GRA - Guam EPSCoR

April 21, 2025December 15, 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.

December 6, 2024January 13, 2026

Graduate research assistants continue to make impact

Grace McDermott displays coral samples at the Mote Marine Lab in Sarasota, Florida. Photo courtesy of Grace McDermott.

As the year 2024 reaches its end, four former Guam NSF EPSCoR Graduate Research Assistants (GRA) share where they are now, and how their time at the University of Guam helped them get there.

The Guam NSF EPSCoR Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA) is a 3-year program that allows graduate students with a Bachelor of Science in Biology or related studies the chance to fully immerse themselves in their fields. Within the program, GRA student researchers can engage in fieldwork and utilize various oceanographic research instruments to investigate coral reefs and further develop research for their theses.

Carlos Tramonte studied under Bastian Bentlage, PhD, from 2020 to 2023, focusing on coral species replacements on the island’s reef flats. More specifically, Tramonte spent much of his time investigating coral-associated Symbiodiniaceae and their response to environmental stressors. Currently residing in Oahu, Hawaii, Tramonte is in his second year of the University of Hawaii’s Institute of Marine Biology PhD program.

EPSCoR 241031 CarlosTramonte 2 — *Carlos Tramonte conducting coral reef field work in Oahu, Hawaii. Photo courtesy of Carlos Tramonte.*

“My time at UOG laid a lot of the groundwork for everything I do today. The skills I developed in project design, data analysis, and environmental science, along with my first real experience in Pacific reef ecosystems as a graduate student, have been essential”, says Tramonte. “UOG’s programs helped solidify my commitment to Pacific conservation and gave me the tools to pursue complex projects, such as this current research on reef biodiversity.”

Now an official member of the Guam NSF EPSCoR Biodepository team, Kelsie Ebeling-Whited, initially did research on the spawning of sixbar wrasse fish under project director Terry Donaldson, PhD from 2017 to 2020.

Regarding her academic stint in the EPSCoR Biodepository, Whited describes that it “helped me discover my interest in historical collections and museum work.” Her transition to a full-time role with the team allowed her to continue the work she started as a GRA student researcher.

Therese Miller also studied under Bentlage for her 2020-2023 GRA experience, in which she investigated bacterial communities living within staghorn coral, most specifically Acropora pulchra. She also studied communities of bacteria living in Porites cylindrica and Porites lobata as part of an Guam NSF EPSCoR-funded project, which included transplantation experiments and coral monitoring/sampling.

Miller now resides in Nelson, New Zealand and is working towards her PhD in Marine Science through the University of Auckland. Her current research involves following migration routes of two freshwater eel species native to New Zealand: Anguilla dieffenbachii and Anguilla australis schmidtii.

EPSCoR 241203 ThereseMiller — *Therese Miller (front middle) and her colleagues at sea in New Zealand. Photo courtesy of Therese Miller.*

Miller had just recently completed a five-week long research voyage in her and her peers collected seawater samples from Wellington to New Caledonia.

“I’m about to start lab-work with the samples I collected from my time at sea, and the molecular biology I learned at UOG has given me plenty of experience for the amount of work I am now expected to do,” Miller explains.

“I also learned other valuable skills during my master’s, such as how to conduct literature reviews, how to organize and prepare my samples, how to work on a team of other researchers, and what the structure of a research-based degree is like.”

Under the guidance of UOG Marine Lab Director Laurie Raymundo, PhD, Grace McDermott studied the phenotypic differences in coral during her GRA program ending in 2023. These days, she works as a biologist and laboratory manager at the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida, while also preparing to apply for PhD programs.

EPSCoR 241118 GraceMcDermott 2 — *Grace McDermott poses for a selfie in the lab at Mote Marine Lab, Florida. Photo courtesy of Grace McDermott.*

“My time at the UOG Marine Lab helped me cultivate experience organizing and leading experiments in the field and in the lab testing the resilience of corals to stress,” McDermott details. “The accessibility of Guam’s coral reefs provided me with the opportunity to explore my interest in the impacts of future climate change scenarios on marine ecosystems.”

As the year 2024 reaches its end, four former Guam NSF EPSCoR graduate research assistants share where they are now, and how their time at the University of Guam helped them get there.

