A University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa researcher has received a $600,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to help advance quantum technology, a fast-growing field that could improve everything from medical imaging to environmental monitoring.

The three-year project, led by Assistant Professor Bo-Han Wu in UH Mānoa’s in the , will focus on building smarter quantum sensor networks. Quantum sensors are highly sensitive devices that can detect extremely small changes in signals, such as temperature, light or electromagnetic activity, with greater precision than many current technologies.

Tackling real-world situations

The research aims to combine quantum science with artificial intelligence and machine learning to help sensors work together more efficiently and adapt to changing conditions. The project begins June 1 and runs through May 2029.

“This project is about helping quantum technologies move from theory into tools that can solve real-world problems,” Wu said. “�鶹��ý offers a unique real-world setting for quantum sensor research, where advanced sensors could help address island challenges in ocean monitoring, disaster preparedness and resilient communications.”

For �鶹��ý residents, the technology could eventually support improvements in areas that directly affect daily life, including disaster monitoring, climate and ocean research, healthcare and communications systems. More advanced sensors could help scientists detect environmental changes earlier, improve the accuracy of medical scans and strengthen future wireless and satellite networks.

One major challenge in quantum technology is that quantum signals are extremely delicate and can easily be disrupted by noise or interference. Wu’s team will study ways to make these systems more stable, reliable and practical for real-world use.

The project will also help grow �鶹��ý’s role in the emerging quantum technology field, which is expected to become an important part of future science and engineering industries. In addition to research, the grant will support education and workforce training through new courses, open-source software tools and outreach activities designed to introduce more students to quantum science and engineering.

The award was funded through the National Science Foundation’s Foundations of Emerging Technologies program, in collaboration with Professor Hyeongrak Choi from Stony Brook University, which supports research in cutting-edge technologies with potential long-term national impact.

A University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa senior student has earned one of Stanford University’s most competitive graduate awards, underscoring the growing impact of UH Mānoa’s engineering programs.

Andrea Murillo, who is graduating this spring, has been admitted to the PhD program in electrical engineering at Stanford and is believed to be the first UH Mānoa recipient of the Stanford Graduate Fellowship, an award given annually to about 100 incoming doctoral students across the university. The fellowship provides up to three years of funding, including tuition and stipend support, to top scholars in science and engineering fields.

Murillo’s path at UH Mānoa reflects a multidisciplinary journey shaped by hands-on research and mentorship. She began her undergraduate journey as a mechanical engineering major before transitioning to computer engineering and ultimately electrical engineering in the electrophysics track, where she found her passion in mixed-signal circuit design.

Through work in several research labs, including projects on embedded systems, TinyML (Tiny Machine Learning), and integrated circuit design, Murillo discovered a passion for building more efficient hardware. She plans to continue that work at Stanford, focusing on circuit design and new technologies that can make electronics faster and use less energy.

Meet more amazing UH graduates

“My experiences at UH helped me discover not just what I enjoy studying, but how I want to contribute to the field,” said Murillo, who is an international student from Mexico. “The support from faculty, mentors and my peers gave me the confidence to pursue graduate school and aim for opportunities like this.”

Community leadership

Beyond the classroom, Murillo has been active in the community as a leader in the FabLab maker space, a member of engineering student organizations and a leader who won an award at the 2024 Honolulu Tech Week hackathon.

Her achievement highlights the role of UH Mānoa in preparing students for advanced study and contributing to innovation in high-demand fields such as electrical engineering and artificial intelligence hardware.

“By leveraging the full breadth of opportunities at UH, Andrea developed a profound understanding of the grand challenges facing contemporary hardware design. Reflecting her unwavering commitment to excellence, she has secured a place in one of the country’s most prestigious doctoral programs,” said UH Mānoa Professor Boris Murmann, who mentored Murillo and was on the faculty at Stanford for 20 years.

Murillo is expected to begin her doctoral studies this fall.

The University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa hosted its 26th annual banquet, bringing together approximately 1,000 students, faculty, alumni, industry leaders and supporters to celebrate the innovation and impact the college has on the state of �鶹��ý.

Held on April 17 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, the event began with a student project expo, where dozens of teams presented hands-on work across aerospace, robotics, sustainability and artificial intelligence. Projects included bioinspired soft robotics systems, student-built satellites, autonomous drones and renewable energy solutions aligned with campus sustainability goals, offering attendees a firsthand look at applied learning with real-world relevance.

Following welcome remarks by Dean Brennon Morioka, UH President Wendy Hensel and �鶹��ý Gov. Josh Green, as well as dinner service, the formal program featured an awards ceremony recognizing contributions to the engineering community. Dayna Nemoto-Shima (Pacific Geotechnical Engineers, Inc.) and Brandon Shima (UH) received the Outstanding Service Award, Greg Hiyakumoto (R.M. Towill Corporation) was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award, and Bharath Kadaba (Lu Labs) earned the Dean’s Award of Excellence.

Connecting talent with opportunity

“The future of engineering in �鶹��ý depends on how well we connect talent with opportunity, and those relationships happen because of the people who attended our annual banquet,” College of Engineering Dean Brennon Morioka said. “Our industry partners and donors are the heart and soul of our local economy and help create pathways for students to lead, to solve and to stay and make a difference right here at home.”

The formal program also highlighted the featured student project, the unexploded ordnance (UXO) project. The multidisciplinary effort applies advanced sensing technologies and robotics to safely detect unexploded ordnance in �鶹��ý, addressing long-standing environmental and public safety challenges.

“I got the opportunity to go to the 21 years of peace celebration at Mākua Valley and it really was an amazing opportunity to actually get to talk to the community and we got to talk to students too,” said UXO student project leader Kamalani Goo. “It was really instilled in me that we need to be having these conversations and building these relationships because no one truly understands the issues as well as the community that is experiencing them.”

The event concluded with a live auction and more networking, celebrating the shared commitment to advancing engineering in �鶹��ý. The college extended its mahalo to donors and �鶹��ý’s engineering industry for their continued support, including mentorship, internships and career development opportunities that help shape student success. All net proceeds from the annual banquet goes directly to supporting the many student projects showcased at the event.

