University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa Professor Emeritus of and pioneering marine microbiologist , was as a Fellow of the European Academy of Microbiology. The recognition celebrates outstanding scientific achievement and leadership in microbiology.

DeLong is considered a trailblazer in the field of metagenomics—the study of all genetic material from all organisms in a particular environment—whose research has transformed understanding of the ocean’s microbial life. His work advanced innovative gene cloning and sequencing, allowing scientists to study complex marine microbial communities and their role in the environment without the use of traditional microbial cultures.

“I was thrilled to hear the news about Ed’s election to the European Academy of Microbiology, a well-earned honor,” said David Karl, UH Mānoa oceanography professor,DeLong’s long-time colleague and co-director of both the Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education and the . “Ed and other newly elected members represent the second golden age of microbiology, one centered on microbial oceanography and ecology.”

Scientific breakthroughs

Early in DeLong’s career, he used methodologies developed by his postdoctoral research advisor Norm Pace to identify microbes “in the wild.” Together they discovered two new lineages of a major microbial group called Archaea (previously not thought to live in seawater) were abundant everywhere—from in the Pacific Ocean to Antarctica, and from the sea surface to the seafloor.

Later, new methods that DeLong’s group adapted from the Human Genome project to study microbial ecology led to the discovery that most bacteria in the upper ocean can use sunlight to generate biochemical energy using proteins called opsins. This finding revealed a widespread, previously unknown solar energy-gathering mechanism in the ocean, with significant implications for the global carbon and energy cycles.

“To be recognized and honored by world-renowned microbiologists of the European Union was unexpected, and very humbling,” DeLong said. “I believe that scientific disciplines like microbiology should have no geographic or cultural boundaries—yet in today’s political landscape there are increasing challenges to free and open international collaborations. To me, this makes recognition by the European Academy of Microbiology all the more potent of an honor.”

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A health tech startup improving how community health workers (CHW) document client visits took the $2,000 first place prize in the second annual , hosted by the (PACE) in the University of �鶹��ý at ��ā�ԴDz�’s . The startup was one of 12 interdisciplinary teams made up of UH Mānoa students that competed in the two-week challenge.

The competition was co-hosted by , a software platform led by a Shidler and PACE alumnus, that empowers community-based organizations to address the social drivers of health. It highlighted PACE’s mission to bridge academic learning with practical, work-based problem-solving.

“Innovate 808 shows how powerful interdisciplinary learning can be when we connect students to real community partners,” PACE Executive Director Sandra Fujiyama said. “The ideas generated this year show that innovation truly thrives in collaboration.”

Interdisciplinary collaboration

The students in this year’s challenge represented 10 UH Mānoa colleges and schools. The result was a dynamic combination of technical, social and entrepreneurial ideas to support �鶹��ý’s community health workforce.

The winning team, Pear Lens, created a photo-based note capture and conversion tool that allows CHW to document client interactions more efficiently while maintaining data privacy. The team came together as four solo applicants met for the first time during the competition: Justin Paul Alejo (business), Jennifer Kawata (public administration), Biplav Paudel (business) and Ivy Vo (business).

“The competition brought together a diverse team of complete strangers to solve a complex challenge, but we quickly found our rhythm and collaborated seamlessly to propose a simple yet powerful idea,” Kawata said.

Kawehi Kea-Scott, a Pear Suite judge who used to work as a CHW, commended the team for “meeting CHWs where they are” by respecting existing workflows while introducing low-friction technology. “The fact that these students built a fully functioning prototype in just two weeks is remarkable,” Kea-Scott said.

Initially the competition was planned as a winner-takes-all prize structure, but the judges were so impressed by the presentations that three runner-up prizes were added. Each student from the following three teams won $350.

• Jayden Ronel Villanueva, Shannon Tai and Jaylyn-Kate Balon developed a tiered education and certification pathway with AI-generated feedback and mentoring for aspiring CHWs.
• Tate Goodman, Mau Tsujimura, Micah Tajiri and Lenox Covington created a machine-learning workflow tool that helps CHWs select the most effective resources for their clients.
• Logan Lee, Tristan Ta and Yeunggyun Kwon designed a referral platform that connects CHWs and clients based on shared experience and training, fostering stronger engagement.

Takeda invited the winning teams to present their solutions to his executive team and encouraged all participants to consider internships and employment at Pear Suite, as he shared that Pear Suite will be continuing its nationwide expansion after he recently raised $7.6 million in funding.

“Just try it, go out there and find problems to solve,” Takeda said. “Being able to test ideas, try new things and see what the feedback is from your customers is a great way to learn and grow.”

Teams were also mentored by Jeff Hui, PACE‘s entrepreneur in residence, who advised students to “take advantage of these real world experiences. These are the opportunities that open doors to new career paths and set you apart when you are interviewing for a job.”

A new species of bacteria has been discovered off the coast of Oʻahu, shedding light on how unseen microbial life connects �鶹��ý’s land and sea ecosystems.

Researchers at the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa identified Caulobacter inopinatus, a previously unknown species of bacteria found in seawater collected near a beach on Oʻahu’s south shore. The finding——was unexpected because all other known species in the Caulobacter genus (a scientific group that includes closely related species) are from freshwater or soil environments, not the ocean.

The discovery, made during a UH Mānoa undergraduate marine microbiology class, began as a routine demonstration on how to grow bacteria from seawater samples. When one colony growing on a Petri dish looked different from all the other colonies, further testing confirmed it was something entirely new.

From land to sea

Scientists found that C. inopinatus cannot survive in salt concentrations typical of seawater, despite being isolated from it. This paradox led researchers to investigate how it ended up in the ocean. They determined it was likely transported from land by submarine groundwater discharge—the natural movement of fresh groundwater through the seabed into the sea. These discharges are known to carry nutrients and pollutants into nearshore waters; in this case, they may also move land-based microorganisms. Microbial exchanges are important because bacteria play critical roles in nutrient cycling, water quality and coastal ecosystem health.

“Understanding how microbes move between land and sea helps scientists track the flow of nutrients and contaminants that can affect coastal water quality, fisheries and coral reef health—issues that directly impact �鶹��ý’s communities and economy,” said study co-author and UH Mānoa Professor Stuart Donachie. “Discoveries like C. inopinatus help us better trace how land-based activities and natural processes influence marine environments at a microscopic level.”

