Ruzelle Judicpa - Guam EPSCoR

July 2, 2025July 2, 2025

Guam EPSCoR’s Lobban receives award from Japanese diatom society

In 2024, Guam NSF EPSCoR’s Dr. Christian Lobban received an award from the Japanes Society of Diatomology for his paper “Disymmetria reticulata, gen. nov., sp. nov. (Mediophyceae: Thalassiosirales), a new genus in Lauderiaceae emend., and transfer of Lauderia excentrica”. Lobban is the first non-Japanese member of the organization to receive an award.

In “Disymmetria reticulata, gen. nov., sp. nov. (Mediophyceae: Thalassiosirales), a new genus in Lauderiaceae emend., and transfer of Lauderia excentrica”, Lobban proposes the creation of a new genus Disymmetria to accommodate two species of diatom that are morphologically close to each other.

“One of the things that they liked about the paper was that it dealt with some of the difficulties, the complexities of naming genera and families,” said Dr. Lobban. He notes that taxonomic classification of newly discovered species can be difficult, particularly in the determination of taxonomic levels such as family or genus.

This paper is an update to the discovery of the diatom Lauderia excentrica in 2015, in which Lobban originally classified the species under the genus Lauderia.

“When you find a new species, then you’ve got this choice. It doesn’t look like anything else really. Do I put it in an existing genus? And there was an existing genus but it didn’t really fit,” said Lobban of the discovery. Lobban had decided to classify Lauderia excentrica under its original genus rather than create a single species genus. However, in 2023 he discovered another diatom that shared enough characteristics to justify the creation of a new genus.

In his 2023 paper, Lobban suggested that Lauderia excentrica should transfer to the new genus along with the new species Disymmetria reticulata. The research was published in DIATOM, the official journal of the Japanese Society of Diatomology. Lobban also traveled to Japan to receive his award along with a special mug with “Best Paper Award 2024” written across it.

Diatoms are single-celled algae that can be found in almost every aquatic environment and produce an estimated one-fifth of the oxygen in the air that we breathe. Because the organisms are microscopic, a scanning electron microscope is required to view them.

Through his research and mentorship, Dr. Lobban has made significant strides in the discovery of dozens of species of diatoms within the Pacific. In addition to his research, Dr. Lobban is also a mentor for Guam EPSCoR’s Student Research Experience program. Currently, he is working with Undergraduate Student Researcher Maya Flores on her project “Underexplored Sand Biofilm Habitats of Mastogloia in Guam”.

Disymmetria reticulata, a new species of diatom discovered by Guam NSF EPSCoR senior researcher Christopher Lobban, Ph.D.

Guam NSF EPSCoR senior researcher Christopher Lobban, Ph.D. accepting the Best Paper Award 2024 from the Japanese Society of Diatomology.

Lobban received a mug which reads "Best Paper Award 2024" as part of his award from the Japanese Society of Diatomology.

In 2024, Guam NSF EPSCoR senior researcher Christopher Lobban, Ph.D., received an award from the Japanese Society of Diatomology for his paper “Disymmetria reticulata, gen. nov., sp. nov. (Mediophyceae: Thalassiosirales), a new genus in Lauderiaceae emend., and transfer of Lauderia excentrica.” Lobban, a UOG professor emeritus of biology, is the first non-Japanese member of the organization to receive an award.

In “Disymmetria reticulata, gen. nov., sp. nov. (Mediophyceae: Thalassiosirales), a new genus in Lauderiaceae emend., and transfer of Lauderia excentrica,” Lobban proposes the creation of a new genus Disymmetria to accommodate two species of diatom that are morphologically close to each other.

“One of the things that they liked about the paper was that it dealt with some of the difficulties, the complexities of naming genera and families,” said Lobban. He notes that taxonomic classification of newly discovered species can be difficult, particularly in the determination of taxonomic levels such as family or genus.

This paper is an update to the discovery of the diatom Lauderia excentrica in 2015, in which Lobban originally classified the species under the genus Lauderia.