Ten graduate programs at the are in the nation’s top 50, and an additional 17 programs are in the top 100, according to the 2026 , released on April 7.

UH Mānoa’s (JABSOM) also placed in the nation’s top tier (tier 1) for best medical schools for primary care, and UH �ᾱ����’s ranked in a in the nation.

The highest ranked UH Mānoa programs were in the , ranking No. 18 (tied) for best environmental law programs and law schools with most grads in federal clerkships, No. 24 for best part-time law programs, No. 41 (tied) for best international law programs, No. 47 (tied) for best dispute resolution programs and No. 48 (tied) for best legal writing programs.

The ranked No. 22 (tied) for best international programs, and the (SOEST) placed No. 40 (tied) for best Earth sciences programs. JABSOM ranked No. 42 for most graduates practicing in rural areas and No. 45 for most graduates practicing in primary care.

“UH Mānoa’s strong showing in the latest U.S. News and World Report rankings underscores our commitment to excellence in teaching, research and student success,” said UH Mānoa Interim Provost Vassilis L. Syrmos. “These results reflect the talent and dedication of our faculty, students and staff, and �鶹��ý can take pride in knowing their university is preparing the next generation of leaders and changemakers for our community and the world.”

Rankings were based on multiple factors, including research activity (such as publications and citations), student and alumni outcomes (employment and earnings), quality assessments (from peers and recruiters), student selectivity (GPA and test scores), and faculty resources (doctoral degrees awarded and student-to-faculty ratios).

Note: not all programs are ranked every year. See these UH News stories on previous years’ rankings: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019.

Jump to program rankings:
William S. Richardson School of Law  |  John A. Burns School of Medicine  |  Shidler College of Business  |  School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology  |  School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene  |  College of Education  |  Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health  |  College of Social Sciences  |  College of Engineering  |  College of Natural Sciences  |  College of Arts, Languages & Letters

William S. Richardson School of Law

The William S. Richardson School of Law was ranked in 16 categories by U.S. News and World Report. In addition to its ranking of No. 18 (tied) for best environmental law programs and law schools with most grads in federal clerkships, No. 24 for best part-time law programs, No. 41 (tied) for best international law programs, No. 47 (tied) for best dispute resolution programs and No. 48 (tied) for best legal writing programs, the �鶹��ýlaw school placed No. 91 (tied) among the top law schools in the nation.

Other law school rankings include:

• Tax law: No. 80 (tied)
• Criminal law: No. 88 (tied)
• Contracts/commercial law: No. 92 (tied)
• Health care law: No. 92 (tied)
• Constitutional law: No. 95 (tied)
• Business/corporate law: No. 101 (tied)
• Clinical training: No. 102 (tied)
• Intellectual property law: No. 127 (tied)
• Trial advocacy: No. 175 (tied)

John A. Burns School of Medicine

JABSOM was one of 16 schools that placed in the nation’s top tier (tier 1) for best medical schools for primary care. JABSOM also placed in tier 3 for best medical schools for research.
In addition, JABSOM ranked No. 42 for most graduates practicing in rural areas, No. 45 for most graduates practicing in primary care, No. 139 for speech language pathology and No. 171 for most graduates practicing in medically underserved areas. .

Shidler College of Business

The Shidler College of Business placed in nine subject areas. Leading the way were international programs at No. 22 (tied), accounting programs at No. 68 (tied), information systems programs at No. 72 (tied) and marketing programs at No. 91 (tied). In addition, Shidler ranked at No. 104 (tied) for best management programs, No. 113 (tied) for best executive programs, No. 123 (tied) for best finance programs, No. 125 (tied) for best entrepreneurship programs and No. 142 (tied) for best part-time MBA programs.

School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology

SOEST placed No. 40 (tied) among the nation’s best Earth sciences programs.

School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene

The School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene placed No. 55 (tied) for best nursing school–master’s and No. 62 (tied) for best nursing school–doctor of nursing practice (DNP). Both were the only programs in �鶹��ý to be ranked by U.S. News and World Report.

College of Education

The College of Education ranked No. 57 (tied) in the U.S., the 21st straight year the college has been listed as one of the nation’s top 100 education programs. Nationally accredited since 2000, the College of Education continues to be recognized for its award-winning programs and people.

Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health

The ranked No. 89 (tied) among the nation’s top public health schools and programs in the U.S. accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. The Department of Public Health Sciences offers a ; a , with specializations in , , and , and a , as well as PhD program in , specializing in community-based and translational research and a PhD in . The Department of Public Health Sciences is also home to an online master of public health program to meet workforce demands.

College of Social Sciences

The College of Social Sciences placed among the nation’s best in at No. 90 (tied) and at No. 92 (tied).

College of Engineering

The ranked among the nation’s best in at No. 91 (tied), at No. 92 (tied), and at No. 128 (tied). The College of Engineering overall ranked No. 164 (tied) among the top engineering schools in the U.S. that grant doctoral degrees.

College of Natural Sciences

The placed among the nation’s best in at No. 97 (tied), and at No. 115 (tied), and at No. 125 (tied).

College of Arts, Languages & Letters

UH Mānoa placed No. 106 (tied) among the nation’s best for fine arts programs.

Other rankings

UH Mānoa also received these notable rankings:

• 2026 Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings by Subject, March 25, 2026
• 2025 U.S. News and World Report best online programs, January 27, 2026
• 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject, January 21, 2026

The University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa ballroom dance team won its third consecutive national title at the (NCDC), in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, March 27–29.

Competing against 37 colleges, UH Mānoa once again took first place for “highest point average,” as well as a close second place for the overall team championship, asserting its place among the nation’s top ballroom dance college teams. Winning top honors in the highest point average requires most team members to perform exceptionally well in all events.

The dancers of the Ballroom Dance Club @UHM—a registered independent organization at UH Mānoa—are trained and coached by Ravi Narayan and Synthia Sumukti. Narayan and Sumukti also represented �鶹��ý in the senior age division placing 1st in several events.