The species name, inopinatus, comes from the Latin word for “unexpected,” reflecting both the chance nature of its discovery and its surprising characteristics.

Collaborative work

The research was part of ongoing microbial diversity studies led by Donachie. Undergraduate researchers Austin Dubord and Mia Sadones contributed to the project through UH ��ā�ԴDz�’s , which supports student-led research and creative work. Collaborators included UH Mānoa faculty Michael Norris and Jennifer Saito, graduate students Chiyoko Onouye and Thi Hai Au La, and University of Mississippi Assistant Professor and UH Mānoa PhD graduate Rebecca Prescott.

The study is dedicated to the late UH Mānoa Earth Sciences Professor Craig Glenn (1954–2024), whose pioneering research on submarine groundwater discharge in �鶹��ý helped illuminate how freshwater and seawater interact along island coastlines, and to former UH undergraduate student Justin Bukunt (1983–2011), whose early research on groundwater discharge at Kawaikui Beach Park informed this discovery. Their contributions continue to inspire new generations of scientists exploring �鶹��ý’s unique coastal environments.

The School of Life Sciences is housed in UH ��ā�ԴDz�’s .

To address gaps in ocean data and modeling efforts and better understand ocean carbon, oxygen and heat, oceanographers at the University of �鶹��ý Mānoa were awarded $4.5 million from the nonprofit Schmidt Sciences. They are team members on two of five projects by and the to join the (OBVI).

The five projects will form the inaugural membership of OBVI, which has committed $45 million over the next five years. The research will address the interlinked questions of how rapidly the ocean is gaining heat and carbon while losing oxygen, and the resilience of marine ecosystems in a rapidly warming world.

“This was a competitive search for the best science on the planet and oceanographers at the UH Mānoa came to play!” said Dave Karl, director of the in SOEST and member of the OBVI advisory board.

SUBSEA project $3.8M

The SUBSEA project will examine how marine organisms in the ocean’s twilight zone—a dim layer roughly 200–500 feet below the ocean’s surface—alter the absorption and circulation of carbon dioxide in ocean gyres (large, circular currents) from the North Pacific to the South Atlantic.

“Oceanographers are having a tough time predicting how life in ocean gyres will respond to climate change, but we know nutrients will play a deciding role,” said Nick Hawco, assistant professor of oceanography and UH Mānoa project lead. “Compared to the gyres in the Southern hemisphere, the North Pacific receives a larger supply of nutrients from the atmosphere. This is an amazing opportunity to compare and contrast how the ocean gyres adjust to changes in nutrient supply that we might see in the future.”

The project team includes UH Mānoa Professor of oceanography Angelicque White, and Benedetto Barone, a UH research oceanographer.

InMOS project $700K

Oceans help mitigate climate change by absorbing heat and carbon, but are experiencing a triple threat from warming, decreasing oxygen, and increasing acidification that may cause harm to marine ecosystems. The second project, InMOS will use artificial intelligence and machine learning to develop estimates of sources and sinks of ocean heat, carbon and oxygen for the past 35 years. Project members aim to both reduce uncertainties in these budgets and understand the physical and biogeochemical processes affecting these interlinked cycles.

Seth Bushinsky, UH Mānoa assistant professor of oceanography and InMOS project team member will lead the effort to develop new marine observational products based on large data sets of ocean carbon, oxygen and nutrient measurements.

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–By Marcie Grabowski

A national center of excellence at the is doing much more than groundbreaking biomedical research. The (ICEMHH) is building infrastructure and capacity to better �鶹��ý’s human, environmental and economic health.

“We’re designated a center of excellence for microbiome research. It means that people are really looking to �鶹��ý to make the next vanguard discoveries in this field,” said Principal Investigator Anthony Amend, a professor with the . “We’re making incredible discoveries about microbiomes—symbiotic microbes, things like bacteria, fungi, viruses that are inside living hosts, including us—and this underpins life on Earth as we know it.”

Utilizing two grants from the National Institutes of Health (COBRE) totaling more than $21 million, ICEMHH has also developed three state-of-the-art “cores”—an insectary, a microbial genomics laboratory and a microscopy imaging center—for cross-disciplinary public impact research beyond how microbiomes impact human health.

Fruit flies, mosquitos, related diseases

The Insectary for Scientific Training and Advances in Research or InSTAR promotes research on insect microbiomes (the microorganisms of a particular site or habitat) and advanced research in medical entomology (study of insects). It offers insect-rearing equipment and services, a collaborative lab and rearing space, insect containment, and other training and insect-management services.

Amend said, “Users of this core include some of our researchers here at the university and state agencies that are trying to understand disease—how it spreads in our state and how to mitigate those risks.”

Some of those mosquito-carried diseases include zika, dengue fever and malaria.

DNA sequencing, genetic analysis

The Microbial Genomics and Analytical Laboratory or MGAL houses the necessary instrumentation to provide a wide variety of services, such as high-throughput DNA/RNA extractions (to examine molecules that make up our genomes, and to generate “barcodes” for identifying microbes), amplicon library preparation (a highly targeted approach that enables researchers to analyze genetic variation in specific genomic regions), natural product and small molecule analysis, and culturing and storage of microbial strains.

“What this core does is enable somebody to come in with a sample of an animal or a soil sample or any sort of environmental sample. They can bring it to the core, drop it off and in a matter of weeks come out with a list and a figure of all of the microbes and their genomes that are within that sample,” Amend said. “This has really revolutionized our ability to determine ecological processes that are happening on microscales.”

Photons, electrons, more in high resolution

The Microscopy Imaging Center for Research through Observation or MICRO provides researchers with state-of-the-art instrumentation, training and services for high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, optical, fluorescence, laser scanning confocal microscopy and image analysis.

“You can look at photons. You can look at electrons—all these different tools to study microbes in their host environments,” Amend said.

The three research cores have already attracted a wide variety of users.

“We host researchers from all over the world, who come to learn about microbes, to use our facilities and to take that knowledge back to their countries, to develop their own expertise,” Amend said.

