In a state where land is expensive, and the tropical heat can be a hurdle for certain crops, researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa鈥檚 (CTAHR) are looking up.

Kyle Marcelino, a PhD graduate from the Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering (MBBE) at CTAHR, conducted this research under the mentorship of Professor Samir Kumar Khanal, principal investigator, and Surendra K.C., PhD, a research scholar on Professor Khanal’s team. Together, the team is exploring new ways to strengthen local agriculture through a hybrid controlled environment system. By combining vertical farming with advanced aquaponics, they are developing a sustainable path for more commercial food production in the islands.

The tech behind the tower: Nano bubbles

At the heart of this project is the integration of nanobubble technology. Traditional aquaponic systems can struggle to maintain enough dissolved oxygen for healthy plant roots and beneficial bacteria. This system injects pure oxygen directly into the water using nanobubble technology.

“One of the most important parts of aquaponics is trying to maintain dissolved oxygen,” Marcelino said. This boost in oxygen serves several critical functions:

• It reduces root decay or root rot caused by harmful bacteria.
• It supports the natural bacteria that convert fish waste into plant-available nutrients.
• It encourages bacteria to break down organic solids, preventing the buildup of sludge that can choke a system.

A system built for Hawaiʻi

With limited agricultural land available in Hawaiʻi, growing vertically offers an efficient alternative. The hybrid greenhouse system uses technology to regulate temperature, UV exposure and water quality.

While the system is ideal for leafy greens, researchers are expanding their horizons to include high-value crops like strawberries that struggle in Hawaiʻi鈥檚 humidity. It can also be used for radishes and other highly nutritious root vegetables.

The ultimate goal is to help move the technology from research to commercial use, giving local farmers another tool to grow fresh food more efficiently.

“The whole big goal is to try to eventually build this controlled environment system where farmers can control temperature, water quality, and oxygen levels to grow high-value crops and feed communities,” said Marcelino.

This research is supported by the CTAHR CARES Initiative and the Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation, and conducted under the leadership of Professor Khanal and K.C.

For centuries, plants like māmaki and noni have been used to heal and restore. Now, a researcher at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is using bioengineering to better understand how these plants produce their healing power and how to naturally boost those medicinal properties for the future.

Nan Jiang, an assistant professor in the Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering in the (CTAHR), is leading a first-ever study to map the genetic and chemical blueprints of some of 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 most significant medicinal plants.

Bio-factories

His research focuses on the anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds found in noni, māmaki and moringa.

“We are looking at the ‘bio-factory’ inside the cells,” Jiang said. “If we can identify the limiting steps in how a plant produces an antioxidant, we can use natural breeding or environmental triggers to boost that production.”

To decode these complex processes, Jiang uses a new ally: Nicotiana benthamiana, a relative of tobacco, as a research tool. His lab tests specific enzymes from plants such as noni and moringa in Nicotiana plants, using them as natural incubators to see which genetic combinations yield the highest medicinal value.

The research has practical applications for 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 economy. Many local entrepreneurs produce teas, powders and supplements using native plants, and Jiang鈥檚 research has the potential to increase the potency and quality of these health products.

Growing resilience

The project, which has been underway for more than a year, is an example of the mission of the CTAHR. By focusing on plants that are uniquely suited to the islands’ environment, Jiang is helping to build a more resilient future for both local agriculture and community health. This research is supported by the CTAHR CARES Initiative and the Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation.

“Our greenhouse and lab work is designed to honor the plants that are native to this place and find ways to make their healing properties more accessible to everyone.”

University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补’蝉 Chelsea Miller has received national recognition for expanding access to hands-on genomics education.

Miller, a PhD student in the Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering in the (CTAHR), earned the Outstanding Poster Award at the (NISBRE), held June 17 in North Bethesda, Maryland.

Breaking barriers in science education

Her award-winning poster, “Genome on the Go: Decentralizing Molecular Biology Education through Portable Genomics Tools and Near-Peer Mentorship,” highlights a training model designed to reduce barriers to advanced laboratory instruction for students in Hawaiʻi and other geographically isolated regions.