Lobban had decided to classify Lauderia excentrica under its original genus rather than create a single species genus. However, in 2023 he discovered another diatom that shared enough characteristics to justify the creation of a new genus.

In his 2023 paper, Lobban suggested that Lauderia excentrica should transfer to the new genus along with the new species Disymmetria reticulata. The research was published in DIATOM, the official journal of the Japanese Society of Diatomology. Lobban also traveled to Japan to receive his award along with a special mug with “Best Paper Award 2024” written across it.

Through his research and mentorship, Lobban has made significant strides in the discovery of dozens of species of diatoms within the Pacific. In addition to his research, Lobban is also a mentor for Guam NSF EPSCoR’s Student Research Experience (SRE) program. Currently, he is working with undergraduate student researcher Maya Flores on her project “Underexplored Sand Biofilm Habitats of Mastogloia in Guam.”

June 26, 2025June 26, 2025

UOG welcomes researchers for coral restoration collaboration

Researchers visited with the University of Guam Marine Lab to collaborate on a new research instrument for coral restoration.

Sophie Wong, of the University of Alabama, demonstrating use of the fluorometer.

Demonstration of the chlorophyll fluorometer on coral, a non-invasive way to observe heat stress responses.

Guam NSF EPSCoR Graduate Research Assistant Nikko Galanto preparing coral for a research experiment.

In April 2025, the University of Guam welcomed visiting researchers as part of an ongoing collaboration on the development of a new research instrument that can be used to assess the bleaching risk of different types of coral.

The instrument, called a chlorophyll fluorometer, is a non-destructive and non-invasive tool that uses different colors of light to measure the photochemical response of symbiotic algae within reef building coral.

During the visit, researchers Mark Warner, Ph.D., professor of marine science and policy at the University of Delaware, and Sophie Wong, a graduate researcher at the University of Alabama, were able to use the fluorometer to test the thermal stress response of different species within Guam’s waters. The researchers aimed to use the instrument on coral that have lived through previous bleaching events to observe which species may be more tolerant to conditions that lead to bleaching.

“We can actually measure really fine scale differences in the symbiotic algae inside of the reef building corals,” said Warner. “A lot of the times heat stress causes the algae to stress out first.”

According to Warner, use of the fluorometer can make it possible to observe thermal stress before symptoms of bleaching appear on the coral visually, allowing researchers to get ahead of coral reef management. Additionally, the instrument will help to observe characteristics of coral physiology which may indicate species that are more resilient to severe environmental conditions.

“This is meant to make trait-based restoration more accessible,” said Wong who works alongside the project’s lead principal investigator Kenneth Hoadley, Ph.D., who has been developing this instrument over several years. “So basically, identifying which corals are going to be more thermally tolerant based on the traits that they have. This basically measures those traits and is able to tell you, oh, this one has a trait that would be more conducible to surviving a bleaching event.”

“The hope is to use this to then identify those corals that are more resilient to increasing sea surface temperatures, to heat stress,” said Guam NSF EPSCoR’s Bastian Bentlage, Ph.D., who is one of the project’s co-principal investigators.

The use of the fluorometer is a ground-breaking method of gathering this type of data on the coral, which would otherwise require physically extracting tissue and DNA out of the algae within the coral — a much more intensive process.

As part of the research, this bio-optical instrument has also been tested in Fiji. Warner notes that a collaboration in Guam has many benefits, including being able to sample coral species that are unique to Guam, as well as species they were not able to access in Fiji.

“The University of Guam Marine Lab has been just really fantastic. They’ve facilitated a lot of things,” commented Warner, noting that the coordination of the University Marine Lab allowed their field work to run smoothly. “And so, I think it’s going to be a really fun collaboration moving forward.”

As the project progresses, the researchers will continue to test the instrument on a variety of coral species as well as run coral bleaching simulation tests. New prototypes of the instrument will also continue to be developed as a means to ensure that the technology is accessible to researchers world-wide who are dedicated to the management and restoration of these invaluable coral reefs.

