FELLOWS & PROJECTS
Dani’s research interests focus on the inclusion of local ecological and indigenous knowledge systems in fisheries science, and how these systems can uncover historical changes in fish population dynamics. Her current work employs a novel combination of local knowledge, catch data, and environmental DNA to understand changes in juvenile shark populations in an ecologically important nursery habitat.
FELLOW Danielle Bartz
PhD Candidate, Marine Biology Graduate Program, UH Mānoa
Member, Hawai’i Cooperative Fishery Research Unit
FACULTY SPONSOR Dr. Timothy Grabowski
Adjunct Associate Professor, Marine Science Department, UH Hilo; Marine Biology Graduate Program, UH Mānoa; and Unit Leader, Hawai‘i Cooperative Fishery Research Unit
PROJECT eDNA Filtration System allows for the simultaneous filtration of seawater in preparation for environmental DNA (eDNA) analyses to better address ecological questions in aquatic communities.
Jon’s research focuses on body composition and its association to disease risk. Utilizing knowledge of the available clinical and field body composition assessment techniques, Jon aims to refine technologies by improving their assessment accuracy, while identifying aspects more closely related to risk (or targets for intervention). He hopes to use his experience with diet and exercise to promote disease prevention and reduce the burden of disease across multiple conditions including cardiovascular disease and cancer.
FELLOW Jonathan Bennett, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher, UH Cancer Center, UH Mānoa
FACULTY SPONSOR Dr. John Shepherd
Chief Scientific Officer and Professor, Epidemiology & Population Sciences, UH Cancer Center, UH Mānoa
PROJECT Body Composition Assessment Technology leverages highly effective obesity models to increase awareness and early detection and intervention of body composition risk factors for obesity
FELLOW Suman Chhetri, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Mechanical Engineering, UH Mānoa
FACULTY SPONSOR Dr. Woochul Lee
Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, UH Mānoa
PROJECT Innovative Desalination Technology through solar thermal conversion helps solve freshwater shortage issues and replace existing energy-intensive processes with sustainable, green technologies for water purification
FELLOW Kaylee Clark, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Mechanical Engineering, UH Mānoa
FACULTY SPONSOR Dr. Tyler Ray
Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, UH Mānoa, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, UH Mānoa
PROJECT A Wearable Sensor for Detecting Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault Drugs is a stylish and functional ring equipped with integrated sensors for personal detection of Rohypnol in beverages to mitigate drug-facilitated assaults
FELLOW Min Ki (Carl) Jeon
PhD Candidate, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UH Mānoa
FACULTY SPONSOR Dr. Tao Yan
Professor, Water Resources Research Center, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, UH Mānoa
PROJECT Novel Metagenomic Sequencing Technology rapidly characterizes influenza diversity and dynamics in wastewater to better inform flu vaccine development
FELLOW Ludwig Mayerlen
PhD Candidate, Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, UH Mānoa
FACULTY SPONSOR Dr. Axel Lehrer
Associate Professor, Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, UH Mānoa
PROJECT Expression Vector System offers a fully customizable product that can be used for the expression of almost any protein and provide high-yield production of vaccine antigens
FELLOW Christopher Tran
PhD Candidate, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, UH Mānoa
FACULTY SPONSOR Dr. Jesse Owens
Assistant Professor, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, UH Mānoa
PROJECT Programmable Genome Insertion Tool actively and accurately incorporates DNA into the genome of somatic cells at specific locations to develop clinical therapies that use insertional vectors to treat genetic disease
This program is supported by the Office of Naval Research.