Developed through the (Hawaiʻi INBRE) program with support from U.S. Department of Agriculture workforce development initiatives, the project brings portable DNA sequencing tools and graduate student mentors directly to learners, enabling a full “sample-to-sequence” workflow in classroom and field settings.

Over the past year, Miller and her team conducted 11 workshops across Hawaiʻi, the Pacific and the continental U.S., training 72 participants using Bento Lab and Oxford Nanopore technologies.

Strengthening biomedical workforce development

The approach helps prepare the next generation of biomedical workforce while giving students access to modern molecular biology techniques typically limited to well-equipped research laboratories.

“This award reflects the incredible efforts of our graduate student instructors and the vision of making genomics accessible to every student, regardless of location,” said Jon-Paul Bingham, Hawaiʻi INBRE PATHways director and co-author of the project.

Miller was one of three Hawaiʻi INBRE-affiliated researchers recognized at the biennial NISBRE meeting, which highlights national research and training supported through the IDeA program. Also honored were Li Tao, professor at the , who received the Outstanding Mentorship and Teaching Award, and Natalie Graham, assistant professor at 糖心视频 Hilo, who earned the Scientific Merit Award.

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The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (CTAHR) is central to a new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant to protect the state from invasive plant threats. The $322,000 grant will fund two state projects to improve early identification of major hibiscus, banana, and citrus diseases before they gain a foothold in Hawaiʻi.

CTAHR faculty will play a pivotal role in the detection and diagnostics of a statewide nursery and ornamental plant survey. Assistant Professors Jing Zhou, a specialist in plant virology, Marian Luis, a specialist in mycology, and Extension agent Alberto Ricordi, PhD, are serving as co-principal investigators on the survey grant.

Ricordi will assist in coordinating site visits statewide, while professors Zhou and Luis will do preliminary confirmation of suspected plant diseases. Initial screening will take place at the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (HDAB), while CTAHR‘s specialized laboratories will confirm the presence of diseases before samples are sent to the USDA.

“Building a relationship with CTAHR and 糖心视频 in general is very important because they’re a great asset for the department,” said Josiah Marquez, HDAB鈥檚 Plant Pathologist and lead on the grant. “In terms of these faculty members being specialists in their fields, it’s important that we take advantage of that.”

In the second project, Assistant Professor Garrett Roell from CTAHR鈥檚 Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, and Assistant Professor Huaijin Chen from the Department of Information and Computer Sciences will use artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced computer programming to predict which plant diseases pose the biggest risk to Hawaiʻi.

This joint initiative is scheduled as a one-year pilot project. A successful first year could pave the way for more funds and a larger scope to detect other invasive threats, such as destructive insect pests or animal pathogens, long before they reach Hawaiʻi.

Taren Bouwman and Landon Wong, researchers in the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (CTAHR), have been named 2026 ARCS Scholars by the Achievement Rewards for College Scientists Foundation鈥檚 Honolulu chapter. This award honors outstanding U.S. citizens pursuing higher education in STEM fields.

Green energy, climate solutions

Bouwman is exploring ways to create a microscopic net that traps algae in the sea and harvests them for energy. His work earned him the H. Keith and Sue Ernst ARCS Award.

In CTAHR鈥檚 Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, Bouwman looks into the relationships between marine algae and earth-bound fungi to overcome a roadblock in the green energy sector: the steep cost of harvesting biofuels, a promising energy source.

“More than half of the cost of biofuel from algae comes from trying to filter the algae out of the water,” Bouwman said. “Fungi can act as a cheap bio-filter to capture the algae so we can extract them together as an energy-rich fuel source.”

Protecting 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 coffee industry

In CTAHR鈥檚 Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences, Wong was awarded the Helen Jones Farrar ARCS award in Tropical Plant Pathology and the Dr. Jacqueline Maly ARCS Scholar of the Year award for his research on the taxonomy of coffee root-knot nematodes. This tiny, destructive pest is devastating coffee production across Hawaiʻi Island, Central and South America.

Wong’s project clarified the true identity of the Kona coffee root-knot nematode (tiny pest) (Meloidogyne konaensis) by incorporating genetic, physical and protein-based testing. Wong鈥檚 work determined Meloidogyne konaensis is widely distributed across the coffee-growing regions of Central and South America.