“We are no longer the underdogs, so all the other colleges are looking at us as the team to beat,” said Narayan, who is also an adjunct faculty member in the UH Mānoa . “The bar is getting raised higher and higher each year, but we prevailed once again. We are incredibly proud of the dedication of our dancers who put in many hours to prepare for this competition. We are grateful for the incredible support we have received from the entire ballroom community in the state of �鶹��ý.”

The Ballroom Dance Club @UHM was formed in September 2022, and the team took first place for “highest team average” in 2024 and 2025.

“Nationals was an amazing and eye-opening experience for me,” said Caleb Zerbe, who competed in the nationals for the first time. “Getting to see so many people dance and enjoy themselves on the floor made me realize how fun dancing can be, even at the highest stages. It was a moment that helped me build a lot of confidence, and one that I will never forget.”

Christopher Ramirez, who competed on all three victorious UH Mānoa teams, added, “Given the opportunity to compete at my third nationals, there is always something new to learn. Winning for the third year in a row has reminded me just how incredible it is to be a part of this team.”

Tough competition

NCDC is a grueling competition with events starting at 7 a.m. every morning. It consisted of multiple events based on proficiency (bronze, silver, gold, etc.). Each student danced in up to 32 different events at the bronze and silver skill levels. They competed in all four styles of ballroom dance including International Standard (waltz, tango, viennese waltz, foxtrot and quickstep), American Smooth (waltz, tango, foxtrot and viennese waltz), American Rhythm (chacha, rumba, swing, bolero and mambo) and International Latin (samba, chacha, rumba, paso doble and jive).

Several students took individual first place awards in their respective divisions defeating up to 70 other competitors in some events. This trip was designed to give the team exposure to a collegiate competition, as �鶹��ý has no statewide collegiate ballroom competitions.

More about the Ballroom Dance Club

The Ballroom Dance Club offers beginner classes to all UH Mānoa students, faculty and staff in studio 2 in the athletics department from 6—7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. No dance experience is required. For more information, or visit their Instagram page @bdcuhm.

The team would like to thank the Department of Information and Computer Sciences, UH Mānoa Department of Athletics, Student Activity and Program Fee Board, Associated Students of the University of �鶹��ý, USA Dance Honolulu and the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation for facility and financial support.

UH Mānoa 2026 nationals collegiate and adult team roster:

• Ravi Narayan, faculty (computer science), coach and alumnus
• Synthia Sumukti, coach and alumna
• ʻAulani Wagner, library science and American studies
• Alexander Picken, Earth science
• Amanda Kanthack, psychology and Japanese
• Caleb Zerbe, computer science
• Christopher Ramirez, linguistics
• Christopher Wright, electrical engineering
• Courtney Hisamoto, computer science
• D’Elle Martin, architecture
• Elijah Saloma, computer science
• Gregory Snyder, mechanical engineering
• Hannah Madiam, kinesiology
• Iris Calauan, pre-nursing
• Jonathan Bona, civil engineering
• Julietta Lopez, architecture
• Kanaru Ebi, psychology
• Karl Merritt, mechanical engineering
• Luis Hernandez, electrical and computer engineering
• Lyndsey Moku, political science
• Maya Ito, psychology
• Michaella Villanueva, computer science
• Noah Asano, computer science
• Samantha Reed, computer science
• Shaelyn Loo, computer science
• Tessa Heidkamp, journalism and political science
• Andrew Lin, computer science alumnus
• Sydney Kim, computer science alumna
• Jason Aguda, computer engineering alumnus
• Matthew Rummel, political science and business alumnus
• Ariel Ramos, cinematic arts animation alumna
• Yong-Sung Masuda, computer science alumnus
• Wilson Tran, computer science alumnus
• Florence Liu, faculty, mathematics

Luis Hernandez and Maya Ito dancing the American Cha-cha in the Collegiate Team Match where UH Mānoa placed 3rd. (Video courtesy: Calvin Ota)

Elijah Saloma and Michaella Villanueva dancing the International Quickstep in the Collegiate Team Match where UH Mānoa placed 3rd. (Video courtesy: Calvin Ota)

Coaches Ravi Narayan and Synthia Sumukti dancing the Mambo in the Senior IV American Rhythm Championship final. (Video courtesy: Ravi Sundaram)

Students cheering for their coaches Ravi Narayan and Synthia Sumukti (Video courtesy: Ravi Sundaram)

A University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa research project focused on agriculture and artificial intelligence (AI) has been selected for support through the NVIDIA Academic Grant Program, bringing additional advanced computing hardware to the university.

The project, “AinaFarm: Building the Foundation for Scalable Agricultural Physical AI,” led by UH Mānoa (ICS) Assistant Professor , in collaboration with Professor , and , a recent (ECE) PhD graduate, competed in the Robotics and Edge AI track. The work explores how robotics and AI can support agriculture, particularly with vision-language-action (VLA) models that allow robots to see their surroundings, understand spoken or written instructions, and carry out tasks in real farming environments.

As part of the award, NVIDIA is donating hardware to UH Mānoa to support the research. The in-kind grant includes two RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell GPUs, high-powered computer processors designed to train and run advanced AI models, and four Jetson AGX Orin compact supercomputers, which will serve as the “brains” of farm field robots, enabling them to run AI applications and make decisions directly in real-world agricultural environments.

“This project is about building practical AI tools that can actually work on farms,” Chen said. “With NVIDIA’s support, we can combine robotics and advanced computing to support local agriculture, reduce labor challenges, and develop technologies that are especially relevant for �鶹��ý’s farming environments.”

In addition to hardware, the program offers access to NVIDIA development tools, models and training resources, as well as opportunities for broader visibility through presentations and promotional channels.

The NVIDIA Academic Grant Program supports researchers worldwide by providing access to high-performance computing resources, hardware and software. The program is designed to accelerate academic research and help move ideas from concept to real-world application.

