GRA - Guam EPSCoR

March 12, 2021December 15, 2025

Prospective graduate students: Study coral reefs, gain research experience, have tuition waived, and earn $18,000!

EPSCoR Flyer GRA 2021 Final Social Media Square 020121

Are you a prospective graduate student interested in ensuring the sustainability of coral reefs and the marine environment?

If you’re self-motivated, well-organized, and have a Bachelor of Science in Biology, Environmental Science, or related field, Guam EPSCOR has a valuable graduate student research experience for you — and it’s paid!

The Graduate Research Assistantship is a three-year-long program designed to train graduates in scientific research. Selected students will benefit from a tuition waiver of up to 12 credits per semester for the pursuit of a master’s degree, research training, faculty mentorship, possible travel opportunities, and an $18,000 annual stipend ($1,500 per month).

Selected applicants will choose to specialize from the following disciplines: Ecology, Genomics, and/or Oceanography. Depending on chosen specialization, students may learn about DNA extraction and sequencing and/or how to read and analyze data to characterize marine environments. The program may involve hands-on fieldwork to investigate coral reefs or to deploy and retrieve oceanographic instruments while working at the UOG Marine Laboratory. Graduate students will also receive support for their individual thesis defenses.

The program seeks to increase the number and diversity of students who choose careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). All qualified students are encouraged to apply, in particular women, minorities, and students with disabilities.

The deadline to apply is 5:00 pm on March 31, 2021, and accepted students will be notified by April 14, 2021.

Late applications may be considered until the UOG Masters Application Deadline, pending availability of positions.

For more information, contact Sho Hammond at hammonds@triton.uog.edu.

You may download an application by clicking the button below.

June 17, 2020December 15, 2025

Guam EPSCoR Graduate Research Assistant Justin Berg receives 2020 Graduate Student Award

Congratulations to UOG Graduate Student Justin Thomas Berg for being recognized with the 2020 Graduate Student Award from the UOG Office of Graduate Studies.

The 2020 Graduate Awards is an annual competition recognizing excellence, innovation, and impact within the graduate degree programs.

Berg is expected to receive his Master of Science Degree in Biology at UOG in Spring 2021. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Delaware, double majoring in biology and pre-veterinary medicine and animal biosciences with a minor in chemistry.

He currently is studying the effects of sedimentation on the coral microbiome in southern Guam, specifically how runoff affects the coral microbiome in a degraded watershed. Berg works at the UOG Marine Laboratory in the Bentlage Laboratory and helps with the coral restoration efforts in the Raymundo Laboratory. Berg is also a Guam EPSCoR Graduate Research Assistant and represented the UOG Marine Laboratory at the National EPSCoR conference in October 2019 in South Carolina.

“It’s truly an honor to be recognized for the work that I have applied myself at the University of Guam. I would like to thank the University for this recognition. I would like to thank Guam EPSCoR for their funding and allowing me to work on my high-level, impactful thesis. I would like to thank students, faculty, and boat captains at the UOG Marine Laboratory for the support towards my thesis. Most importantly, I would like to thank my advisor, Dr. Bastian Bentlage. Bastian is a true role model in the lab and pushes me to do better every day. Thank you for this honor! Si yu’os ma’åse,” Justin Berg.

After he completes his graduate studies, Berg aims to receive his doctorate degree and teach in a research university.

Dr. Bastian Bentlage, assistant professor of bioinformatics, UOG Marine Laboratory, says Berg received the award because he not only excels academically in the MS Biology program but he also volunteers his time to serve the program in many ways including being the program’s student representative and providing extensive mentorship to UOG undergraduates and Guam high school students who pursued research internships with Guam EPSCoR program.

“Justin is an exceptional graduate student, excelling both academically and as a mentor shaping the experiences of our student interns. I am very happy that Justin’s efforts are being recognized with this award and feel blessed to serve as his advisor,” Dr. Bastian Bentlage,

On behalf of the entire Guam EPSCoR Team, Congratulations Justin!

June 1, 2018December 15, 2025

2018 Graduate Research Assistantship Opportunities

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

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

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

ELIGIBILITY

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

BENEFITS

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

Download the Application

Download the Flyer

APPLICATION SUBMISSION

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

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