This research project, funded by the Coral Research and Development Accelerator Platform, is being conducted in collaboration with coral researchers Hoadley of the University of Alabama; Warner of the University of Delaware; Bentlage and Laurie Raymundo, Ph.D., of the University of Guam; and Victor Bonito, Ph.D., of the nonprofit organization Reef Explore Fiji.

May 23, 2025June 26, 2025

Kallen presents research findings on coral-eating sea snails

Above, a photo shows an observed outbreak of the Drupella fragum, a sea snail that feeds on coral tissue, found on a coral reef in Guam.

Guam NSF EPSCoR Graduate Research Assistant Lauren Kallen presents her thesis, “Genetic Characterization of the Corallivore Drupella fragum Outbreaks on Guam.”

Guam NSF EPSCoR Graduate Research Assistant Lauren Kallen conducting research on the coral-eating sea snail Drupella fragum.

University of Guam NSF EPSCoR Graduate Research Assistant Lauren Kallen defended her Master’s thesis—a research project that represents the first study of its kind on Guam, focusing on understanding the population dynamics of Drupella fragum, a sea snail that feeds on coral tissue and can be found on shallow reef flats around the island.

Kallen defended her thesis, “Genetic Characterization of the Corallivore Drupella fragum Outbreaks on Guam,” on April 29, 2025.

The goals of this study were to observe the behavior and distribution of the Drupella species in order to understand population outbreaks and explore mitigation strategies. For her study, Kallen observed the effects of temperature changes on the species’ reproductive outputs as well as genetic diversity within outbreak populations.

A Drupella fragum outbreak is quantified by finding 2 or more individuals per metered square. During her research, Kallen observed high numbers of the species of sea snail during outbreaks at Agat cemetery.

“It would actually take a while to find a single snail so finding more than one was a huge indicator of an outbreak,” said Kallen during her presentation. “[The highest number observed] was hundreds within a small area, clumped together, which was kind of crazy to see.”

In her research, Kallen found that populations between two observed sites in Tanguisson and Agat were genetically interconnected, yet outbreaks were only observed in the Agat cemetery location. Kallen notes that Tanguisson is a healthier site overall than Agat cemetery, particularly in terms of coral condition and sedimentation. While outbreak conditions still need to be studied further, Kallen notes that it is possible that the overall health of the site may explain the absence of outbreaks at Tanguisson beach.

Along with coral tissue, the Drupella snail also feeds on coral mucus which corals secrete as a stress response to protect themselves from severe environmental conditions. Kallen notes that it is possible that coral mucus secretion may serve as a cue that attracts the Drupella to certain areas.

There have been several studies on the species worldwide but because there has been no other research on Drupella outbreaks on Guam, Kallen referred to studies on Crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks to help shape her research and methodology.

“Hopefully, my work will inspire future studies that expand on these findings by testing more environmental variables and conducting further genetic analyses on these coral-eating snails in Guam,” said Kallen.

She hopes that her study will encourage researchers to do further analysis on environmental and genetic factors of species outbreaks. While there is still more to learn about Drupella fragum outbreaks, Kallen hopes that it will provide a stepstone for more research on the species to help protect Guam’s vulnerable reefs.

Kallen’s research is supported by Guam NSF EPSCoR as part of its Graduate Research Assistantship program, funded by the National Science Foundation, with aims to situate Guam as a premiere research and STEM education hub.

May 9, 2025May 23, 2025

UOG EPSCoR GECCO Biorepository partners with Smithsonian Institute for DNA sequencing

Guam NSF EPSCoR Biorepository Associate Abigail Huber collecting tissue samples from specimens to send to the Smithsonian Institution for DNA sequencing.

The University of Guam NSF EPSCoR GECCO Biorepository has partnered with the Department of Invertebrate Zoology at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., for the DNA sequencing of marine organisms.

The Smithsonian Institution is currently working on a project to DNA barcode marine invertebrate species in US marine systems regions and has partnered with the UOG EPSCoR Biorepository to barcode Guam’s marine invertebrate species. Because Guam has more species of organisms than any other marine region in the United States, this partnership is beneficial for both institutions.

According to Biorepository Curator of Crustacea Robert Lasley, Ph.D., species identification is an intensive process that often requires hours of examining specimens under a microscope and delving into hundreds of years literature on any given organism.

