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
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.

Undergrads: Study coral reefs, gain research experience, and get paid!

EPSCoR Flyer SRE 2021 Application Match V1.2 Resize for Social Website Removed

Are you an undergraduate student interested in ensuring the sustainability of coral reefs and the marine environment? If you’re self-motivated, well-organized, and trained in basic lab procedures and microscopy, Guam EPSCOR has a valuable student research experience for you — and it’s paid!

The Student Research Experience program, which will take place from January-December 2021, is designed to train undergraduates in scientific research specific to coral reef ecosystems. Selected students will benefit from research training, faculty mentorship, possible travel opportunities, and a stipend of $500 per month.

The program may involve hands-on fieldwork to investigate coral reefs or to deploy and retrieve oceanographic instruments as well as work in the UOG Marine Laboratory’s Molecular Lab. Students will learn about DNA extraction and sequencing and/or how to read and analyze data to characterize marine environments.

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 University of Guam and the Research Corporation of the University of Guam are equal-opportunity employers that have received National Science Foundation funding to broaden the participation of underrepresented students in STEM fields.

The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. on Dec. 11, 2020, and accepted students will be notified by Dec. 18.

Requests for applications may be directed to Sho Hammond at hammonds@triton.uog.edu. For more information, visit www.guamespscor.uog.edu.

About Guam EPSCOR
The Guam EPSCOR program at the University of Guam is funded by a five-year, $20 million grant from the National Science Foundation. The program aims to develop Guam Ecosystems Collaboratorium for Corals & Oceans (GECCO) 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 education hub bolstering sustainability, economic development, and informed decision-making by engaging communities in 21st-century science.

EPSCoR Flyer SRE 2021 Final

Link to original article: https://www.uog.edu/news-announcements/2020-2021/2020-uog-undergrads-epscor-program.php

University of Guam secures $20 million to expand coral research

2019 uog biorepository kelokelo web
2019 uog biorepository kelokelo web
Mildred Kelokelo, a graduate biology student at the University of Guam, documents a reef fish using equipment in the University of Guam Biorepository in 2019. The biorepository, established under the five-year Guam Ecosystems Collaboratorium grant project, is an online-accessible collection of specimens facilitating marine biodiversity research.

The University of Guam has been awarded $20 million to expand its research capabilities on coral reef survival in rapidly changing environmental conditions. The five-year grant is from the National Science Foundation’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, more commonly referred to as EPSCoR, and will considerably expand upon work undertaken during the previous five-year, $6 million Guam EPSCoR grant project, the Guam Ecosystems Collaboratorium.

“This is a major grant award which not only validates and expands on the research work of Guam EPSCoR, our Marine Laboratory, and our partners, but it also further establishes the University of Guam as an emergent research institution in the Pacific region,” said UOG President Thomas W. Krise.

Starting July 1, the new grant project — titled the Guam Ecosystems Collaboratorium for Corals and Oceans, or GECCO — will increase the collection, documentation, integration, and analyses of complex genetic and oceanographic data from reefs within the region. These research activities are necessary to understand the evolutionary and ecological processes that drive resilience in coral reefs under stress from climate change and other factors and could provide valuable insight into the development of
viable management strategies.

Dr. Terry J. Donaldson, professor of ichthyology at the UOG Marine Laboratory and the principal investigator and project director, said the need for modern, cutting-edge studies on reef ecosystems is urgent.

“Island communities of the Western Pacific and all around the world depend on coral reef ecosystems, but the reefs are struggling to survive amid our rapidly changing climate,” he said. “Guam has the nation’s most diverse and complex coral reefs, so the UOG Marine Lab is the best place to do this research and inform how we can better protect this vital ecosystem.”

Data collection

The research team, led by Dr. Bastian Bentlage, assistant professor of bioinformatics at the Marine Lab, will collect and analyze genetic, genomic, oceanographic, and ecological data sets. New collections of marine biodiversity from the region will be curated, imaged, and mapped, and specimens — including cryo-preserved tissues for genomics research — stored in the UOG Biorepository along with historical collections dating back more than 50 years. Specimens and field collection data will be digitized and posted in the biorepository’s online-accessible database that was established during the Guam Ecosystems Collaboratorium, providing the scientific community with an invaluable resource for marine biodiversity research.