The AinaFarm project is part of a broader, interdisciplinary collaboration at UH Mānoa that brings together researchers from the , , and (CTAHR) to advance AI-enabled solutions for agriculture. This growing effort builds on recent successes in agricultural robotics, including UH Mānoa’s $10,000 grand prize win in the 2025 Farm Robotics Challenge, and reflects a shared goal of developing practical, field-ready technologies to support farming in �鶹��ý and beyond.

ICS is housed in the College of Natural Sciences, the Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences is housed in CTAHR and ECE is housed in the College of Engineering.

A University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa team won the Best Novelty and Impact Award at an international hackathon for a project designed to transform how community health workers (CHWs) support patients during and after remote check-ins.

The winning project, “,” acts as a “digital co-pilot,” utilizing speech analysis and artificial intelligence to flag possible signs of hidden distress. The system analyzes both what a patient says and how it is said—through the tone and pacing of a patient’s speech—to detect possible signs of emotional or mental distress and sends a discreet alert to the CHW along with a context aware suggestion to guide a more supportive response.

The goal of Aurion is to reduce missed emotional cues and workload of CHWs so that they can focus more on giving people the care they need. Beyond real-time support, the tool streamlines post-conversation administrative workflows. The tool is designed to reduce post-conversation paperwork for CHWs by about 70% by automatically filling out forms for them.

The UH Mānoa team included:

• Akib Sadmanee (PhD student in and a master’s graduate)
• Quang Loc Lam (PhD student in and a master’s graduate in economics)
• Fahim Yasir ( data systems analyst and a master’s graduate in )

“We wanted to create something that could make a real difference, especially here in �鶹��ý,” Sadmanee said. “Tools like this have the potential to improve care in communities where access and distance can be real challenges.”

The hackathon was held December 5–6, at the UH Mānoa Campus Center, and was part of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Automatic Speech Recognition and Understanding (ASRU) Workshop held December 6 to December 10 at the Hyatt Regency, Waikīkī. The event brought together students, researchers and professionals to develop solutions to real-world challenges in speech and language technology.

The team presented its work during the main ASRU 2025 program verbally in front of judges and also as a poster to the general audience, and received a certificate of achievement.

The University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa took first place and a $3,000 cash prize in an international artificial intelligence (AI) competition, beating out teams from tech companies and global universities.

Seven haumāna (students) from the UH Mānoa ’s ECE (Electrical and Computer Engineering) on large-scale AI won the . The contest drew 59 teams and nearly 200 participants from 42 organizations.

The challenge asked teams to create up to 10,000 high-quality examples to help AI models better understand and reason about images. UH Mānoa’s winning entry stood out not for its size, but for its efficiency. The students used only 1,000 samples—just 10% of the allowed amount—yet outperformed every other team.

“This project pushed us to think creatively about how to get the most out of a tiny amount of data,” team leader Yosub Shin said. “We learned quickly that good ideas matter just as much as computing power, and it was exciting to see our approach stand up against teams from around the world.”

The team’s dataset boosted a widely used open-source model’s accuracy by more than 7%, the highest gain in the competition. It surpassed submissions from industry heavyweights, including a team from Ant Group, the parent company of Alibaba.

Preparing for a fast-growing future

Beyond the recognition, the experience gave students real-world practice in one of the fastest-growing areas of AI: teaching computers how to interpret both language and images. The hands-on training—curating data, testing models, and working within open-source frameworks—prepares them for future roles in fields ranging from robotics to medical imaging.

Members of the team included Shin, Michael Buriek, Boris Sobolev, Pavel Bushuyeu, Vikas Kumar, Haoyang Xu and Samuel Watson.

“Watching the students take ownership of a complex, open-ended challenge like this was remarkable,” ECE Assistant Professor said. “They showed that with curiosity, discipline, and a willingness to experiment, students can make meaningful contributions to the broader AI research community.”

As the top prize winner, the UH Mānoa team will present their work on stage at the in San Diego this December and be listed as co-authors on the competition’s official publication.

�鶹��ý AI Initiative

The ECE 605 course and the students’ participation in the challenge are part of a larger effort Molybog is driving to promote AI in the state, called the (HawAII). The initiative is developing new project-based AI coursework, strengthening internal innovation by supporting student and faculty ventures, and attracting top collaborators from the continental U.S. and abroad through global research challenges. It also includes major investments in UH’s computing infrastructure and early partnerships with local schools to build a strong pipeline of homegrown talent.

A University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa engineering professor has been recognized with an international honor for his decades-long commitment to guiding students.

Professor and Department Chair Wayne A. Shiroma has been selected for the inaugural class of , an international recognition honoring chapter advisors who have guided exemplary programs and fostered sustained student success over many years.

The inaugural class celebrates six advisors who mentor chapter leaders, maintain effective operations, elevate the impact of HKN programs and champion the organization within their campus communities. Inductees demonstrate excellence in mentoring and extracurricular engagement. Shiroma was recognized at the ��������‑H���� Student Leadership Conference in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on November 8.

“It’s an incredible honor to be recognized alongside so many dedicated advisors,” Shiroma said. “The credit goes to our students—they set the standard for excellence year after year. Supporting their growth as engineers and leaders has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career, and I’m grateful to help foster a community where they can thrive.”

Since 1999, Shiroma has served as faculty advisor to the ��������‑H���� Delta Omega Chapter at UH Mānoa, which has earned the ��������‑H���� Outstanding Chapter Award every year since the 2005–06 academic year. Under his mentorship, four graduating seniors have received the ��������‑H���� Alton B. Zerby and Carl T. Koerner Outstanding Student Award, among the highest honors for undergraduate electrical and computer engineering students.

Shiroma earned his BS degree from UH Mānoa, MEng from Cornell University and PhD from the University of Colorado Boulder, all in electrical engineering. He joined UH Mānoa in 1996.

—By Justin Scott

Future engineers are getting a firsthand look at �鶹��ý’s growing microelectronics field, as the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa wrapped up its first internship cycle tied to a multi-million-dollar national innovation hub.