At the other end of the spectrum, there was the gentleman who walked in off the street and wanted to know which microbes were in his sourdough starter—which he thought made the most delicious bread and helped to keep his skin clear. In a matter of weeks the MGAL facility had a list of all the beneficial bacteria and yeasts contained in that flour and water sample.

Sustaining excellence

COBRE grants are awarded in three sequential five-year phases.

• Phase 1 awards build capacity in an area of biomedical research through the establishment of a center of excellence that helps develop a critical mass of investigators who are able to compete effectively for independent research funding and improve infrastructure in the center’s research area. Researchers in UH’s Phase 1 $10.4-million grant generated almost $22 million in extramural funding.
• Phase 2 awards strengthen successful COBRE Phase 1 centers through continued development of investigators to compete effectively for independent research, pilot project funding and further improvements to research infrastructure at the institution. Improving the three research cores is a focus of UH’s $10.7-million Phase 2 grant.
• Phase 3 awards provide support for maintaining research cores developed during Phases 1 and 2 to sustain a collaborative, multidisciplinary research environment with pilot project programs, mentoring and training components.

�鶹��ýwill be applying for a Phase 3 award to sustain its world-class microbiome research and three research cores. According to Amend, the center is accelerating many kinds of projects that people care about.

He said, “We hope that by launching this center of excellence and by maintaining these three cores, it puts �鶹��ý at the forefront of this research where we can make these discoveries to promote our own livelihoods, economic opportunities and sustainability going into the future.”

—by Kelli Abe Trifonovitch

Some people become scientists. For Assistant Professor Kiana Frank of the (PBRC) at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�, it was evident early on in her childhood that she was born a scientist.

As an inquisitive 6-year-old growing up in Kailua, Frank listened to her great grandmother’s story about the lepo ʻai ʻia (edible mud) in the nearby Kawainui Marsh. According to the legend, the mud was eaten by King Kamehameha the Great’s warriors after the fierce Battle of Nuʻuanu, and Frank was told it to be similar in taste to her favorite food, paʻiʻai (pounded taro). However, there was a catch—to gather the mud, one had to maintain absolute silence.

While conducting her first silent expedition—eagerly tasting all the different colors and textures of mud in the marsh (that were not delicious)—she refined her kilo (observational skills), and developed a deep sense of ecological inquiry. While she did not find the magical mud, Frank discovered something more. Her calling as a scientist, and one who would later become one of �鶹��ý’s leading experts in environmental microbes and their role in sustaining healthy ecosystems.

“I did not become a scientist, I was born a scientist because my kūpuna (ancestors) before me were natural scientists,” Frank said. “For me, science is how I connect to and better understand the places I love. Science is my tool to mālama ʻ�徱�Բ� (protect, care for the land).”

One of these areas is Kawainui. Frank vividly recalls an old painting in her grandmother’s house that portrayed Kawainui not as the invasive marsh she was familiar with but as a loko iʻa (fishpond) that had once provided an abundance of food for all of Kailua. It was at that point, she began to ponder the impact of human activity on places like this. Frank delved into the foundational moʻolelo (stories) and mele (songs) of Kailua to gain insights into a healthy Kawainui ecosystem and its historical functioning.

“Our kupuna laid the groundwork with their scientific discoveries and passed on their knowledge to us in their moʻolelo,” said Frank. “It is our responsibility to learn from their observations and to continue to tell their stories.”

Discovering the world of microbes

As a freshman at Kamehameha Schools Kapālama, Frank discovered microorganisms. Microbes form the foundation of the food web, influencing the availability of nutrients and carbon for other organisms like algae, zooplankton and fish. Frank believed that understanding the role of microbes in the ecosystem was crucial to restoring the productivity back to loʻi (taro patch) and loko iʻa, as well as the key to finding the lepo ʻai in Kawainui.

She began to collect samples of microbes across Koʻolaupoko, investigating how land management influenced the diversity and distribution of microorganisms across ahupuaʻa (traditional unit of land management that runs from mountain to sea). She eventually developed a novel technique for DNA extraction from small volumes of water so she did not have to hike up and down mountains with gallons of water.

For her ingenuity and innovative work, she earned first place and best-in-category in environmental sciences at the 2004 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Portland, Oregon. After graduating, Frank earned a full merit scholarship to the University of Rochester where she studied molecular genetics and earned her bachelor of science degree magna cum laude in 2008. She continued on to Cambridge, Massachusetts to pursue research at the intersection of microbial ecology and biogeochemistry—earning her master of arts and PhD in molecular cell biology at Harvard University in 2010 and 2013, respectively.

When she returned home to the islands, her childhood dream of becoming a professor at UH ����ԴDz� was realized. Today, Frank uses modern techniques in microbiology, molecular biology and geochemistry to complement and expand upon the observations of her kūpuna. With a unique blend of storytelling and scientific rigor, she brings to light the intricate workings of the world. From the tiniest microorganisms to the vastness of nature, Frank unravels mysteries of the unseen to deepen humankind’s understanding of and relationship to place.

“The deep held pilina (relationship) between ʻ�徱�Բ� (the land), akua (natural elements, spiritual deities) and kānaka (the people) provided the foundation for ancient �鶹��ý’s thriving abundance. Microbes are the physiological representations of this pilina,” said Frank. “Microbes are our akua, they are the unseen mediators of geochemical processes and ecosystem services that shape productivity ma uka i kai (from the mountain to the sea).”

For more about Frank’s work at PBRC, .

Noelo is UH’s research magazine from the .

• Related UH News story: Next generation of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander scientists shine, August 5, 2022

A new species of bacteria that was found in an air conditioner in Honolulu has been analyzed and named by researchers at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�. This bacteria species isn’t harmful to humans, they said, but microbiome environments humans encounter on a daily basis may on rare occasions contain potentially harmful bacteria.

What is a microbiome?

The term microbiome often refers to the microbial community in a habitat, such as soil, seawater, on an animal or plant, on your skin or in your gut. A related term is “urban microbiome,” which refers to microbial communities in urban settings, such as gardens, water supplies and even in domestic appliances. Some microbes in the urban microbiome may cause health issues in some people, or corrode or block pipes, so identifying which microbes are present may help us protect human health and infrastructure.