Big-data analyses

Mathematical models will use the data gathered to better predict changes in our reef ecosystems. To facilitate this ambitious research project, UOG’s ability to conduct big-data analyses will be expanded by establishing a high-performance computing cluster on its campus and by strengthening its collaborative network with other research institutions.

Techniques and technology

The new grant will utilize cutting-edge instrumentation and innovative techniques, including:

  • hyperspectral scanning to automate mapping of reef communities;
  • DNA barcoding to facilitate identification of reef organisms, including coral microbiomes, and their role in the stress response of coral reefs;
  • seascape genomics, integrating genomics, and oceanographic modeling to trace connectivity between coral reefs within the region; and
  • micro-CT scanning techniques within the Biorepository to further the understanding of the morphology of marine organisms on reefs and promote a greater understanding of their taxonomic diversity.

“Coral reefs in the Marianas Archipelago are some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world, and Guam represents the United States’ only foothold in the region. This award provides researchers the opportunity to explore these coral reef systems and understand current biodiversity challenges concerning how they respond to climate change,” said NSF EPSCoR Program Manager John-David Swanson. “In addition to improving infrastructure in the jurisdiction, this project aims to target underserved communities and develop innovative programs for STEM education and workforce development.” 

Education and collaboration

The grant will grow UOG’s research capacity by funding new and visiting faculty positions and post-doctoral fellowships to conduct research, teach specialized courses at the university, and engage graduate and undergraduate students in research.

Beyond research, the GECCO project will develop innovative STEM education and community engagement programs — an effort that will led by Dr. Austin Shelton, assistant professor of extension and outreach — and collaborations within the national and international research communities, an effort that will be led by Dr. Rachael Leon Guerrero, vice provost for research and sponsored programs.

Link to original article: https://www.uog.edu/news-announcements/2019-2020/2020-university-of-guam-secures-20-million-to-expand-coral-research.php

Coral research director at UOG elected to head regional association

headshot terry donaldson

Professor Terry J. Donaldson of the University of Guam has been voted president-elect of the Western Association of Marine Laboratories. Donaldson serves as the principal investigator and project director for Guam EPSCoR, a $6 million research grant to study the effects of climate change on coral reefs, and was the former director of the UOG Marine Laboratory.

WAML, a regional subsidiary of the National Association of Marine Laboratories, is a network of nonprofit marine laboratories in the Western United States and Pacific Islands that aims to stimulate research and promote education in the marine sciences and to identify problems unique to nonprofit marine laboratories within its jurisdiction.

“My service as president-elect of WAML will be beneficial to the University of Guam, the UOG Marine Laboratory, and Guam EPSCoR in that the linkages, collaborations, and joint research funding opportunities I help to develop and participate in will promote Guam as a premier destination for coral reef research,” Donaldson said.

Additionally, he said, the association works to represent the interests of its member laboratories on both a regional and national scale.

The UOG Marine Lab has been a member of both WAML and NAML since 1986. Donaldson first represented the university in WAML when he was the director of the Marine Lab from late 2013 to early 2016 and maintained the role afterward.

In addition to his duties as president-elect, Donaldson will simultaneously serve as vice chairman on the board for a two-year term. He will then take the role of president in October 2021. He was elected during the associations’ Fall Biennial Meeting, held Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, Ore.

His appointment comes as the UOG Marine Lab ushers in its 50th anniversary year.

Link to original article: https://www.uog.edu/news-announcements/2019-2020/2020-coral-research-director-at-uog-elected-to-head-regional-association.php

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!

University of Guam secures $20 million to expand coral research

2019 uog biorepository kelokelo 2
2019 uog biorepository kelokelo 1 2

The University of Guam has been awarded $20 million to expand its research capabilities on coral reef survival in rapidly changing environmental conditions. The five-year grant is from the National Science Foundation’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, more commonly referred to as EPSCoR, and will considerably expand upon work undertaken during the previous five-year, $6 million Guam EPSCoR grant project, the Guam Ecosystems Collaboratorium. 

“This is a major grant award which not only validates and expands on the research work of Guam EPSCoR, our Marine Laboratory, and our partners, but it also further establishes the University of Guam as an emergent research institution in the Pacific region,” said UOG President Thomas W. Krise.

Starting July 1, the new grant project — titled the Guam Ecosystems Collaboratorium for Corals and Oceans, or GECCO — will increase the collection, documentation, integration, and analyses of complex genetic and oceanographic data from reefs within the region. These research activities are necessary to understand the evolutionary and ecological processes that drive resilience in coral reefs under stress from climate change and other factors and could provide valuable insight into the development of viable management strategies.