Now an official member of the Guam NSF EPSCoR Biorepository team, Kelsie Ebeling-Whited, initially did research on the spawning of sixbar wrasse fish under project director Terry Donaldson, PhD from 2017 to 2020.

Regarding her academic stint in the Guam NSF EPSCoR Biorepository, Whited describes that it “helped me discover my interest in historical collections and museum work.” Her transition to a full-time role with the team allowed her to continue the work she started as a GRA student researcher.

Miller had just recently completed a five-week long research voyage in her and her peers collected seawater samples from Wellington to New Caledonia.

Her current research includes running experiments to identify coral species candidates for Mote’s coral restoration and reproduction programs, as well as studying situ coral disease dynamics and novel antibiotic-free treatment efficacy.

“My time at the UOG Marine Lab helped me cultivate experience organizing and leading experiments in the field and in the lab testing the resilience of corals to stress,” McDermott details. “The accessibility of Guam’s coral reefs provided me with the opportunity to explore my interest in the impacts of future climate change scenarios on marine ecosystems.”

April 2, 2024January 13, 2026

UOG graduate student heads to Okinawa to study marine invertebrates

MacKenzie Heagy, a 2023 Master of Science in Biology alumna and former Guam NSF EPSCoR Graduate Research Assistant, gained valuable research experience as part of a six-month internship held at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia.

A graduate student from the University of Guam is studying marine invertebrates as part of an internship with University of the Ryukus from April to August 2024.

Joseph Proietti, a Master of Science in Biology student and Guam NSF EPSCoR Graduate Research Assistant, is being mentored by James Reimer, a professor at the University of the Ryukus whose research focuses on the biodiversity of understudied marine invertebrates.

As part of the internship, Proietti is studying Palythoa, a type of cnidarian closely related to corals and anemones.

Some Palythoa, like hard corals, have symbiotic algae that live inside them that photosynthesize and feed their host in exchange for shelter and protection. These Palythoa are known to live in places with light availability such as open reefs while those without these symbionts live in caves or reef crevices.

“We’re going to take the Palythoa that have symbionts and the ones that don’t to do what’s called a reciprocal transplant experiment, which will involve switching them between their two habitats,” said Proietti. “Then we’ll monitor to see how this change in environment affects how they function depending on which of their genes are expressed.”

Besides networking with other professionals within his field, Proietti will learn skills that will help him advance as a scientist.

“During this internship, I’ll learn about RNA library preparation, a very specific type of lab work that involves preparing RNA to be sequenced which is complicated and challenging to get right,” said Proietti. “I’ll also learn how to analyze gene expression data.”

Proietti said he looks forward to exploring the reefs of Okinawa during this experience.

“I believe that traveling and experiencing as much of the world as you can is hugely beneficial to expanding your worldview and teaching you things that are hard to put into words,” Proietti. “These experiences are beneficial to not just your professional life, but who you are as a person.”

March 6, 2024January 13, 2026

2023 GRA: Meet our graduate research assistants!

Since joining the Guam NSF EPSCoR Graduate Research Assistantship program, these graduate students will receive mentorship, training, and fieldwork experience as they pursue their master’s degree over the next three years.

ANELA DUENAS

“What made me want to get into marine science is when I got to experience a summer program as an elementary student and I was able to look at coral under a microscope at one of the beaches in Saipan,” said Anela Duenas. “I got to see the coral and how they move and how they’re alive and not rocks in the ocean. That experience inspired me and that made me keep going until now.”

While pursuing her undergraduate degree, Duenas was an NSF INCLUDES: SEAS Islands Alliance fellow as well as a Guam NSF EPSCoR student researcher.

Duenas joined the GRA program to encourage her peers to enjoy research. During her time in the Student Research Experience program, she received mentorship and guidance from a GRA named Justin Berg.

“Working with Justin was really fun and how he helped me as an undergrad encouraged me to help others and do what he did,” said Duenas.

Under the mentorship of Bastian Bentlage, Ph.D., an associate professor of bioinformatics and co-principal investigator of Guam NSF EPSCoR, Duenas is looking into assemblages of Symbiodiniaceae in two coral species – Acropora pulchra and Pavona decussata.

As a CHamoru scientist, Duenas hopes to inspire others within the region to pursue careers in STEM.