Bacteria discovery

In 2016, Maxwell Darris, an undergraduate student at , joined the “” summer program at UH ����ԴDz�, funded by the . In Professor Stuart Donachie’s lab in the Department of Microbiology, now part of the , Darris cultivated bacteria from a biofilm hanging from a pipe carrying condensed water from an air conditioner in Honolulu. One of the bacteria was a new species, which Darris and other researchers formally named as Chitinophaga pendula. The term “pendula” refers to how the biofilm was hanging from the pipe. Work to confirm Darris had found a new species was completed by Chiyoko Onouye, a graduate student in the Donachie lab.

More than 40 Chitinophaga species are known, most of which were first found in soils, with others from plant surfaces or roots, rocks, aquatic habitats and one from a human source. Darris’ discovery is the first new Chitinophaga species found in an air conditioner. The researchers said this shows that new microbial species are closer than people may think.

“Students’ continuing discoveries of new microbe species underscore that students from our local schools and universities can make a major impact in science,” Donachie said. “Work currently in review from our lab will provide more new species named by local school students. While taxonomy is often not considered the most exciting science, students always get excited when we tell them about new microbes. They would love to be involved, too, especially if it means getting to choose a name!”

The discovery was .

Microbiomes in the home

While Chitinophaga pendula does not pose a threat to humans, Donachie said that discoveries of new microbes tell us something about the nature of life on Earth, about microbial diversity in terms of the number of different species we share the planet with, and about the adaptations or metabolic capabilities that make each species’ existence possible.

Everyone has microbiome environments in their home, such as sponges used to wipe or wash dishes, to cloths used to wipe counters or tables. Microbiomes also exist in refrigerators, dishwashers and toilets. If a space has a window-mounted air conditioner, there will almost certainly be a microbiome in the part where condensed water flows from the unit.

Donachie recommends washing and bleaching sponges and cloths used to wipe surfaces, making sure refrigerators are cleaned, and properly cleaning surfaces that food comes into contact with during handling or storage. Signs that should not be ignored are odors from cloths and sponges, slippery surfaces such as in showers, and unexpectedly slimy or furry textures on foods.

Others who contributed to the research included Rebecca Prescott, a UH ����ԴDz� Department of Microbiology PhD graduate and NASA postdoctoral research fellow, now an assistant professor at the University of Mississippi; and Professor Hans-Jürgen Busse at the Institute for Microbiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria. The research was supported in part by a National Science Foundation “Research Experiences for Undergraduates Site” award to Donachie and Stephanie Kraft-Terry at UH ����ԴDz� (Award number: 1560491).

University of �鶹��ý experts were named to the list for 2022, including a ninth-straight appearance for a professor.

Released on November 15, the list recognizes scientists who have demonstrated significant influence through publishing multiple highly cited papers during the last decade. The experts were selected from the publications that rank in the top 1% by citations for field and publication year in the Web of Science citation index.

“We are proud of the high quality research demonstrated by our very own UH scientists on this premier list of highly cited researchers. Their work provides further evidence of our status as one of the world’s great research universities,” UH ����ԴDz� Provost Michael Bruno said.

Shidler Professor Stephen Vargo

Professor Stephen Vargo has appeared on this premier list for the ninth consecutive year. He was one of just 92 scientists worldwide selected to the economics and business category. Vargo has demonstrated exceptional influence through his publications, which were frequently cited by his peers during the last decade. His articles focused on the “Service-Dominant (S-D) Logic” framework, which redefines how value is co-created through economic exchange.

IfA Astronomer Daniel Huber

Associate Professor and Astronomer Daniel Huber was recognized on the highly cited researchers list for the fourth straight year. He was one of just 93 scientists worldwide selected to the space science category. Huber’s research focuses on the structure and evolution of solar-type and low-mass stars using observational techniques such as asteroseismology, optical long-baseline interferometry, spectroscopy and broadband photometry, as well as the discovery and characterization of exoplanets. Huber’s research uses data from space-based and ground-based telescopes such as Kepler, K2, TESS, Keck, the CHARA Array, as well as various ground-based photometric and spectroscopic surveys.

SOEST Professor Fei-Fei Jin

For the third consecutive year, (SOEST) Professor Fei-Fei Jin was named to the list in the cross-field category, which identifies researchers who have contributed highly cited papers across several different disciplines. Jin’s research interests cover a wide range of topics, including the dynamics of large-scale atmosphere and ocean circulations, and climate variability. His primary research focuses are understanding the dynamics of El Niño-Southern Oscillation, climate variability in the extratropical atmospheric circulation and global warming.

SOEST Professor Emeritus Bin Wang

SOEST Professor Emeritus Bin Wang was recognized on the highly cited researchers list in the geosciences category for the third time (previously in 2017 and 2018). He has been with the Department of Atmospheric Sciences (formerly Department of Meteorology) at UH ����ԴDz� since 1987. Wang is a leading meteorologist specializing in climate and atmospheric dynamics. Among his research interests are variability and predictability of Asian-Australian monsoons, climate predictions, tropical cyclones and El Niño-Southern Oscillation dynamics.

Former SOEST postdoctoral fellow Daniel Mende was honored in the cross-field category for the first time. Mende specializes in environmental microbiology, microbial ecology, metagenomics and more. Mende is now assistant professor at Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam.

This story was compiled based on current affiliation according to the Web of Science’s Highly Cited Researchers list. If there are other researchers currently or formerly affiliated with UH, email Marc Arakaki at marcra@hawaii.edu.

The negative effects of food preservatives on the mouth microbiome (the collection of all microbes, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses and their genes, that naturally live inside and on human bodies), are shown through a study by students.

Their research highlights a significant and almost immediate impact, with a 26–31% decrease in viable bacteria with less than 10 minutes of exposure to sulfite preservatives, and was published in .

“Our recent study showed the effects of two types of sulfite preservatives on the composition of the human mouth microbiome (based on saliva samples). This was the first published study that we are aware of to look at food preservative’s effects on the mouth microbiome,” said UH Maui College Professor Sally Irwin, who is also an adjunct professor with the UH ����ԴDz� John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM). “We feel that this is significant because other research has shown the connections between changes in the mouth microbiome and changes in the gut and connections to several human diseases.”