Dr. Terry J. Donaldson, professor of ichthyology at the UOG Marine Laboratory and the principal investigator and project director, said the need for modern, cutting-edge studies on reef ecosystems is urgent.

“Island communities of the Western Pacific and all around the world depend on coral reef ecosystems, but the reefs are struggling to survive amid our rapidly changing climate,” he said. “Guam has the nation’s most diverse and complex coral reefs, so the UOG Marine Lab is the best place to do this research and inform how we can better protect this vital ecosystem.”

The research team, led by Dr. Bastian Bentlage, assistant professor of bioinformatics at the Marine Lab, will collect and analyze genetic, genomic, oceanographic, and ecological data sets. The research team consists of Dr. David Combosch (genetics), Dr. Atsushi Fujimura (oceanography), Dr. Sarah Lemer (genomics), Mr. David Burdick (Biorepository Collections Manager), Dr. Laurie Raymundo (coral ecology), Dr. Tom Schils (phycology), Dr. Dan Lindstrom (genetics), Dr. Leslie Aquino (modeling), Dr. Hyunju Oh (modeling), and Dr. Jaeyong Choi (statistics).

New collections of marine biodiversity from the region will be curated, imaged, and mapped, and specimens — including cryo-preserved tissues for genomics research — stored in the UOG Biorepository along with historical collections dating back more than 50 years. Specimens and field collection data will be digitized and posted in the biorepository’s online-accessible database that was established during the Guam Ecosystems Collaboratorium, providing the scientific community with an invaluable resource for marine biodiversity research.

Mathematical models will use the data gathered to better predict changes in our reef ecosystems. To facilitate this ambitious research project, UOG’s ability to conduct big-data analyses will be expanded by establishing a high-performance computing cluster on its campus and by strengthening its collaborative network with other research institutions.

The new grant will utilize cutting-edge instrumentation and innovative techniques, including:

  • hyperspectral scanning to automate mapping of reef communities;
  • DNA barcoding to facilitate identification of reef organisms, including coral microbiomes, and their role in the stress response of coral reefs;
  • seascape genomics, integrating genomics, and oceanographic modeling to trace connectivity between coral reefs within the region; and
  • micro-CT scanning techniques within the Biorepository to further the understanding of the morphology of marine organisms on reefs and promote a greater understanding of their taxonomic diversity.

“Coral reefs in the Marianas Archipelago are some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world, and Guam represents the United States’ only foothold in the region. This award provides researchers the opportunity to explore these coral reef systems and understand current biodiversity challenges concerning how they respond to climate change,” said NSF EPSCoR Program Manager John-David Swanson. “In addition to improving infrastructure in the jurisdiction, this project aims to target underserved communities and develop innovative programs for STEM education and workforce development.”

2019 uog biorepository burdick

The grant will grow UOG’s research capacity by funding new and visiting faculty positions and post-doctoral fellowships to conduct research, teach specialized courses at the university, and engage graduate and undergraduate students in research.

Beyond research, the GECCO project will develop innovative STEM education and community engagement programs — an effort that will led by Dr. Austin Shelton, assistant professor of extension and outreach — and collaborations within the national and international research communities, an effort that will be led by Dr. Rachael Leon Guerrero, vice provost for research and sponsored programs.

UOG alumna enters doctorate program at University of Newcastle

20190509 mildred kelokelo thesis 09257
20190509 mildred kelokelo thesis 09257

Former Guam-EPSCoR Research Fellow and University of Guam Marine Laboratory graduate student Mildred Kelokelo has been admitted to the doctorate program at the University of Newcastle in New South Wales, Australia.

Kelokelo will study coral farming techniques towards developing, implementing and managing reef restoration efforts in the western Pacific. Her research, which begins in January 2020, will be supported by the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).  

A native of Alotau, Papua New Guinea, Kelokelo worked at the UOG Marine Laboratory’s Biorepository with support from the National Science Foundation-EPSCoR grant to UOG.  Her thesis research focused upon sexuality and sex change in the arc-eye hawkfish (Paracirrhites arcatus).  She earned her Master of Science in Biology degree in Fañomnåkan (January-May) 2019.   