He said it can be particularly difficult to identify the species that are found within any marine system, especially for understudied or obscure organisms such as marine worms, brittle stars and small crustaceans. DNA barcoding is an easier and more effective method way of identifying organisms, by matching a newly generated sequence of one gene to sequences of the same gene that were previously identified and in a barcode database.

“With DNA barcoding, it is possible to sequence one gene of a specimen, compare it with a library of sequences of known species, and arrive at an identification without spending (potentially) years becoming an expert in the particular type of worm you are trying to identify,” said Lasley.

“Sometimes we aren’t able to identify specimens, just by looking at it – either because the differences (between species) are too small for us to see or because we haven’t found the distinguishing characteristic yet,” said Biorepository Research Associate Abigail Huber, who has been collecting tissue samples from the field and preparing them to be sent to the Smithsonian Institution.

The tissue samples undergo a laboratory process that isolates the DNA and a sequencing machine determines the order of the amino acid bases that make up the DNA molecule. This string of amino acids (coded A, T, G or C) of one gene is the barcode.

Each DNA sequence is then reviewed by Huber, who verifies that each specimen was sequenced properly. Because errors can arise in the sequencing process, quality control is one of Huber and other members of the Biorepository’s responsibilities.

“In this case, we look at other specimens that we’ve sequenced that are the same species and compare this section of DNA with theirs to determine what the correct amino acid is,” said Huber. “Species of organisms will have the same (or similar) DNA sequence, which works great for comparing.”

As of April 2025, around 3,100 specimens have been sent for sequencing at the Smithsonian Institution and about 1,500 sequences have been received by the Biorepository. These barcodes are currently being quality controlled and will be eventually uploaded to the Biorepository online database so that researchers from around the world will be able to access this data remotely.

The DNA barcodes generated in this partnership, and the associated new specimens in the Biorepository, will result in the discovery of new species and will aid in research in a variety of fields such as ecology, conservation, fisheries and evolution.

May 6, 2025May 6, 2025

Reflections on the 2024 Guam NSF EPSCoR Summer Math Research Program

(L-R): Dr. Leslie Aquino, Carlo Tapia, Joanna Laguana, Yoonji Seo, Sean McManus, Dr. Hyunju Oh, and Dr. Bastian Bentlage at the 2024 SMRP Student Showcase.

Joanna Laguana working on her project during the 2024 Summer Math Research Program.

2024 SMRP students discussing their project.

2024 SMRP student Sean McManus presenting their group's findings at the 2024 SACNAS National Diversity in STEM Conference.

2024 SMRP student Yoonji Seo presents her research findings at the 2024 SACNAS National Diversity in STEM Conference.

Guam NSF EPSCoR research program students Sean McManus, Sean Pascua, Sam Wheaton (Research Assistant), Carlo Tapia, Joanna Laguana and Yoonji Seo.

As EPSCoR prepares for its fifth year of the Summer Math Research Program (SMRP), we take a look back at our 2024 program and its students.

The SMRP is an eight-week opportunity for students interested in STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) careers to engage in mathematical research. There are two components to the program: (1) the Summer Math Research Assistant program, in which students will work with a faculty member on existing projects, and (2) the Summer Math Research Experience program, in which small groups will collaborate on a project to explore the applications of mathematics toward research questions.

In 2024, Summer Math Research Experience (SMRE) students Carlo Tapia, Joanna Laguana, Yoonji Seo, Sean Pascua and Sean McManus developed a mathematical model to investigate how corals change after transplantation by analyzing the different bacterial communities present within the coral at different points in time. Guided by the program’s mentors, including Leslie Aquino, PhD, chair of the UOG Division of Mathematics and Computer Science and Bastian Bentlage, PhD, an associate professor of bioinformatics and co-principal investigator for research at Guam NSF EPSCoR, their project “An Analysis of Coral Transplantation and Bacterial Networks on Guam” contributes to the understanding of the island’s coral reefs and what influences their health and resilience.