The study concluded that sulfite preservatives (at concentrations regarded as safe by the FDA) alter the abundance and richness of the microbiota found in saliva and decrease the number of viable bacteria.

“This endeavor has changed my life for the better by giving me more confidence to pursue a career in science.”
—Luz Maria Deardorff

The research project started in 2018 with UH Maui College students Racheal Kent, Francesca Yadao and Luz Maria Deardorff, and required about 18 months of developing techniques and optimizing protocols followed by extensive experimentation and data analysis. Faculty involved in the study included Peter Fisher, Michelle Gould, Junnie June and Irwin.

In April, Deardorff, who is now at UH ����ԴDz� studying biological sciences, presented the team’s research at JABSOM and later at a chapter meeting of the American Microbiology Society.

“This research opportunity strengthened my understanding of the scientific method and nuances in conducting experiments. It has provided me with expertise in working in a laboratory that puts me a step ahead of my peers,” Deardorff said. “This endeavor has changed my life for the better by giving me more confidence to pursue a career in science and providing me with a science ʻohana with my research associates and mentors.”

The project was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of General Medical Sciences and .

Irwin said, “We feel it’s important for consumers to be aware of the potential negative effects of [sulfites] and other food additives on their mouth and gut microbiomes and to avoid them as much as possible, and rely more on fresh, not processed, foods.”

Sometimes we have had a class where the subject material seems a bit tough to interpret. And sometimes a teaching assistant who has been in our place helps make the connections we could not initially see.

University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� graduate students who have studied any life sciences field as an undergraduate or graduate student are invited to apply to become a teaching assistant (TA) in the .

According to School of Life Sciences Associate Director of Instruction Stephanie Kraft-Terry, the school is looking for approximately 64 TAs to assist in teaching undergraduate labs in the areas of biology, botany, marine biology, microbiology and molecular cell biology.

“We hire TAs with background in both undergraduate and graduate studies in the life sciences and encourage anyone with that background who is interested in providing excellent instruction to undergraduate students, regardless of their graduate program, to apply,” Kraft-Terry said.

The application review deadline is April 29. Applications will continue to be accepted but priority will be given to those students who submit an application by April 29. Visit the for more information and to apply.

Creating an impact for students

Breena Gaskov is working as a life sciences TA, while finishing up her first year as a student in the program. Gaskov holds an undergraduate degree in biology with a focus in microbiology.

“Being a TA for the School of Life Sciences allows me to make that impact on students who are looking for their passion in science, and guide them along the way,” Gaskov said. “For me, becoming a School of Life Sciences TA was a no brainer. I now get to come full circle and teach others in the same way that made me fall in love with science!”

Along with receiving a nine-month salary and tuition waiver, Gaskov said one of the major benefits is to be able to personalize your instruction to your skill set.

“I purposely teach in the same way that worked best for me when I was in my students’ place,” Gaskov said. “I have the ability to make even difficult subjects fun, for both me and the students! The biggest one though, for me, is the ability to see the impact being made on students. I have had multiple students walk into class and tell me ‘I was having a bad day today and this class made it better,’ and ‘I actually look forward to coming to this lab.’ I always leave the lab feeling full of happiness, every single time.”

Gaining self-confidence

Chris Nakano became a life sciences TA after hearing about the position from fellow peers in his classes. He earned his graduate degree in in fall 2021.

“Aside from the tuition exemption and stipends, the office staff, lab coordinators and principal investigators are incredibly supportive in both the sense of helping you excel as a budding educator and understanding of your busy schedule as a student,” Nakano said. “It’s a great introduction to scientific pedagogy, and you’ll nurture the self-confidence to troubleshoot the basic lab techniques prevalent in any scientific laboratory. You’ll also be surrounded by experts in the field that are generous in experience and wisdom, who are incredibly eager to share their counsel.”

Nakano recommends interested applicants to apply early, have enthusiasm and be committed.

This work is an example of UH ����ԴDz�’s goals of (PDF) and (PDF), two of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

—By Marc Arakaki

A new beginning for the with the completion of the Life Sciences building that will open for instruction in the fall 2020 semester. Located on the Diamond Head end of McCarthy Mall, the three-story, 70,000-square-foot facility with 21 state-of-the-art teaching and research laboratories, was built to serve more than 500 students daily and support world class research.

“This building was designed and constructed purposely to bring together many of our most-accomplished researchers with undergraduate and graduate students,” said UH ����ԴDz� Provost Michael Bruno. “The interdisciplinary collaboration that will happen in the new facility offers an exciting opportunity for our students, our future researchers and leaders.”

The $65 million facility will be home to the College of Natural Sciences’ along with the (PBRC), which operates one of two transmission electron microscopes in the state (the UH ����ԴDz� operates the second). Along with the 21 modern laboratories (six teaching, 15 research labs), the building also features a 600 square foot student collaboration area, 52 graduate student workstations, five conference rooms and 28 faculty offices.

• Read more about the Life Sciences building in UH News.

“We are extremely excited that the Life Sciences building is ready,” said UH ����ԴDz� College of Natural Sciences Dean Aloysius Helminck. “It’s a fantastic opportunity, a collaboration between several different units on campus to provide absolutely top-notch, world-class facilities for both research and instruction.”

“We cannot thank state lawmakers and the governor enough for supporting this project,” said UH President David Lassner. “Beyond the amazing educational and research opportunities that the facility offers our students and scientists, it also provided the university an opportunity to prove that it could efficiently build a facility that will advance 21st century teaching, learning and research.”

Vision turns to fruition

In 2016, university leadership committed to a new campus modernizing strategy–designing university space to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and communication that will also support modern teaching, learning, innovation and scholarship. Maximizing the efficiency of both capital and operational dollars was a critical component of the strategy.

The Life Sciences Building is the university’s first major design-build project, a single contract for the design and construction with a fixed cost. Design-build projects are more likely to be completed on time and with fewer cost overruns, compared to the typical design-bid-build process. The university partnered with Layton Construction Company, LLC, and its design consultant G70 for the Life Sciences project.