“I’ve felt personally connected to the land and the ocean ever since I was growing up, so it’s really cool for me to actually be working in this field and try to better our environment,” said Duenas. “I feel like I don’t see as many local scientists from here and

doing work here, so I hope I get to do some great work and hopefully inspire other locals in this area.”

DIANA NOTO

Diana Noto has always liked the ocean.

“I grew up on Long Island, so I lived in proximity to the water,” said Noto. “They weren’t particularly beautiful or clear beaches, but I always loved it. When I moved to Florida, I didn’t get to be closer to the water, but I got to go to the beach a lot more and get exposed to coral reefs. That’s how I got interested in the marine sciences.”

Noto heard about the program through Garret O’Donnell, a GRA who joined the program in 2022.

“Before he joined the program, Garret had also worked at the Florida Museum in the same lab as me,” said Noto. “When I was applying, I heard that Dr. Robert Lasley, who I worked with before, was taking on a student so I decided to just go for it.”

Robert Lasley, Ph.D., is a crustacean biologist and the associate curator of the Guam Ecosystems Collaboratorium for Corals and Oceans (GECCO) Biorepository, a natural history collection of specimens operated by Guam NSF EPSCoR.

“The program’s been really fun so far,” said Noto. “All the other students have been super great. I’ve learned a lot of cool things. Just being near so many cool sites to do fieldwork has been pretty amazing.”

NIKKO GALANTO

Nikko Galanto’s interest in marine biology was fostered in his junior year of high school.

“My teacher was really influential, and she taught us that Guam is unique and that whatever we do on the island has a huge impact on our surrounding oceans,” said Galanto.

Galanto heard about the GRA program in 2019 while he was pursuing his undergraduate degree. During that time, he became a student researcher as part of Guam NSF EPSCoR’s Student Research Experience and eventually went on to work as a DNA barcoding technician at the GECCO Biorepository.

“I thought that since graduate school was a part of my plans and that I’ve always been a part of EPSCoR, I decided to apply to the GRA program,” said Galanto. “I just hope to become a more well-rounded scientist. I’ve learned now that there’s so much I don’t know and that’s a good thing. “

Under the mentorship of Diego Vaz, Ph.D., a fish morphologist and the associate curator of the GECCO Biorepository, Galanto is exploring the systematics and morphology of blenny fish. Blenny fish are small, elongated fish that can be found on the ocean floor, in reefs, or in burrows.

As someone who grew up on Guam, Galanto said that his perspective as a local scientist gives him a really great insight into both the island’s environment and its community.

“I want to emphasize that we need a lot of representation in the field of STEM,” said Galanto. “I think it’s important to see POC in all walks of science and I think that’s

important because we all have different experiences – especially if we come from different islands and backgrounds. We all have something to contribute.”

February 29, 2024January 13, 2026

UOG grad student represents Guam in international fish conference

Karina Mejia, a Guam NSF EPSCoR Graduate Research Assistant in the University of Guam’s Master of Science in Biology program, presented her research at the 2023 Indo-Pacific Fish Conference which was held at the University of Auckland in New Zealand.

The Indo-Pacific Fish Conference, which happens every four years, is one of the world’s premier ichthyological conferences and is highly anticipated by marine, estuarine, and freshwater specialists. The event is organized by the Australian Society for Fish Biology, which aims to promote research, education, and management of fish and fisheries across the Indo-Pacific.

Mejia’s presentation was entitled, “Population Genetics of the Catadromous Eel, Anguilla marmorata, in Guam and the Indo Pacific.”

Giant mottled eels (Anguilla marmorata) are the most common eels in the Indo-Pacific and Guam. They are an important food fish and an apex predator in many tropical islands and continental streams of the Indo-Pacific, according to the study’s abstract. Determining the eel’s geological and oceanographic location and temporal spawning patterns will provide information key to effective conservation.

During the event, Mejia found it exciting to meet people within her field. She connected with a doctoral student named Yusuke Amai who invited her to explore doctoral programs at the University of Tokyo, which she was able to visit in December. While she was in Japan, Mejia met with Nina Yasuda, Ph.D., a professor at the University of Tokyo who has been helping her with the genetic portion of her research.