Despite coming from different UOG programs – including math, business and biology – the students were able to bond quickly and developed an effective dynamic to accomplish their research project.

“In a way, we just balance each other,” said Pascua during the 2024 program, noting that the group made sure to allow each other to experience different aspects of the research they might have not before.

“We don’t want anyone to focus on being in one role for too long,” agreed McManus. “We want everyone to have experience in each role, whether it’s the writing, the research or the math part. I think we all just want to grow and ensure that we make the most out of this program.”

Fortunately, they were successful in this effort and were all able to learn more about tackling research from different perspectives. Their teamwork and project demonstrated that both biology and mathematics have a role to play in this type of research, with the use of each field strengthening the other.

“In biology, you can only use tentative language and inferences,” said Laguana, a biology student who learned how to tackle research with a more analytical approach through the program. “It takes a while for theories to become laws in comparisons to math. When you go through the motions and are able to successfully complete it, then you can say it’s a proof in a way that’s more concrete than inferences are.”

Because of the program, Laguana believes that the use of mathematical models can help supply more concrete evidence to help strengthen conservation efforts.

“I think our EPSCoR summer program has done really well at exposing our students to marine biology and things they might not have done normally,” said Aquino following the close of the program. “It gives them a chance to do real math research that’s relevant to Guam and our region. Some students really enjoy that aspect.”

Along with giving students a new understanding and experience in the mathematical research process, Aquino also noted that many students who have participated in the SMRP have gone on to graduate school and other STEM opportunities. In fact, students from the 2024 program, were able to present their research at the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) National Diversity in STEM (NDiSTEM) Conference – the largest diversity conference in the United States.

Applications are open now for this year’s Summer Math Research Program. Students and students who are interested in gaining this type of experience can apply to by Friday, May 9. Participants will receive a stipend for participating in the program.

More information and applications can be found at the links below!

For sophomores
& juniors

For Seniors & Graduates

April 21, 2025April 21, 2025

EPSCoR research showcased at 2025 UOG Conference on Island Sustainability

EPSCoR undergraduate student researcher Napu Camacho with his poster at the 2025 Conference on Island Sustainability.

EPSCoR undergraduate student researcher Ale'a Duenas with her poster at the 2025 Conference on Island Sustainability.

From undergraduate students to faculty members, researchers from the University of Guam NSF EPSCoR program showcased their recent and ongoing projects at the 16th University of Guam Conference on Island Sustainability (CIS2025).

Student Research Experience (SRE) Program

Four undergraduate student researchers revealed their projects under the 2025 EPSCoR SRE Program during the CIS2025 Community Night Poster Presentations. The EPSCoR SRE Program allows students to work with mentors who will guide them in gaining experience in research and encourage careers in STEM.

Among the posters on display was Na’pu Camacho’s project “Assessing Marine Fish-Biodiversity in Pago Bay Using Environmental DNA (eDNA) Analysis.” Under the tutelage of Bastian Bentlage, PhD, Camacho will be collecting water samples along different sites within Pago Bay at different tide levels. The water samples will then be filtered to extract environmental DNA (or eDNA) to observe the variety of fish species within the existing marine habitats.

Camacho believes that his research will be useful for numerous reasons including the ability to assess environmental changes within a marine system as well as helping develop the use of eDNA as a reliable method of evaluating fish biodiversity.

“I’d really love to discover a new species,” said Camacho about his ultimate research goal, “because then I can have it named after me.”

Here are the Guam EPSCoR SRE research posters presented at CIS2025 Community Night:

- “Assessing Marine Fish-Biodiversity in Pago Bay Using Environmental DNA (eDNA) Analysis” by Napu Camacho
- “Underexplored Sand Biofilm Habitats of Mastogloia in Guam” by Maya Flores

- “Guam’s Enigmatic Ghost Shrimp: Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Local Callianassidae” by Diego Ray Quiogue

- “Assessing Symbiont Responses to Heat Stress in Acropora pulchra” by Ale’a Duenas

EPSCoR researchers presented at CIS2025 breakout sessions

On Thursday, April 10, a breakout session with researchers under the EPSCoR GECCO program was held featuring Biorepository Assistant Professor on Vertebrate Morphology Michalis Mihalitsis, PhD, Graduate Research Assistant Andrew O’Neil and Graduate Research Assistant Diana Noto. During the session, the researchers presented findings and progress of recent and ongoing projects.