“The working relationship with Layton and G70 and the university was a true partnership,” said UH Vice President for Administration Jan Gouveia. “Everyone involved was committed to delivering a quality project.”

Gouveia added that for a project of this magnitude to go from concept to completion in just four years is a testament to the perseverance and commitment to the highest standards of everyone involved.

“Contributions from our design-build, construction management, campus operations, environmental health and safety, procurement, and fiscal offices, along with our dedicated faculty, made this modern instructional and research facility a reality,” said Gouveia. “Leadership from the College of Natural Sciences, PBRC and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, was instrumental in programming the synergistic activities within the LSB to advance cutting edge collaboration amongst multiple disciplines.”

The UH Office of Project Delivery is responsible for just about every major capital improvement project for the 10 campus UH System, including Life Sciences. The office has been completely transformed over the last five years–adopting industry best practices, implementing a new project management system and centralized online system for issuing solicitations and receiving proposals or bids and assembling a team of experienced construction professionals to manage the project.

The next major project on the UH ����ԴDz� campus is a $41 million, design-build to renovate the Sinclair Library into a student success center, which state lawmakers funded in 2019.

Iconic McCarthy Mall upgrade

The Life Sciences Building is an upgrade for McCarthy Mall, one of the iconic locations on campus. The new building is located on East-West Road between Kennedy Theatre and Moore Hall and across the street from Lincoln Hall and the Center for Korean Studies Building.

“This building is now the anchor on the Diamond Head side of McCarthy Mall along with Kennedy Theatre, one of the primary entrance points and certainly one of the most loved areas of our campus,” said Bruno.

The buildingʻs open courtyard overlooks the mall and is conveniently located next to Hamilton Library and Paradise Palms Café. The Life Sciences houses six teaching laboratories, 15 research laboratories, 52 graduate student workstations, five conference rooms, twenty-eight faculty offices, a 600 square foot student collaboration area and an approximately 3,000 square foot shell space to allow for future office expansion.

The final phase of the project is the demolition of Snyder Hall, which is also along McCarthy Mall. That phase is expected to be completed in the summer of 2021.

Related UH News stories:

• Student-centered, pedestrian-friendly vision for UH ����ԴDz� campus, February 4, 2020
• Beam signing marks halfway point of Life Sciences building project, March 4, 2019
• Watch Henke Hall come down, August 4, 2017
• Aloha, Henke Hall, June 27, 2017
• Henke Hall demolition clears way for state-of-the-art science building, June 20, 2017
• Keeping UH’s building improvements on track, January 25, 2017
• Milestone in innovative Life Sciences building project, January 9, 2017
• Life Sciences building project marks new beginning for UH ����ԴDz�, August 22, 2016

A University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� oceanographer was invited to speak at ’s first entirely science-focused institute event. Angelicque White, associate professor in the (SOEST), was one of 19 speakers and performers at the event held at the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in Washington, DC. is publicly available.

The theme of the event, “Catalyze,” highlights the power of science to catalyze progress. “It allows us to explore our biggest questions, generate new ideas and seek out solutions,” as stated by the organizers. At , participants explored how science is igniting change and fueling our way forward—through radical collaboration, quantum leaps and bold thinking.

White investigates changes affecting microbes the ocean’s smallest residents that live in every drop of seawater and are vital to the healthy functioning of our planet.

In her talk, “What ocean microbes reveal about the changing climate,” White detailed her research on harmful algal blooms and rising carbon dioxide, as well as the ensuing ocean acidification, just two of the myriad problems facing our oceans.

“It seems like a lot to take in,” said White, “but again, the oceans are immensely resilient, we just need to avoid going too far down this path. For just that reason, I believe sustained observation of the ocean, and indeed the entire planet, is the moral imperative for my generation. We are bearing witness to the effects of humans on the natural world and by doing so it gives us a chance to adapt and change if we are willing to do so.”

To learn more about ocean microbes and the critical roles they serve for all life on Earth, visit .

TED@NAS was a partnership between TED, The National Academy of Sciences, The Kavli Foundation and the Simons Foundation.

More about Angel White

White joined the UH ����ԴDz� Department of Oceanography in 2018 and is the principal investigator of the
and an investigator in the . She was named an Alfred P. Sloan Fellow in 2012 and was a recipient of the American Geophysical Union Ocean Sciences Early Career Award in 2015 as well as the Association of the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography Yentsch-Schindler Early Career Award in 2016.

—By Marcie Grabowski

An international group of leading microbiologists, including Professor David Karl, has issued a warning: Not including microbes, considered the support system of the biosphere, in any climate equation will lead to incomplete predictions of the environmental consequences of global climate change.

More than 30 microbiologists from nine countries are calling for the world to stop ignoring an “unseen majority” in Earth’s biodiversity and metabolism when addressing climate change. The , was published in the journal .

“Microorganisms controls the pulse of our planet,” said Karl, director of the UH Mānoa in the (SOEST). “They harvest solar energy, recycle organic matter, sequester carbon dioxide, and detoxify many human-made pollutants. In other words, microbes make things happen.”

With their statement, the researchers hope to raise awareness for how microbes can influence climate change and how microbes will be impacted by it. They urge the inclusion of microbes in climate change research, increasing the use of research involving innovative technologies and improving education in classrooms.

Microbes dominate the life on Earth and perform critical functions in animal and human health, agriculture, the global food web and industry.

Said Rick Cavicchioli, a professor and microbiologist at the School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences at the University of New South Wales Sydney who led the global effort, “Micro-organisms, which include bacteria and viruses, are the lifeforms that you don’t see on the conservation websites. They support the existence of all higher lifeforms and are critically important in regulating climate change. However, they are rarely the focus of climate change studies and not considered in policy development.”

See the on the SOEST website.

—By Marcie Grabowski

Trichoplax, one of the simplest animals on Earth, is not as simple as it looks, according to researchers from the (SOEST) at the , the in Bremen, Germany and .

Trichoplax, together with sponges and jellyfish, belongs to one of the most basal lineages of the animal kingdom. Typically less than a millimeter in diameter, these animals lack a mouth, gut and other organs, and are made up of only six different cell types. Its simplicity makes it a popular model organism for biologists.