“Traditional diagnostic procedures could take over two months,” Wong said. “This research has facilitated a faster identification method to protect local coffee growers from this pest and allow regulators to accurately screen and identify the nematode pest at ports of entry and in field samples in under a day using a simple genetic test.”

He also discovered a new species of root-knot nematode in Brazil, Meloidogyne pseudokonaensis, named for its similarity and previously mistaken identity as Meloidogyne konaensis.

Tiny, sun-powered organisms found in freshwater pools could soon fuel Hawaiʻi鈥檚 sustainable future. Researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa are charting a path to transform microalgae into a “green gold” reality for biofuels, medicine and nutrition. In a study published in , experts from the (CTAHR) reveal how cutting-edge synthetic biology and metabolic engineering are clearing the way for microalgae production locally and around the world.

Microalgae excel at capturing carbon dioxide and converting it into high-value compounds such as lipids (oils) and terpenoids (organic chemicals). These can be used to create everything from renewable jet fuel to life-saving medications.

“Microalgae have immense potential because they don’t compete with food crops for land or fresh water,” said Zhi-Yan (Rock) Du, an associate professor in CTAHR鈥檚 Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering (MBBE) and the study鈥檚 lead author. “Our research focuses on how we can ‘reprogram’ these organisms to produce more of these valuable materials efficiently.”

Tweaking internal chemistry

Despite their potential, producing microalgal products at a scale that can compete with petroleum has been difficult. The 糖心视频 team, including graduate students led by Ty Shitanaka (co-principal investigator with MBBE professor Samir Kumar Khanal), examined how new genetic tools such as CRISPR/Cas9 can optimize the “metabolic superhighways” within the algae.

By tweaking the internal chemistry of the cells, researchers can drive the algae to accumulate higher concentrations of oil and specific health-boosting compounds without slowing down their growth, a common problem in earlier bioengineering attempts.

A sustainable vision for Hawaiʻi

For Hawaiʻi, the state’s year-round sunshine and coastal access provide an ideal environment for algae cultivation.

“This has the potential to help Hawaiʻi create a more resilient, energy-independent economy,” said Khanal. “By integrating microalgae production with wastewater treatment or agricultural byproduct recycling, we can create a system that is both environmentally friendly and economically viable.”

The study also emphasizes the importance of “synthetic biology,” which allows scientists to design biological parts that don’t exist in nature, further pushing the boundaries of what microalgae can produce.

The research was a collaborative effort involving Professor Krzysztof Zienkiewicz from the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toru艅, Poland. This work was supported by the National Science Foundation and the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

A University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa graduate student earned top honors at a major international medical science conference, taking home two awards for her research.

Princess Jena Dalit Santiago, a second-year graduate student in the 鈥檚 Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, won both the “Best Graduate Student Talk and Poster” award at the International Symposium on Selenium in Biology and Medicine in Daejeon, South Korea, and the “Best Trainee Award” from the acclaimed Royal Society of Chemistry in the U.K.

“I was more nervous thinking of something to say when I received the award than when I presented my research,” Santiago said.

Her award-winning presentation dives into how the loss of the antioxidant enzyme peroxiredoxin 6 changes how the body uses selenium, which is essential to regulating a cell鈥檚 energy and repairing damaged lipid cell walls. Santiago鈥檚 passion for the field comes from watching her grandmother live with diabetes and other metabolic diseases. This inspiration aligns perfectly with Santiago鈥檚 research, where imbalances of antioxidants in the body is a major factor in metabolic illnesses.

Santiago鈥檚 research is conducted with associate professor Lucia Seale at the , which is part of the . She is on track to finish her master鈥檚 project and graduate in May 2026. While she loves research, she鈥檚 drawn to practicing medicine and has submitted her medical school applications. Her ultimate goal is to return home to Maui and serve her community as a surgeon.

For Kelsea Kanoho Hosoda, receiving the American Indian Science and Engineering Society鈥檚 (AISES) Blazing Flame Professional Award marks a full-circle moment in her mission to uplift Indigenous students in STEM. The national honor recognizes her decades of work expanding opportunities for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students.