The internship experience was part of the , which received $15.3 million in federal funding as part of a larger $238 million U.S. Department of Defense initiative to strengthen U.S. leadership in advanced computer chip design and production. UH is part of the Northwest AI Hub along with several institutions, including Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley.

Five undergraduate students participated in the inaugural internship at UH Mānoa, including three undergraduates who transferred from a UH community college. Their 10-week long experience included research and lectures on chip design and fabrication, with projects ranging from organic light-emitting diodes to pressure sensors. Students also became familiar with cleanroom practices and equipment, laying the foundation for continued work this fall.

Internship participant Jenny Brown, an major, was also selected to travel to the University of Washington for four days to observe a cleanroom internship there. The visit provided insight into how other partner institutions run their programs and offered ideas that UH Mānoa can adapt for the next cohort, expected to expand in 2026.

“Working in UH’s microelectronics internship and visiting the cleanroom program at the University of Washington gave me a full perspective on how advanced chip design programs operate,” Brown said. “It showed me the growth and value of investing in �鶹��ý‘s future. We have incredible, growing talent here, and I’m eager to bring back the inspired ideas and strategies to the next student cohort.”

Connecting with employers

As part of their experience, students took part in site visits to Nalu Scientific and the Naval Information Warfare Center, building connections with local employers. Program leaders said such visits are critical for showing students career opportunities in �鶹��ý and supporting efforts to retain technical talent in the state.

“This first internship cycle showed how powerful hands-on training can be for our students,” Professor Jeffrey Weldon said. “They not only gained technical skills, but also built connections with local employers that will help strengthen �鶹��ý’s high-tech workforce.”

UH Mānoa’s role in the $15.3 million project emphasizes both workforce training and industry engagement, bridging research expertise with practical experience. With the first round of internships completed, UH leaders plan to scale the program to reach more students in future years.

The University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� continues to solidify its status as a leading research institution, ranking No. 92 among the top 660 research universities in the U.S. and No. 68 among the top 420 public universities. This is according to the latest , which measures research and development (R&D) expenditures across various disciplines and serves as the primary source for R&D data in U.S. higher education.

• Related UH News story: UH ����ԴDz� among nation’s best in latest research rankings, February 5, 2024

Top-performing disciplines

UH ����ԴDz� demonstrated research excellence across a range of critical fields, with several disciplines maintaining their place in the top 10% nationally for fiscal year (FY) 2023:

• Ocean sciences and marine sciences: No. 7 out of 414 (top 2%)
• Astronomy and astrophysics: No. 15 out of 517 (top 3%)
• Geological and earth sciences: No. 13 out of 414 (top 3%)
• Computer and information sciences: No. 39 out of 500 (top 8%)
• Communication and communications technologies: No. 37 out of 474 (top 8%, ranked in top 10% for the first time)
• Atmospheric science and meteorology: No. 41 out of 414 (top 10%)

UH ����ԴDz� also excelled in agricultural sciences (No. 40 out of 343, top 12%) and electrical, electronic, and communications engineering (No. 49 out of 403, top 12%).

“Our continued presence among the nation’s top research universities reaffirms the strength and consistency of our research programs at UH ����ԴDz�,” said Interim Vice Provost for Research and Scholarship Christopher Sabine. “These rankings are a testament to our faculty and researchers and proof of our commitment to innovative research and scholarship to address challenges here in �鶹��ý and beyond.”

Examples of UH ����ԴDz� projects that attracted significant funding, include:

• The �鶹��ý Ocean Time-series (HOT) established in 1988 that studies climate and environmental changes in the North Pacific. After nearly 350 expeditions to the exact same location north of �鶹��ý dubbed station ALOHA, the 35-year time-series record is still going strong. Read more on UH News.
• A UH telescope on Maunakea that will support NASA’s $19.5 million Landolt Space Mission by helping calibrate telescopes with an artificial “star” satellite and creating new star brightness catalogs. Read more on UH News.
• Earth scientists studying the chemical evolution of the Hawaiian hotspot and Kīlauea’s volcanic cycles, revealing the submarine Hawaiian volcano Kamaʻehuakanaloa has erupted at least five times in the last 150 years. Read more on UH News.

Record-breaking extramural funding

UH ����ԴDz� received a record $464.9 million in extramural awards in fiscal year 2023-2024, leading the way in the UH 10-campus system’s record-breaking $615.7 million that fiscal year, surpassing the previous year’s record by $99.8 million.

Extramural funding, which comes from external sources, mainly the federal government, supports research and training initiatives by university faculty and staff. This marks the third consecutive year UH has exceeded half a billion dollars in funding.

National research trends

The HERD survey revealed an 11.2% increase in national academic R&D spending in FY 2023, the largest growth rate in two decades. Total U.S. academic R&D expenditures reached $108.8 billion, a $11.0 billion increase from FY 2022.

“UH ����ԴDz�’s performance aligns with this upward trend, further emphasizing its role as a key contributor to the national research landscape,” said UH ����ԴDz� Provost Michael Bruno.

More than 20 students in seven teams faced off in a robotics competition at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�, putting months of preparation to the test as their autonomous robots attempted to navigate a complex obstacle course.

The competition, the final project for the ’s Fundamentals of Robotics and Cyberphysical Systems course, challenged students to design and program robots capable of independently following a black line through a winding track.

“We’re pushing the students right to the edge, but keeping it positive at the same time,” said Assistant Professor Daniel Drew, who oversees the course.

Students spent weeks mastering mobility, perception and intelligent systems, with many facing repeated setbacks before achieving success. The competition showcased a range of results, with some robots smoothly tracking the line while others struggled to maintain course.

For computer science major Kai Garcia, the course offered rare hands-on experience with hardware components.

“This class was a great introduction to something I’ve never done before,” Garcia said.

Teams added personal touches to their robots through creative decorations, bringing personality to their technical projects. The competition represented more than just technical achievement, highlighting the students’ growth in problem-solving and engineering skills throughout the semester.

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Two students helped to bring internet connectivity to underserved homestead families on Molokaʻi, addressing a critical gap in digital access that has long hindered residents.