Trichoplax lives in a remarkably sophisticated symbiotic relationship with two types of highly unusual bacteria. The first, Grellia incantans, is related to highly parasitic bacteria that cause typhus and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. But intriguingly, Grellia does not appear to harm Trichoplax. The second bacterium, Ruthmannia eludens, sits inside the cells Trichoplax uses to ingest and digest its food. Both symbionts belong to poorly described groups of bacteria that are not well understood.

Trichoplax looks like an irregular flattened balloon. It lives in warm coastal waters around the world, where it grazes on microscopic algae that cover rocks, seaweed and other firm surfaces. Although most aquarists may not know it, Trichoplax can also be found in many saltwater aquaria with corals.

Simple is beautiful

Michael Hadfield, researcher at the UH Mānoa of the (PBRC), had long known that Trichoplax could be collected in the lab’s seawater tanks. Hadfield, together with PBRC Director Margaret McFall-Ngai, began the study by asking, “What are the bacteria doing inside some of the most essential cells in Trichoplax’s body?”

Supplying all of the original Trichoplax for the study, they invited a collaboration with an international group of scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology: Harald Gruber-Vodicka, Niko Leisch and Nicole Dubilier.

Together, they have now investigated the bacterial tenants of Trichoplax by sequencing their genomes and using high-resolution microscopy to see where they live.

Said Hadfield, “It was interesting enough that such a simple organism lived in constant association with many bacteria in each of its fiber cells, which serve both as the nerves and muscles of Trichoplax, and even more surprising to discover a second very different bacterium living in the cells that take up and digest Trichoplax’s food.”

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See the on the SOEST website.

—By Marcie Grabowski

The Life Sciences building project on the campus marked a major achievement on March 4, 2019. Students, administrators and officials signed their names on the final beam of the building’s steel structure before it was lifted into place. This marks about the halfway point of construction for the $50-million, three-story, 45,000-square-foot facility that is scheduled to be completed in late spring 2020.

“It’s gonna be really cool to be able to study in this building, maybe like years later come back and be like, wow, there’s my signature on the beam,” said UH ����ԴDz� sophomore Katlyn An, who is studying biochemistry. She was among a group of nine students from the College of Natural Sciences who took part in the event.

The state-of-the-art facility will house teaching and research laboratories, laboratory support spaces and office spaces for the biology, microbiology and botany departments from the , along with the , which operates the state’s only transmission electron microscope. It will serve 1,000 students weekly and house more than 80 faculty members and graduate students.

The Life Sciences building is also the university’s first design-build project—an integrated delivery process that maintains a single contract for both the design and construction of the project with a fixed cost. The university now uses the design-build project strategy whenever possible, because design build projects are more likely to be completed on time and with fewer cost overruns than the typical design-bid-build process.

“We’re demonstrating our capacity to build modern facilities for 21st century research and education, and doing so in the most efficient and effective manner possible,” said UH President David Lassner.

The project is also the most significant capital project on the ����ԴDz� campus for instructional and research spaces in 22 years. The building is located at the Diamond Head end of McCarthy Mall on East-West Road between Moore Hall and Kennedy Theatre.

Learn more about the Life Sciences building.

The awarded a University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� assistant professor one of its most prestigious awards for junior faculty. Sladjana Prišić, assistant professor in the , received a $999,625 grant for a five-year term from the National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development program.

The award is bestowed on teacher-scholars pursuing cutting-edge research while simultaneously advancing excellence in education.

Prišić’s project focuses on how bacteria adjust protein production to match their cellular needs. All living organisms manufacture proteins using complex molecular machines called ribosomes, the number of which is tightly regulated to meet demands. However, not all ribosomes have the same composition and structure. Such differences among ribosomes may influence the kind of proteins that bacteria can make at any given time. Thus, changes in the ribosome population in response to diverse signals are likely to reshape the protein composition of the cell and its physiology.

“Knowing how to manipulate protein synthesis, or providing new ways to do so, may significantly enhance biotechnology, ecological engineering and sustainability,” said Prišić.

She plans to work with graduate and undergraduate students who will mentor and train students one step junior to them, guiding them in “traditional” and advanced scientific techniques that match their proficiency with various areas of the project.

In addition to maximizing training opportunities, this approach allows undergraduate and high school students to have role models with whom they identify. The mentorship system will broaden participation, and will aid in empowering women and other groups to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

More about Prišić

Prišić earned her BSc and PhD degrees in biochemistry from the University of Belgrade and Iowa State University, respectively. She was a research associate at Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School before joining the Department of Microbiology at UH ����ԴDz� in August 2014.

A new program in the at the provides students science education through discovery-based research experiences in the classroom. (Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science) is designed to increase participation and retention of students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, and is sponsored by the (HHMI).

Viruses are abundant in the environment and many do not cause diseases in humans, yet there is still much to learn about them. Through this two-semester program, students have the opportunity to survey the unknown microscopic diversity and directly contribute to the knowledge of microbes around the world. Students will collect soil samples and use cutting edge molecular and microbiology techniques to find new viruses from �鶹��ý. After genetically sequencing these viral isolates, students will use genome-annotation and bioinformatic analyses to characterize and eventually name their newly discovered microbes.

“We are very pleased to receive this support from HHMI to incorporate the SEA–PHAGES project into our introductory biology courses,” said Aloysius Helminck, dean of the at UH ����ԴDz�. “This will be an exciting step in the college’s ongoing effort to inject active learning, and especially hands-on research experience, into our entire curriculum.”

More about the SEA–PHAGES program

The SEA–PHAGES team consists of several faculty from the College of Natural Sciences, including , and from the , and from the .

This program is part of a large initiative led by HHMI’s Science Education Alliance, which works with faculty and universities from around the nation to increase undergraduate interest and retention in the biological sciences through research-based curricula early in their academic careers. Students will work closely with faculty and experience immediate immersion in authentic, valuable yet accessible research while pursuing their education in STEM disciplines.

The first cohort of students can sign up for the program by registering for one of two dedicated to the .