Mihalitsis’s presentation was on the feeding ecology of species of surgeonfish, during which he discussed the morphological adaptations of some species to feed on algae and shared video footage to demonstrate those adaptations.

O’Neil updated on his ongoing research studying the effects of turbidity and sedimentation on reef fish, in particular the twinspot damselfish. Among the objectives of his study include examining changes in gill structure and oxygen efficiency as a result of the sedimentation.

Finally, Noto presented progress on her thesis “Diversity of True Crab (Infraorder: Brachyura) Inhabitants Across Algal Hosts.” Noto has been collecting macroalgae across reef habitats on Guam to observe the species of true crabs that can be found within them. She intends for her research to fill an existing knowledge gap since despite macroalgae’s significance within marine ecosystems, there are few studies on it within the tropical Pacific region.

“Macroalgae is generally an under-explored habitat for biodiversity,” Noto stated during her presentation. “There’s more research that has been done on temperate ecosystems. However, only two studies have occurred in tropical ecosystems, which is likely due to the fact that a lot of our focus here tends to be on the coral we have and less on the algae, but we’re trying to work on that with this.”

Research and projects under the Guam NSF EPSCoR GECCO Project are meant to promote understanding of the Micronesian region’s biodiversity and identify solutions that promote the sustainability of coral reefs in rapidly changing environments across the tropical Pacific.

April 15, 2025April 21, 2025

UOG NSF EPSCoR Biorepository welcomes new fish expert

UOG NSF EPSCoR welcomes Dr. Michalis Mihalitsis, the Biorepository's new assistant professor of vertebrate morphology.

Michalis, Credit to Victor Huertas — Dr. Michalis Mihalitsis, as shown above exploring the ocean, has a special interest in the functional ecology and evolution of fish species. Photo credit: Victor Huertas.

Born and raised in Greece by the Mediterranean Sea, Michalis Mihalitsis, Ph.D., gained an interest in fish as a child, fishing with his family and keeping aquariums in his home. He went on to study marine biology and earned his doctorate at James Cook University, studying the ecology of predatory fishes.

Mihalitsis has a special interest in the functional ecology and evolution of fish species, which includes the study of how fish feed and function in their habitats as well as how fish have evolved different morphological features to better thrive in those habitats.

With experience doing this type of research and a desire to live by the ocean, Mihalitsis accepted the position at the University of Guam where his office at the Marine Lab has a clear view of the deep blues of Pago Bay.

“I was telling myself that wherever I end up next I want to be close to the ocean,” said Mihalitsis who was previously conducting post-doctoral research in California. “So when the opportunity came and I found out that the university was looking for a professor in fish morphology, which is literally what my research is about, I knew that I was going to apply to this job.”

This research is relevant to Guam, especially as the island continues to see changes within its coral reef systems and the species found within them due to changing weather patterns.

“We know that reefs are changing. Their benthic composition is changing,” said Mihalitsis. “So we need to know how different species or different fish trophic groups are going to react to these changes because that’s how we can make estimates and predictions about how coral reefs are going to look in the future.”

For a community that relies heavily on the ocean and fisheries, these predictions can then assist our people in learning how to properly manage resources and protect our reefs.

As the new assistant professor of vertebrate morphology at the Biorepository, Mihalitsis is excited about using the micro-CT scanner for his research. Like those used in hospitals, the CT scanner offers a non-invasive way of studying organisms by taking X-ray images of a specimen from various angles and combining them to create three-dimensional images. Mihalitsis expects that the use of the CT scanner will allow him to provide visuals that can elevate his research involving the morphological features of fish.

In general, Mihalitsis hopes that his experience living and working in Guam will allow him to develop as a mentor and educator. He attributes his accomplishments to being guided by amazing mentors throughout his postgraduate and post-doctoral studies. He aspires to fill that role for his future students so that they can become great researchers and critical thinkers.