Andrew Alling, a junior student in the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�’s , and Kainalu Seales, a senior at Kamehameha Schools Kapālama, partnered on a project to install Starlink satellite internet systems for multiple families across some of the island’s homestead lots. The initiative is part of a broader effort to provide basic infrastructure to residents who previously had no electricity or internet connection.

“I feel like I’m paying back a debt because this community has provided so much for me.” — Kainalu Seales

“There are residents living on appropriated land that do not currently have access to electricity or internet,” Alling explained.

On November 23, the pair traveled to Molokaʻi and helped provide internet access for nearly 50 residents from several families. For Seales, the project holds personal significance. Growing up on Molokaʻi, he experienced the community’s collaborative spirit of sharing resources, from hunting to fishing.

“I feel like I’m paying back a debt because this community has provided so much for me,” he said.

Connectivity, educational opportunities

The project’s impact extends beyond immediate internet access. Alling emphasized the educational opportunities this connectivity will create, particularly for the island’s youth.

“Getting the children connected to the internet is going to unlock a lot of doors for opportunities, particularly education,” he noted, highlighting how access to online resources can teach valuable skills.

Seales, who participated in the this year, reflected on his own journey, acknowledging that he had to leave Molokaʻi to access opportunities.

“I had to leave Molokaʻi to get these opportunities,” he said. “It’s sad that kids on Molokaʻi wouldn’t have been given these opportunities if they stayed.”

The pair received $2,000 in funding for the project through the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Microwave Theory and Technology Society UH ����ԴDz� chapter. They stressed that meaningful change doesn’t require extraordinary resources or expertise.

“You can be a regular person and make a difference,” Seales said. “It just takes inspiration and knowing to actually go out and do something.”

The internet installation is just one part of a larger micro-grid project aimed at providing solar and wind energy to Molokaʻi’s homestead communities. The students plan to continue their work, with another visit to the island scheduled in the coming months.

Honolulu became the epicenter of innovation in nano and molecular medicine in December, as the 17th (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers International Conference on Nano/Molecular Medicine and Engineering) welcomed top scientists, engineers and clinicians from around the world.

The conference, hosted by the University of �鶹��ý and sponsored by the IEEE Nanotechnology Council, featured groundbreaking research in areas such as cancer immunotherapy, biomedical sensors and single-cell manipulation—work poised to transform modern medicine.

The event featured keynote talks from leaders in the field, such as UH ����ԴDz� Professor Olga Boricć-Lubecke, with her research on physiological radar for biomedical monitoring. Other sessions discussed the latest developments in micro/nano-enabled sensors for smart healthcare, reflecting the conference’s focus on cutting-edge translational research.

Ten UH faculty members presented their findings, a significant achievement for the institution. UH Professor Wayne Shiroma noted, “That ten UH engineering faculty are presenting papers at this premier conference demonstrates how UH is at the forefront in this field.”

The conference also provided invaluable opportunities for more than 20 UH students. UH Professor and general chair of the conference, Aaron Ohta, emphasized the significance of their involvement.

“The benefit to them is not only learning about the topical research, but also networking with field experts in their own backyard,” Ohta said. “This exposure to global leaders in nano and molecular medicine is expected to inspire �鶹��ý’s next generation of researchers and innovators.”

In addition to advancing research, the conference has brought tangible benefits to �鶹��ý. More than 130 researchers and their families traveled to the islands, boosting local businesses and demonstrating the state’s ability to provide an ideal setting for researchers looking to collaborate. Ohta highlighted the broader impact of the event, saying, “This conference brings together engineers and biologists with the goal of improving biomedical research and healthcare. Everyone wants to be healthier, with increased access to high-quality medical care, and these researchers are working towards creating that reality.”

From space robotics to Formula One race cars, approximately 40 students from King Intermediate School in ����Ա�ʻ�dz��, experienced a day of hands-on STEM learning at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� on November 21.

“Experiences like this can spark a lifelong interest in science and engineering at exactly the age when students are beginning to explore career paths,” said College of Engineering Dean Brennon Morioka. “By connecting with local middle school students, we’re building a local pipeline of future engineers who can one day use their skills to benefit �鶹��ý and beyond.”

The middle school students participated in engineering presentations and toured specialized laboratory facilities, including the Robotic Space Exploration laboratory, where students learned about robots for space applications, and the machine shop, where they observed advanced manufacturing equipment. The Society of Automotive Engineers demonstrated practical applications of engineering principles through automotive design projects.

“I think engineering is really cool, like it all seems so fun to do but also so interesting to learn about,” said Lillyana Pangan, a King Intermediate 7th grader. “I really thought that some of the machines they use were awesome and I kinda want to become an engineer.”

Gabrielle Lestino, a King Intermediate 8th grader added, “I’m excited because I get to learn about these new things here about building and science.”

Students from UH ����ԴDz�’s College of Engineering also traveled to King Intermediate in October to meet with the students. It was one of more than a dozen events with schools just in the fall 2024 semester, which included visits with Kaimukī Middle, Leilehua High, Kaiser High, Kanoelani Elementary, Liholiho Elementary, Kailua High, Radford High and Waipahu Intermediate.

These events are part of the College of Engineering’s ongoing efforts to increase STEM engagement among students from underrepresented backgrounds in �鶹��ý. The program aims to create pathways for local students to pursue engineering education and careers.

“It’s really important to want the younger generation to be excited to become engineers,” said Chloe Sabado, a UH ����ԴDz� senior in and an . “I think to be able to convince them and show them that engineering has so many applications and we’re actually able to help people as well, I think it’s just very fulfilling to see that they would want to pursue it later on.”

Researchers at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� have unveiled a new technique that could make the manufacture of wearable health sensors more accessible and affordable.

Wearable sensors are crucial in continuously monitoring vital signs and other health indicators, providing real-time health insights that enable proactive and personalized medical care. However, producing these devices often requires specialized facilities and technical expertise, limiting their accessibility and widespread adoption.