Kelokelo is a co-author of one publication and one manuscript on gonad histology and sex change in reef fishes. She is also preparing to submit for publication a manuscript based upon her thesis research.  Her advisor was Dr. Terry Donaldson.

Guam EPSCoR PI selected as president-elect for Western Association of Marine Laboratories

headshot terry donaldson
headshot terry donaldson

Dr. Terry Donaldson, Guam-EPSCoR principal investigator and project director, was voted president-elect of the Western Association of Marine Laboratories (WAML). 

His election was held at WAML’s meeting held in conjunction with the National Association of Marine Laboratories (NAML) Fall Biennial Meeting from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, Oregon. In addition to his assigned duties, he will also serve as vice chair of WAML’s Board of Directors for a two-year term. 

WAML is a regional subsidiary of NAML and its membership includes non-profit marine laboratories operated by federal, state, university and other non-profit organizations in the Western United States and Pacific Islands.  WAML’s mission is to stimulate research, promote education in the marine sciences, and provide a forum for the resolution of problems common to non-profit marine laboratories in the United States.

The association encourages the wise use and conservation of marine and coastal resources. For more information about WAML and NAML, please go to www.naml.org.

Guam EPSCoR research on Pago Bay published in science journal

ml pagobay oceanography team 0

The University of Guam’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (Guam EPSCoR), in collaboration with researchers from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa-PacIOOS (UH Mānoa), were recently featured in the September 2019 edition of the Regional Studies in Marine Science Journal for their assessment of the oceanographic processes and patterns of Pago Bay.

The study, “Physical Dynamics of the reef flat, channel, and fore reef areas of a fringing reef embayment: An oceanographic study of Pago Bay, Guam,” examined circulation, thermal environment, and rainstorm impacts on the coral reef system in the bay. Observations were conducted for one year, with an array of sensors deployed to measure ocean temperature, wave height, and wind speed and direction, among other variables.

“Long-term observations of oceanographic patterns and processes provide necessary context for integrative ecological studies and for assessing and mitigating anthropogenic impacts to coastal ecosystems,” according to the study.

The collaborative project between the two universities was funded primarily by Guam EPSCoR, which is supported by the National Science Foundation. Researchers in the study include Guam EPSCoR’s Dr. Terry Donaldson, principal investigator, and Dr. Atsushi Fujimura, assistant professor of oceanography and researcher, as well as Dr. Margaret McManus, Christina Comfort, Gordon Walker, and Chris Ostrander from UH Mānoa.

The full article of the study can be read at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2019.100740.

ml pagobay oceanography team
This work was supported by the National Science Foundation, USA under Grant Number OIA-1457769 and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), USA through PacIOOS award NA16NOS0120024.

Submit proposals for GEC Seed Funding Grant

cocos acroporase

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)
Guam EPSCoR’s Guam Ecosystems Collaboratorium Seed Funding Grant

Submission Deadline: September 27, 2019

Guam EPSCoR’s Guam Ecosystems Collaboratorium is seeking proposals from junior faculty members of the University of Guam for seed funding grant opportunities.

Guam EPSCoR seed funding will include experimental project costs for collaborative projects in the areas of oceanography, coral genetics, bioinformatics, genomics, coastal geological processes and sedimentation, and Integrated Digitized Biocollections (iDigBio). The grant can include travel funding for training or support that is directly linked to the implementation of research and/or advancing the competitive nature of proposed EPSCoR goals. Competitive seed funding proposals should outline how the proposed work clearly advances the research areas listed above as it is related to Guam EPSCoR strategic goals.

Multiple seed funding grant awards of up to $25,000 will be made available. Successful proposals will be selected based upon relevance to emergent science, research quality, and a demonstrated potential to achieve significant results that lead to peer-reviewed publications and future grant proposal submissions. Awardees should commit research fund expenditures by July 1, 2020, unless otherwise noted or advised. 

Applicants should submit a one- to two-page project description that includes a timeline for planning and research, an itemized budget, and budget justification no later than September 27, 2019 (1700H Chamorro Standard Time).

Submit proposals to guamepscor@gmail.com. Please use the subject line “GEC Seed Funding Y5.

For more information visit www.guamepscor.uog.edu or contact Dr. Terry Donaldson, Guam EPSCoR PI/PD, at tdonaldson@triton.uog.edu.

DOWNLOAD THE PDF VERSION OF THE RFP HERE.

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