“At first, I was intimidated since I was surrounded by experts, but I learned to not be scared and shy to interact with fellow scientists,” said Mejia. “I am glad I learned to overcome my nervousness since I was able to meet a variety of wonderful people and interact with potential mentors for a Ph.D.”

January 9, 2024January 13, 2026

Two graduate research assistants defend theses

MacKenzie Heagy defends her master’s thesis on Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at the University of Guam Marine Laboratory.

Grace McDermott virtually defends her master’s thesis entitled, “Intraspecific color variation in Porites cylindrica: the role of color variation in coral resilience,” on Monday, December 1, 2023.

Two Guam NSF EPSCoR Graduate Research assistants closed out their time with the program by defending their master’s theses.

MacKenzie Heagy, a graduate in the University of Guam’s master of science in biology program, defended her master’s thesis on Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at the UOG Marine Laboratory.

Her thesis was titled, “Diversity and biogeography of the Mastophoraceae in the Mariana Islands.”

Mastophoraceae is a family of crustose calcifying red algae. Representatives of this family are widespread throughout the Indo-Pacific and are particularly abundant on tropical reefs.

As part of her study, Heagy collected samples off the coast of Guam, Saipan, and Rota from various habitats such as surf benches, algal bridges, and reef flats. Over the course of her project, around 300 presumed mastophoroid specimens were collected – including seven new species.

Her advisor was Tom Schils, Ph.D., a UOG professor of marine biology. Heagy’s committee consisted of Bastian Bentlage, Ph.D., the co-principal of Guam NSF EPSCoR and Gavin Maneveldt, Ph.D, a professor of marine biology and biodiversity studies from the University of the Western Cape.

In addition, Grace McDermott, a graduate biology student at UOG, virtually defended her master’s thesis entitled, “Intraspecific color variation in Porites cylindrica: the role of color variation in coral resilience,” on Monday, December 1, 2023.

McDermott collected samples of Porites cylindrica, a species of stony coral, from Luminao, Piti East, and Tumon to compare how their brown and yellow color morphs responded to disease and bleaching conditions.

Her advisor was UOG Marine Laboratory Director Laurie Raymundo, Ph.D. McDermott’s committee consisted of Raymundo, Bentlage, and Héloïse Louise Rouzé, Ph.D., a senior research associate from UOG.

September 12, 2023January 13, 2026

Three new graduate research assistants join Guam NSF EPSCoR

Guam NSF EPSCoR welcomed three new graduate research assistants during an orientation held on Thursday, September 7, 2023. These new GRAs include Diana Noto, Nikko Galanto, and Anela Duenas.

“It’s always exciting to see the new students. It’s really one of the best products from this program - getting to know the students and learning from them. I hope you all have a great time while in this program,” said Dr. Bastian Bentlage, co-principal investigator of research.

Guam NSF EPSCoR welcomed three new graduate research assistants during an orientation held on Thursday, September 7, 2023 at the University of Guam’s School of Business and Public Administration.

As part of the three-year Graduate Research Assistantship, these students will receive tuition coverage, a salary, as well as mentorship and support over the course of their graduate program as they research crustacean biology, vertebrate morphology, and coral molecular ecology.

These new GRAs include Diana Noto, Nikko Galanto, and Anela Duenas.

“It’s always exciting to see the new students. It’s really one of the best products from this program – getting to know the students and learning from them. I hope you all have a great time while in this program,” said Dr. Bastian Bentlage, co-principal investigator of research.

The new graduate research assistants will have access to near-peer mentorship opportunities to not only learn from others within their community, but also teach undergraduate and high school students over the course of their term.

“During my undergrad, I heard a lot of good things about the GRA program,” said Anela Duenas, one of the new graduate research assistants. “As a student researcher, a GRA named Justin Berg helped me a lot, so I want to do the same for other undergrad students.”

August 17, 2023January 13, 2026

UOG grad student talks coral reefs at aquatic sciences conference

University of Guam graduate biology student and Guam NSF EPSCoR Graduate Research Assistant Star Dressler presented her research at the 2023 Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO) Aquatic Sciences Meeting held from June 4 – 9, 2023, in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

ASLO is an organization that fosters a diverse, international scientific community that creates, integrates, and communicates knowledge across the full spectrum of aquatic sciences.

During the event, Dressler presented her research entitled, “Assessing the heterotrophic abilities of two scleractinian corals during thermal stress as a strategy.”