The team, led by Assistant Professor in the () and (), introduced a low-cost, stencil-based method for producing sensors made from laser-induced graphene (LIG), a key material used in wearable sensing platforms.

“This advancement allows us to create high-performance wearable sensors with greater precision and at a lower cost,” said Ray. “By using a simple metal stencil during the laser patterning process, we’ve overcome a key limitation of the traditional fabrication process, which opens up new possibilities for sensor design and functionality.”

By employing commercially available metal stencils, the UH ����ԴDz� team was able to reduce the minimum feature size from about 120 micrometers to just 45 micrometers. This allows for the creation of more complex sensor designs, such as fine-line microarray electrodes, which were previously difficult to achieve with standard laser processing.

“We demonstrated the practicality of our method by fabricating temperature sensors and multi-electrode electrochemical sensors,” Ray explained. “These devices exhibited enhanced performance, which we attribute to the improved resolution and quality of the graphene patterns.”

The study was as part of the journal’s highlight series “Young Scientists in the Americas.”

The lead author of the study was Kaylee M. Clark, with co-authors Deylen T. Nekoba and Kian Laʻi Viernes from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Jie Zhou from the .

This innovation builds upon Ray’s previous work on the “sweatainer,” a 3D-printed wearable sweat sensor that collects and analyzes sweat to provide insights into various health conditions such as dehydration, fatigue, and serious illnesses like diabetes. The s-LIG method further enhances the potential for accessible health monitoring technologies by enabling scalable fabrication of high-performance sensors without reliance on traditional, resource-intensive fabrication pathways.

• Related UH News story: Breakthrough for sweat: health monitoring device from UH researchers, May 3, 2023

An international engineering award given to a faculty member who has made a lasting impact on both the educational experience and professional performance of their students was presented to University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� Professor Boris Murmann.

Murmann accepted the award on September 10 from the at TECHCON 2024 in Austin, Texas.

“I am deeply honored by this recognition and it came as a big surprise,” Murmann said. “The nomination came from a group of former students and junior faculty, which makes it even more gratifying and motivating for my future endeavors in semiconductor mentorship.”

• Related UH News story: UH professor aims to develop microchips for future, diversify economy, March 25, 2024

An internationally renowned expert in microchip and semiconductor development, Murmann wants to make the once secretive field of chip design more publicly available. He also wants to connect with leaders in the industry to help establish a pipeline to help get UH ����ԴDz� graduates into well-paying and impactful jobs in �鶹��ý.

Over his career, Murmann has guided more than 50 PhD students through the often-difficult path to graduation, with many going on to distinguished careers. Since 2004, he has been a trusted consultant to Silicon Valley companies, lending his expertise in circuit design to shape products that have become integral to daily life, from smartphones to edge devices.

Prior to joining UH, Murmann spent 20 years as an assistant, associate and full professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at Stanford University.

For nearly a year, University of �鶹��ý professors Olga Borić-Lubecke and Victor M. Lubecke traded Oʻahu—a place they have called home for more than two decades—for Europe to pursue their shared passion for engineering research. The husband-and-wife team, both professors at UH ����ԴDz�, found themselves on an unexpected journey that stretched more than three months beyond their initial Fulbright scholarships.

Aside from their programs in Spain (Borić-Lubecke) and Serbia (Lubecke), the couple received numerous speaking invitations from colleagues across Europe. As they hopped from country to country—including Bulgaria, Austria, Slovenia, Portugal and Morocco—giving talks and forging new collaborations, the couple was surprised to find their work preceded them.

“We found out that we’re kind of famous,” Borić-Lubecke said with a sly smile. “At most of these universities, people knew who we were and they would come to us and tell us, ‘Oh, we have been reading your papers.’”

While the extended absence from �鶹��ý brought moments of homesickness, the Lubeckes found themselves swept up in the excitement of sharing their research and building international connections.

Improving health—analysis and environment

The offers academics, artists and professionals in the U.S. grants to lecture, conduct research or participate in seminars abroad, fostering international collaboration and cultural exchange.

Lubecke’s program took him to the University of Niš in Serbia from August to December 2023. His project, “Robust Physiological Radar,” focused on improving techniques to analyze radio waves scattered by the human body to measure breathing, heart rate and other health indicators.

Borić-Lubecke’s scholarship, from January to May 2024, brought her to the Universidad de Málaga in Spain. Her project, “Wireless Physiological Sensing for Smart Infrastructure Applications,” explored using physiological measurements to adjust indoor environments for comfort, learning and healing.

Both professors hope to bring insights from their experiences back to UH ����ԴDz�. Borić-Lubecke has worked on a vertically integrated project with the UH Office of Sustainability for several years in energy and sustainability, and hopes to bring some of her findings to the project.

“This is a concept that is emerging more on our campus,” Borić-Lubecke said. “I think so far, we have been more concerned about energy aspects. But I think that this concept of well-being and how we can adjust the environment to make our students more productive and learn more effectively has a lot of potential.”

Lessons learned

The husband-and-wife team coordinated their scholarships to spend the entire academic year together, switching locations midway through.

“We applied for scholarships in different countries and opposite semesters,” Lubecke explained. “It worked out nicely.”

Both professors emphasized the value of the Fulbright experience for fostering international understanding and collaboration.

“I would highly recommend this sort of experience,” Borić-Lubecke said. “It is really suitable for a wide range of students and scholars.”

The extended time abroad also provided an opportunity for reflection.

“We learned to better appreciate things that we took for granted in �鶹��ý,” Lubecke said. “But also we saw some nice things and how things are done nicely in other places.”

—By Marc Arakaki

Seven students from the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� are headed to the U.S. continent to participate in an international drone competition.

The 22nd annual will be held at St. Mary’s County Regional Airport in Maryland from June 25 to 27. The competition has two elements: the design and flight readiness presentation, and the mission demonstration. The presentation portion assesses a team’s UAS design and the team’s testing and preparedness, and the demonstration portion simulates a mission (consisting of autonomous flight, obstacle avoidance, object detection and airdrop).