February 28, 2025March 24, 2025

Behind the Guam EPSCoR library of life

Guam NSF EPSCoR Biorepository Research Associate Kelsie Ebeling-Whited gathering tissue samples from specimens.

Handwritten notes of the late Dr. Richard Randall, who donated his nearly 30,000 specimen coral collection to the Guam NSF EPSCoR Biorepository.

A Limaria, or file clam, as part of the Guam NSF EPSCoR Biorepository collection.

Off the shores of Guam is one of the most complex marine systems in the United States, home to thousands of organisms – many of which are still being documented and identified to this day. The Guam NSF EPSCoR GECCO Biorepository is part of an on-going effort to understand those organisms as well as their habitats.

What can also be described as a “Library of Life,” the Biorepository is a physical and cyber warehouse that houses specimens and data on organisms from waters throughout Micronesia and beyond. The biological specimens include species from historical collections, such as the 29,0000+ specimen coral collection of the late UOG Emeritus Professor Richard Randall, and organisms from more recent EPSCoR-funded research projects, such as last year’s Bioblitz.

Biorep 2 scaled e1739924127695 — Guam NSF EPSCoR Biorepository Research Associate David Burdick examines specimens at the Biorepository Lab.

“Ultimately, what we’re trying to do is just come up with specimen data that’s world class that a lot of museums don’t have for the organisms in their possession,” said Guam NSF EPSCoR Biorepository Research Associate Dave Burdick. Burdick notes that one of the advantages to the Biorepository on Guam is that the team has easier access to reefs for field collection, compared to other researchers in the United States.

“We have that advantage to be able to dig deeper and better capture that habitat data. That, I think, helps set us apart,” said Burdick. “And even though we’re kind of new and relatively small, I think that could be really powerful for researchers.”

Burdick, along with the rest of the Guam NSF EPSCoR Biorepository team, has been working tirelessly to catalog thousands of specimens for both the physical and online components of the Biorepository. Just the Randall coral collection alone has taken several years of work since that data needed to be transcribed from Randall’s original writing dating back to the 1960s.

The team has been working to upload all of the data from the collections onto an online portal which they hope to have fully updated and ready for public use soon. The physical specimen is given a catalog number, labeled and housed in the EPSCoR Annex in the UOG Dean’s Circle.

“When every specimen has been correctly labeled,” said Abigail Huber, a research associate who joined the team in 2024, “I transport all the jars to the annex and arrange them from family down to genus and sometimes species. We had about 2,000 [recently collected] specimens to go through so this took a long, long, long, time.” These specimens can be loaned out to researchers who may be interested in a specific species to study.

P1350209 — Guam NSF EPSCoR Biorepository Research Associate Abigail Huber collecting tissue samples from specimens.

However, there are still many specimens that have yet to be properly identified, including many from the 2024 Bioblitz. Identifying these species is an intensive process which requires the researchers to look through available literature in an attempt to properly name each specimen. Fortunately, the Biorepository has begun a partnership with the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C. to identify the specimens through DNA sequencing. Huber, who has been working on both sorting the specimens and sending tissue samples, notes that DNA sequencing will help researchers identify organisms more efficiently.

Being able to identify these organisms and their homes is important for conservation efforts so that communities can better understand how to protect them, as well as help preserve the way of life for people in the region whose cultures depend on the ocean.

February 25, 2025March 24, 2025

New EPSCoR undergraduate student researchers looking forward to jumping into labs

Guam NSF EPSCoR welcomes four new UOG students to the 2025 Student Research Experience (SRE) program.

Each student will undergo their own research projects under the guidance of one of the Guam NSF EPSCoR faculty mentors – either Christopher Lobban, Ph.D., Robert Lasley, Ph.D., or Bastian Bentlage, Ph.D.

Maya Flores, a sophomore majoring in psychology, has already begun working with Lobban observing diatoms in the genus Mastogloia.

“I’ve already started doing some research so what I’ve found is that it requires a lot of patience, especially looking at diatoms for a couple of hours through the microscope,” said Flores.