“ASLO was awesome,” said Dressler. “I got to interact with scientists from all over the world. It was an oceanography and limnology-based conference, which means it covered both marine and freshwater topics. I was able to not only listen to everyone’s discussions about diverse topics, but also bring attention to coral reefs.”

Along with her advisor, UOG Associate Professor of Oceanography Atsushi Fujimura, Dressler also chaired a session called “Resilience in Coral Reef Ecosystems.” The session featured various scientists who discussed advancements in understanding resilience in the world’s coral reef ecosystems across species, population, and community levels.

“I appreciated being able to connect with different scientists and receive a lot of information in such a short time. I would love to continue being a member of ASLO and going to their conferences,” said Dressler.

Star ASLO Photo 2 2 — During the event, Dressler presented her research entitled, “Assessing the heterotrophic abilities of two scleractinian corals during thermal stress as a strategy.” “ASLO was awesome,” said Dressler. “I got to interact with scientists from all over the world. It was an oceanography and limnology-based conference, which means it covered both marine and freshwater topics. I was able to not only listen to everyone’s discussions about diverse topics, but also bring attention to coral reefs.”

July 31, 2023January 13, 2026

UOG graduate student studies algae at the University of Washington

Jackson collecting a piece of crustose coralline algae.

Grace Jackson, a University of Guam graduate biology student and Guam NSF EPSCoR graduate research assistant, gained research experience this summer through a course held at the Friday Harbor Laboratory at the University of Washington from June 11 to July 14, 2023.

The class was called Marine Botany: Diversity and Ecology and covered classical and contemporary methods for identification, classification, and phylogenetic analysis of algae. Taught by Thomas Mumford, Ph.D., and D. Wilson Freshwater, Ph.D., the five-week course focused on the diversity of algae species found around San Juan Island.

“I was interested in taking this class because I am studying crustose coralline algae for my thesis,” said Jackson, who is under the mentorship of UOG Professor of Marine Biology, Tom Schils. “I thought that learning about algae from a different ecosystem would give me a broader perspective and appreciation for the work I am doing in Guam.”

Over the course of the program, Jackson explored the species-rich intertidal habitats around San Juan Island. She also worked on a research project that focused on identifying San Juan Island’s different species of crustose coralline algae, which are rock-hard calcareous red algae that can be found at intertidal rocky shores or coral reefs.

“Forming my group and getting them excited about our topic and coaching them along the way taught me a lot about science communication,” said Jackson. “Writing the research report also fostered my writing skills. This whole experience has given me a greater appreciation for the work I have been doing in Guam. I can’t wait to get back in the lab and practice what I have learned.”

July 22, 2023January 13, 2026

UOG grad student teaches marine ecology course in Yap

Pablo De la Vega, a graduate biology student from the University of Guam and Guam NSF EPSCoR graduate research assistant, was one of the instructors for an educational program called Marine Island Ecology at the Yap Catholic High School from June 14 to July 7, 2023.

Organized by the Micronesian Conservation Coalition (MCC), the summer program allows participating high school seniors to gain fieldwork experience and learn about the marine life in Yap. MCC is a nonprofit organization that aims to conserve island habitats and species throughout Micronesia.

The program was split into different segments that focused on several areas of Yap’s island ecology. Students would discuss theory and lab protocols and then spend the next day in the field putting what they learned in the classroom to practice.

During his time in the program, De la Vega covered classes related to microbiology.

“They were all familiar with fermentation and familiar with different kinds of bacteria. In their culture, they consume tuba, which is made through fermentation and different kinds of yeasts and bacteria interacting with each other,” said De la Vega.

De la Vega said that the experience has deepened his appreciation for the environmental knowledge of indigenous cultures.

“Learning from everyone who participated in the course made me realize that the only way to promote change and protection of the environment is by learning from the cultures that have preserved it for millennia and empowering the next generation to lead the changes we need from a global perspective if we want to continue having an inhabitable planet,” said De la Vega.

De la Vega said that he is grateful to MCC for giving him an opportunity to explore Yap and connect with its people.

“I really want to thank Ms. Julie Hartup from MCC,” said De la Vega. “The programs that MCC have put together are a good example on how you can combine science with social impact.”