you belong in the science community, you come into this and you find out that, there are people that feel the same way as you,” said MaryJolleen Perez, affectionately known as MJ to her peers.

Perez, who studied diatoms under Guam NSF EPSCoR’s Christopher Lobban, Ph.D., spoke about feeling self-conscious over struggling with her research or not having enough information. She had been previously concerned that she was behind in her research, but later found reassurance that her peers could identify with that feeling.

“The Near Peer definitely helped in a way sort of like affirm that I belonged here,” agreed Daniel Urbano, another Guam NSF EPSCoR student researcher, “because no matter how I felt in my research, like, ‘oh, I feel like I’m behind on things’ or like ‘this study isn’t as important as maybe some of the other studies’… everyone was sort of in the same boat when we went to Near Peer. We could talk about it peer to peer, as equals.”

The Near Peer mentorship will start up again in Fañomnåkan 2025 with a new batch of student researchers. Students who participate in either the undergraduate fellowship or SRE can look forward to benefitting from the mentorship program.

December 6, 2024January 6, 2025

Meet the admin team: Glenn Meno and Annalyn Bansil

Sitting right at the entrance of the Dean’s Circle is the Guam NSF EPSCoR Admin Office, where grant assistant Glenn Meno and financial analyst Annalyn Bansil claim to be their home away from home.

Meno and Bansil make up the dynamic duo, the Guam NSF EPSCoR admin team, which helps keep the organization running and the research going. Their day-to-day includes a plethora of administrative duties from procurement to timekeeping, which is a no-brainer for two folks with decades of combined experience.

However, while both of them have plenty of experience in their respective positions, they both agree that they have had to learn a lot to keep Guam NSF EPSCoR running smoothly. Due to the nature of the organization, their jobs require them to be aware of the intricacies of scientific research.

When the researchers need special supplies such as microscopes, scanners, or even a flume tank from Japan, the admin team gets those to Guam. When samples or specimens are being sent to laboratories off-island to assist with research, the admin team ensures to get it there as quickly as possible. They operate as a unit with each task and rely on each other to keep up with the work, almost as if in a synchronized dance.

“We know all the work,” said Meno, noting that despite their different positions, having everyone on top of each task means nothing is lost in the process. “From step one to the end, we already know the work. So if anyone takes leave, we will take over.”

When they’re not keeping the organization functioning, they have hobbies that keep them almost as busy.

For Meno, he spends time tending to his garden, where he has begun growing tomatoes, peppers, and even calamansi. Bansil, on the other hand, has a hobby fitting for a financial analyst: she likes to memorize retail prices. Are you looking for a good deal for shoes or a coffee maker? Call Ms. Lyn; she’ll tell you exactly where they cost at different locations. It’s no wonder she has a talent for procuring supplies.

For the past five years, both Bansil and Meno have come to enjoy working with the Guam NSF EPSCoR team and look forward to many more. Even with the busyness of the load, when it’s time to return to the office they have no complaints about their work at Guam NSF EPSCoR.

Bansil’s family has even pointed out how much happier she has been since starting the position, finding that she never has to unload the day’s stress when she gets home.

“That’s how you know you’re happy with your work,” says Bansil. “You’re not going to talk about your work because you’re already satisfied. I go home and I (can) just be me.”

November 29, 2024December 6, 2024

G3 Makerspace collaborates with Nenpire

On November 16, the question “What are you good at?” was written at the top of the board at the Guam Green Growth Makerspace and Innovation Hub. The answers, given by kids between the ages of 6 to 13, ranged from “dancing” to “bowling” to “making smoothies”.

This question is meant to get them thinking about their own strengths and interests as they begin the first day of Nenpire, a start-up entrepreneur program designed to “unleash creativity, build skills and empower the next generation of ‘nentrepreneurs'”.

Through Nenpire, participants learn about the different aspects of entrepreneurship through mentorships with business owners throughout the island. One of those mentors is Guam Green Growth’s Circular Economy Coordinator Abby Crain.

After Daria Calvo, the creator of Nenpire, attended a workshop at the G3 Makerspace she approached Crain about collaborating for the neni entrepreneurship program. This was a natural step for collaboration since in the past the Makerspace has collaborated with other organizations such as GUMA (Guam Unique Merchandise and Art) and the Guam Junior Achievement Program.

“It’s really the same material but just presented to be much more palatable and the hands on activities are different for the kids programs,” said Crain. For this age group, it’s important that each step from development to product launch is presented in interactive ways for the participants to grasp. During her presentation, she made sure to not just show products that were created through the support of the Makerspace but also gave the kids a tour of the workshop to show the tools and process of how those products were made.

On November 26th, the Makerspace also held a special Nenpire Plastic Prototyping workshop, where plastic bags were fused together to create wearable crowns. This is a workshop that has been offered to adults several times in the past, just tailored to a younger audience.

Other activities included one where the kids were given a random bag of raw materials from pipe cleaners to canvas scraps to see what they can create, encouraging innovation as they consider what businesses they want to develop. These activities and this special collaboration between Nenpire and the G3 Makerspace is meant to start planting seeds about what a circular economy is and get the kids thinking more creatively about the kind of products they want to create – and on a larger scale, the future they want to see.