She believes that she has the qualities required to diligently observe the microscopic organisms. In fact, she has already become comfortable identifying a few different species of diatoms under the microscope after just a few days studying under Lobban.

“I was just so surprised at how quickly I caught on,” said Flores.

Napu Camacho, a junior in the biochemistry dual track, has begun discussing his research project with Bentlage. Camacho, who intends to go to medical school and become a doctor, plans to bring the skills he acquired doing course lab work to the research experience.

He hopes that through the research experience he will gain more experience in research that will help him in his future career in the medical field.

On the other hand, Diego Quiogue, a biology major, still has yet to decide on a specific career path and hopes that the Student Research Experience will help him narrow his choices.

“Since biology is such a huge field, I was hoping [the research experience] would kind of help me narrow down, at least in terms of marine biology,” said Quiogue, who will be studying crustaceans with Lasley.

“I could decide whether or not I absolutely love it and then decide to maybe get a master’s in marine biology,” Quiogue said

Ale’a Duenas, a previous NSF SEAS INCLUDES undergraduate fellow, will bring her previous research experience to her work under Bentlage. She hopes to be able to learn more about the work and benefits of the research that takes place in Bentlage’s laboratory.

One of Duenas’ goals in this experience is to learn to share research in a way that helps to keep the community better informed. She believes that research is the most impactful when it is accessible and hopes to communicate her findings in a way that inspires and resonates with people.

To see the full interview with the new student researchers, you can watch the video below:

January 29, 2025January 29, 2025

Duenas presents thesis on coral-friendly microalgae

Guam NSF EPSCoR Graduate Research Assistant Anela Duenas presents her thesis proposal "Ecophysiology of Coral Species Replacement on Reef Flats of Guam."

In preparation for her master’s thesis defense this summer, Anela Duenas, a Guam NSF EPSCoR graduate assistant, presented her proposal, “Ecophysiology of Coral Species Replacement on Reef Flats of Guam,” that examines the relationship of the microalgae Symbiodiniaceae with reef-building corals Acropora pulchra and Pavona decussata.

Symbiodiniaceae is a family of dinoflagellate algae notable for symbiotic associations with reef-building corals. Through her research, Duenas confirmed two genera of symbionts dominating A. pulchra – Cladocopioum and Durusdinium – and one dominating P. decussata – Cladocopium.

In her presentation held in January at the UOG Marine Lab, Duenas noted the significance of the symbiotic relationship between coral and Symbiodiniaceae for the health and success of reef-building coral such as Acropora pulchra and Pavona decussata.

Duenas has begun working on her experiments under the mentorship of EPSCoR’s Bastian Bentlage, Ph.D., and will continue them over the next few months. She expects to start analyzing her results in March and to present her findings and defend her thesis in the summer.

As part of the process, Duenas will conduct thermal stress experiments on the two coral species that harbor these symbionts. The experiments are designed to simulate coral bleaching conditions, allowing her to observe how the corals and their accompanying symbiont variants react to and recover from thermal stress.

Through her experiments, she aims to document coral species replacement on Guam’s reef flats, assess the diversity of Symbiodiniaceae assemblages present, and understand how the observed corals harboring the symbionts respond to environmental changes.

“Presenting my proposal was a big step in the process. I am relieved it went well, and the audience raised important concerns and questions for me to consider moving forward,” said Duenas, expressing her appreciation for the discussion that followed her presentation. She and her committee carefully considered the feedback and adjusted her methods in ways she believes will improve her experiment.

“I feel more confident after meeting with my committee and addressing these concerns,” she remarked. “I am excited to move forward with my thesis project and conduct my experiment.”

Hailing from the island of Saipan, Duenas first became interested in marine science by observing coral under a microscope on the beaches where she grew up. She went on to earn a degree in natural resources management from Northern Marianas College before obtaining her bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Guam.

“I feel more confident after meeting with my committee and addressing these concerns,” she remarked. “I am excited to move forward with my thesis project and conduct my experiment.”

For sophomores& juniors

For Seniors & Graduates

For sophomores
& juniors