Margaret McFall-Ngai, director of the at the at the , has been awarded a (HHMI) professorship grant.

HHMI professors are accomplished research scientists who are deeply committed to making science more engaging for undergraduates. With this honor, McFall-Ngai will receive $1 million over five years to develop innovative approaches to teaching undergraduate science.

She plans to develop an entirely new concept of a biology curriculum for UH ����ԴDz� and other institutions of higher learning. The ideal curriculum will engage leading researchers in the education of future biologists, as well as introduce those in other STEM disciplines to biology.

McFall-Ngai’s research laboratory focuses on two areas: the role of beneficial bacteria in health using the squid-vibrio model; and the biochemical and molecular “design” of tissues that interact with light. She is a member of the American Academy of Microbiology, American Academy of Arts and Sciences and National Academy of Sciences, and has been heavily involved in promoting microbiology as the cornerstone of the field of biology.

• Related UH News: Native squid and its bacterium may help human and environmental health, February 5, 2017
• UH’s only female NAS member reveals how animals select good microbes, August 28, 2017

“The biological sciences are undergoing a revolution with the recognition that the microbial world is the basis of the health of all ecosystems, from tropical rainforests to the human body,” said McFall-Ngai. “This newfound knowledge demands efforts to reformulate research and education, as well as to design mechanisms by which to inform the public of the widespread ramifications of this new view. My goal with the HHMI professorship is to transform the teaching of biology at the undergraduate level by promoting the integration of microbiology and macrobiology into a single, comprehensive systems biology.”

empowers research scientists who can convey the excitement of science to undergraduates. The professors model fundamental reform in the way undergraduate science is taught at research universities through innovative teaching that demonstrates the rigor and value of scientific research. They are committed to expanding and enhancing research opportunities for undergraduates and are encouraged to share ideas and collaborate with their peers to improve science education.

“I am honored to be selected as an HHMI professor and to serve UH in this role over the next few years,” she said.

—By Marcie Grabowski

Rebecca Prescott, a microbiology student who recently received her PhD, has won a prestigious award for her project, “Survival in extreme environments through cooperation: biofilms and looking for life on Mars,” under the program Broadening Participation of Groups Underrepresented in Biology.

“We are interested in how cooperative behavior, through chemical communication in bacteria, may help microbes survive in extreme environments that are representative of early Earth and early Mars,” said Prescott.

Is cooperation key to survival in harsh places, like Mars?

In the field of astrobiology, determining the range of planetary conditions that are favorable for life, detecting life on other planets and understanding how life evolved on Earth are all important questions, and further exploration of the Universe. To address these questions, Prescott is focusing on how biofilms from hypersaline ponds in San Salvador Island in the Bahamas and lava caves on �鶹��ý Island may survive through cooperative behavior and chemical communication, referred to as quorum sensing.

Prescott is working at the University of Edinburgh, using the Planetary Environmental Liquid Simulator, to evaluate the genomic changes of hypersaline biofilm mats from the Bahamas and Hawaiian lava caves when placed in early Mars and early Earth conditions. She is also evaluating whether molecules used by bacteria to communicate may be preserved in rocks for long periods of time, which will help find new ways to detect life on other planets.

“To help us understand where microbial life may occur on Mars or other planets, past or present, we must understand how microbial communities evolve and function in extreme environments as a group, rather than single species,” said Prescott. “Quorum sensing gives us a peek into the interactive world of bacteria and how cooperation may be key to survival in harsh environments.”

Quorum sensing has not been investigated in the field of astrobiology, so this study will be the first to illuminate how microbial interactions might influence survival in early Mars and early Earth conditions.

Her fellowship is funded by the National Science Foundation’s Division of Biological Infrastructure and the Tribal Colleges and Universities Program. Prescott worked under the guidance of , microbiology associate professor and committee chair, while working on her PhD at UH.

Discovering common cultural values through astrobiology

Prescott is conducting research and training that is increasing the participation of groups underrepresented in biology under the mentorship of two sponsoring scientists: , University of South Carolina, and , University of Edinburgh. The questions of how life evolved on Earth are imbedded in cultural traditions across the globe, and the highly interdisciplinary field of astrobiology provides unique opportunities to develop and integrate indigenous cultural perspectives into K–12 classrooms.

Prescott also works with the Summer Teacher Academy, and with science teachers in �鶹��ý and the Carolinas, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, to develop teacher training workshops in culture-based science of astrobiology and genomic data science.

Food preservatives may be harmful to beneficial bacteria in the human body, according to a study at .

The study focused on beneficial or “good” bacteria naturally found in the human microbiome.

These bacteria are also found in fermented products rich in probiotics, such as yogurt, kimchee and kombucha. Numerous studies have indicated their benefits to immune response, diet quality, metabolic profiles and overall health.

The research found that sulfites in food preservatives killed or inhibited the growth of the good bacteria when tested at levels generally regarded as safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

UH Maui College students Emily Graham, Ashley Malek and Adriel Robidoux, Lecturer Peter Fisher and lead researcher Professor Sally V. Irwin, published the study on the effects of a common food preservative on beneficial bacteria that are found in fermented foods and the human gut.

Food preservatives effect on beneficial bacteria

Irwin, who is also an adjunct professor in the cell and molecular biology department at UH ����ԴDz� , said increasing evidence shows a direct correlation between diseases and alterations in the human gut and mouth microbiomes. Food preservatives may be partly to blame.

“As a geneticist and a professor of microbiology, I have been interested in the human genome and microbes, and their combined influence on human disease and health,” Irwin said.

“Studies show a significant increase over the past 40 years in food allergies, obesity and metabolic disorders that have a direct correlation to disbiosis, or changes in the microbiome.”

“In trying to understand what in our environment may be causing this change, the use of many food preservatives and their effects on beneficial bacteria came to mind.”

Irwin said overuse and misuse of antibiotics has been indicated as having a significant impact on our microbiome, but this is the first time food preservatives have been tested for their effects on beneficial bacteria.

“This is the best education I can give to future scientists,” Irwin said.

“It has been exciting and incredibly satisfying for me and the students to present a significant piece of research that others in the scientific community can build upon.”

To learn more see the .

—By Kit Furukawa