“A lot of sustainability and the things we do for Guam Green Growth and Center for Island Sustainability is really for our future,” said Crain, “and these kids are the future.”

The culmination of the program will be the Neni Christmas Market, where the nentrepreneurs will have their new businesses and products on display. The marketplace will take place on December 22 and community members are welcome to attend and shop their new products. In addition, one of the nentrepreneurs will be having pop up shops on December 4 and 18th at the Makerspace green store and there’s already has a corner set up where folks can shop Nenpire products – just in time for the holidays!

P1330678 — Nenpire kids checking out concrete blocks made out of recycled plastic during Makerspace tour.

P1330457 — Nenpire creator Daria Calvo on the first day of workshops.

P1330730 — Nenpire workshop activities included making something new out of raw materials.

October 31, 2024December 6, 2024

Dr. Terry Donaldson: From cold Lake Michigan to sunny Guam

Everyone knows that Terry Donaldson, PhD, is the principal investigator and project director of Guam NSF EPSCoR, but not everyone is aware of his journey as an ichthyologist. When did this interest in marine biology begin?

For Donaldson, it began as a child growing up by the cold lakes of Michigan and following the adventures of Jacques Cousteau through books and television series. It was no surprise that he developed an admiration for fish, having spent a great deal of his childhood snorkeling to find them or catching them with his grandfather.

Donaldson earned his doctorate in Ichthyology which led to him studying various species around the world including New Zealand, Japan, French Polynesia, the Solomon Islands and Guam, where he has been serving the University of Guam’s Marine Lab for over many years.

“Fish can be really beautiful to look at,” said Donaldson, noting that he can enjoy just watching and observing the sea creatures, from physical characteristics to their behaviors. Astounded by the sheer diversity – thousands of species, that we know of – he finds fulfillment in the discovery of new species as well as new observations on existing ones.

One of his most recent publications details the communication behaviors of squirrelfish, which reflects his interest in bio acoustics that stems from undergraduate studies at Michigan State University.

The paper, titled “Production of sounds by squirrelfish during symbiotic relationships with cleaner wrasses,” observes nine species of Holocentridae (squirrelfish) and how they use acoustic signals to communicate in their interactions with cleaner wrasses.

Throughout this life-long journey in Ichthyology and marine biology, Donaldson has also ended up in several leadership positions including principal investigator and project director of Guam NSF ESPCOR and the former head of UOG’s Marine Laboratory.

Most recently, he was elected as President of the National Association of Marine Laboratories in January of this year.

With decades of experience in research and leadership, he subscribes to the belief that learning is a lifelong endeavor.

“Every day I come through the door and I learn something new. Often people in this building teach me or just (through) interacting with other people, I learn something new,” he said nothing that Guam NSF EPSCoR’s successes are not just from his leadership but because he has a talented team working with him.

“Don’t be afraid to get your feet wet!” Donaldson said, offering a piece of advice to those just starting their careers.

He believes in the importance of trying new activities and cultivating interests that can be useful years down the line. This belief has certainly proven true for this scientist, whose love for marine animals started well before his own career took off.

October 29, 2024November 8, 2024

Bioblitz survey finds false spider crab in Guam

Among over a thousand species that were found during the University of Guam’s first Bioblitz is the Elamena castanea, a type of false spider crab.

While the Elamena castanea superficially looks like one, this species is not actually a spider crab and belongs to the Hymenosomatoidea superfamily which means they aren’t even related to true spider crabs.

Originally discovered in the Philippines, this is the first time that the species has been observed here in Guam even though the area has been sampled numerous times through the decades.

Since this discovery, several more crab specimens have been found on the reef flat behind the UOG Marine Lab.

“It shows you how much diversity there is out there,” said Robert Lasley, PhD, UOG Biorepository crustacea curator. “Elamena castanea specimens were collected under rocks or in seaweed in shallow depths – usually less than 1-2 meters.”

Lasley notes that even after the three-week biological survey, there are still hundreds, possibly even thousands, of marine species that remain undocumented in the waters off Guam.

“Honestly, though, we find new records all the time, often without noticing it,” he said. “It takes a lot of work at the microscope and digging through literature to confirm if something is a new species or new record.”

Along with the Elamena castanea, other findings included new records of different species of isopods, nudibranchs, nemerteans, gobies, and shrimps.

It has been estimated that between 10 to 15 percent of the specimens collected during the BioBlitz are either new records or entirely new species.

Since February, the Biorepository team has been developing and cataloging the specimens and uploading the specimen data to the Biorepository database.

Soon, they will be able to loan out specimens to researchers so that they can be further examined and new information can be reported.

The team is also planning future biological surveys with more targeted searches for specific organisms, using the information collected during this first Bioblitz.

In addition, they intend to organize surveys in other places throughout the region, such as Palau and the Marshall Islands.

Through these surveys, researchers will be able to learn more about what organisms call the vast ocean home, including the Elamena castanea, which will also help the community learn how to preserve and protect them.