More than 50 teams entered, and 36 qualified for the competition, including teams from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey, India, Czech Republic, Norway, Italy, Canada and the U.S.

This is the fifth year the UH Drone Technologies team is participating. Its best finish was 6th in 2017 (3rd among U.S. teams), and the team aims to place higher this year.

Leiolani Malagon Bracamontes Rodriguez, a senior major, is the program manager for the 36-student team and is one of the seven students traveling to the competition.

“Just because we’re not from the mainland or we’re not from a bigger state, doesn’t mean that we don’t have brilliant minds here at UH,” Bracamontes Rodriguez said. “Being able to go and represent UH ����ԴDz� and �鶹��ý in general—because we’re the only one from �鶹��ý going—it’s a great opportunity and we’re very fortunate.”

Carl Domingo, a spring 2024 graduate who is also on the traveling team, will begin working as a nuclear engineer at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard following the competition.

“A lot of people should be proud of what we do,” Domingo said. “We don’t just build drones just for fun. There are some real-world applications of what we do.”

Importance of drones

UAS, commonly known as drones, contribute to efficiency, safety and innovation across various sectors, including agriculture, construction, infrastructure inspection, emergency response, environmental monitoring, delivery services and more, Shiroma said.

“Unmanned aerial systems have been increasingly important,” said Wayne Shiroma, the team’s advisor and chair and professor. “Amazon has used them for package delivery. NASA is currently using UAS’s for wildfire detection. Essentially any time where it would be cheaper or safer to send an unmanned aerial system instead of a human, that’s where these UAS’s could come into play.”

Preparing students for careers

Shiroma said that participating in the competition will help students gain practical experience, problem-solving skills, and exposure to cutting-edge technology, preparing them for future careers in the rapidly evolving field of drone technology.

“It’s more than just the engineering, which itself is very complicated, because of the interdisciplinary nature of the project,” Shiroma said. “The students also have to raise their own finances, they have design review meetings, they interact with the sponsors of the project, so, all in all, it’s a fantastic opportunity for them to get a foothold to what they’re going to be experiencing out in the industry.”

—By Marc Arakaki

Vibhu Vivek, a pioneer in the field of life sciences and engineering, leveraged the academic and research foundations he established at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� to launch a pair of companies in the life sciences industry.

His unexpected journey started when he was a graduate student from 1999–2000 in the and he made a mistake working with ceramics in the Physical Electronics Lab. Vivek accidentally cracked a wafer, a thin slice of piezo ceramic material that generates ultrasonic waves when excited with radio frequency energy, and discovered that the crack propagated in a way that it segmented the electrodes resulting in a unique ultrasonic signature. This distinct pattern or characteristics of ultrasonic energy possessed very high levels of lateral ultrasonic waves when driven by high frequency radio frequency waves. When this ultrasonic energy was transmitted into fluids, it resulted in highly localized microscale mixing and fluid motion. This “mistake” became the topic of his thesis and much more.

“It’s all about serendipitous discoveries in the lab, simply by staying attentive, open-minded, and acknowledging the vastness of the unknown, but still continuing to progress forward fueled by your beliefs in yourself and innovate in every step along the way,” Vivek said. “But it is important to recognize that innovations happen in small ways.”

Vivek became the president and chief technology officer for Microsonic Systems, Inc. and used what he discovered at UH to create an award-winning product called the HENDRIX SM100 Ultrasonic Fluid Processor, which utilized high-frequency ultrasonic waves to mix, solubilize and homogenize fluids with high precision for various industrial and research applications. The fluids could be biological (blood, plasma and cell suspensions), pharmaceutical (drug formulations and vaccine suspensions), industrial (oils, lubricants and solvents) and more.

His company sold systems to top-tier pharmaceutical companies, such as Merck, Pfizer, Novartis and Astrazeneca. This product helped with the discovery of new drug formulations and the product was named a winner of the 48th Annual R&D 100 Awards (Oscars of innovation) in 2010. Vivek also received multiple grants awarded by the National Institutes of Health and NASA to further expand this technology.

In 2017, Vivek founded and became the chief technology officer for Cellsonics Inc., a life sciences technology company that has re-engineered single cell sample preparation in the field of genomics, cancer research and personalized medicine by dissociating live single cells from tissue samples using the ultrasound technology invented at UH.

Forming the foundations at UH

A native of India, Vivek graduated with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Jamia Millia Islamia, and was pursuing his master’s degree in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi before transferring to UH ����ԴDz�.

“The Department of Electrical Engineering was well known for the work they did, especially in the Physical Electronics Lab during the early days of the cold war where a lot of semiconductor technology was developed funded by the Department of Defense,” Vivek said. “There was always a potential for me to innovate and create new ideas in the department.”

He graduated in 2000 with his master’s in electrical engineering and was a research associate in the Physical Electronics Lab, before leaving for the U.S. continent to pursue work opportunities. Vivek credits UH ����ԴDz� with helping him get his start in physical electronics, which includes nanotechnology, Micro Electro Mechanical Systems, semiconductors and more.

“My undergrad expertise was in robotics and electrical power engineering dealing with large machines. Going from really large, high voltage and big machines to working on small semiconductor electronics enabled me to think differently when compared to a conventional electronics engineer,” Vivek said.

Because of that experience at UH ����ԴDz�, he said, “That was foundational in pretty much everything I do today. In order for somebody to continuously innovate and be successful, one should not only have deep knowledge in one domain but should have the ability to apply it on other domains.”

Vivek explained that despite lacking formal education in life sciences, he primarily works in that field. Originally trained as an electrical engineer, he found himself immersed in molecular biology and biochemical processes. For current and future UH engineering students, Vivek’s advice is to always try to go out of your comfort zone and seek the unknown. He believes that stepping into unfamiliar territory creates opportunities for fusion and ultimately fosters innovation.

“Typically, individuals with an engineering background tend to pursue careers in engineering. However, by venturing beyond one’s comfort zone and embracing new domains such as biology or economics, one can not only utilize their engineering skills but also cultivate new ones,” Vivek said.