“I鈥檝e been a part of AISES since I was an undergraduate, and they really helped me flourish—from undergrad to graduate school and now in my professional career,” said Hosoda, director of the at the University of awaiʻi at M膩noa鈥檚 (JABSOM). “So this award, to me, is more than just recognition from a national organization—it also means a lot for Hawaiʻi.”

At JABSOM, Hosoda leads initiatives that improve Native Hawaiian health through education, research & community engagement, encouraging students to pursue careers in medicine and other health professions.

Bridging communities through mentorship

Hosoda鈥檚 involvement with 糖心视频 M膩noa鈥檚 Native Hawaiian Science & Engineering Mentorship Program (NHSEMP) inspired her to co-found the university鈥檚 first AISES student chapter with her husband, creating a bridge between local and national Indigenous STEM communities. She later helped revise AISES policies to expand eligibility for scholarships and internships to all Indigenous students.

Related 糖心视频 News story: Advancing the science of mentorships

Over the past 12 years, Hosoda has mentored more than 100 students—many now working in research and medicine. Through programs such as Kauhale Medical Scholars, she continues to guide pre-med students from Hawaiʻi鈥檚 neighbor islands and public schools.

“Being part of AISES taught me to bring my whole self to work,” Hosoda said. “That sense of balance and authenticity is something I try to pass on to my students.”

A proud 糖心视频 M膩noa alumna, she earned her bachelor鈥檚 in biology and Hawaiian language, a master鈥檚 in molecular biosciences and bioengineering, and a PhD in communication and information sciences—experiences that deepened her integration of ʻIke Hawaiʻi and STEM.

Hosoda will receive the Blazing Flame Professional Award at the AISES National Conference in Minneapolis this October.

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In a leap for agricultural science, a team of University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa undergraduate students has developed a new method that slashes the time needed to test gene-editing tools on corn from several months to just a few days. This significant breakthrough can help scientists accelerate corn breeding efforts and overcome challenges in developing new, improved types of corn. Their work, centered on the revolutionary gene-editing tool CRISPR/Cas9, was published in .

The students tested the new CRISPR tools on four different types of corn. The results showed that the tools are powerful, with an editing efficiency of up to 24%. This is particularly important for tropical corn, which is sensitive to daylight, making it challenging for farmers to grow in some climates.

CRISPR is a landmark molecular biology tool that allows scientists to make precise changes to DNA. It was co-developed by Nobel laureate Jennifer Doudna, a renowned biochemist with deep ties to Hawaiʻi; she was born in Washington, D.C. and grew up in Hilo. The groundbreaking tool has opened up new possibilities for treating genetic diseases and improving agriculture.

Prepping for high paying jobs

The research was conducted as part of the MBBE/BIOL 401 Lab, a 400-level course led by Zhi-Yan “Rock” Du, an associate professor in the ’s Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering. The class is designed to give students hands-on experience and prepare them for careers in many fields, from pharmaceuticals to agriculture.

“Having a published paper is a major accomplishment that makes students more competitive for potentially high-paying jobs and graduate school,” Du said. “It’s an engaging way to help them think critically about what they are learning and provides them with their first publication before they even graduate.”

Students from the 2025 spring semester class also wrote a review paper on CRISPR applications in agriculture that was published in the .

A University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa undergraduate had the opportunity to observe a pathologist perform an autopsy and shadow forensic investigators at a crime scene during her .

This hands-on experience with the City and County of Honolulu鈥檚 Medical Examiner鈥檚 Office gave Nanami Mehring, a fourth-year molecular biosciences and biotechnology major at the (CTAHR), a profound lesson in personal resilience, solidifying her interest in a field that demands both scientific precision and empathy.

While the technical skills and pre-med knowledge she gained from her CTAHR courses such as biochemistry were essential, Mehring discovered that her most valuable insight was the compassionate nature of the work.

The Medical Examiner’s Office provides clarity and closure to families whose loved ones have died in mysterious circumstances.

“It鈥檚 a job full of compassion,” she said. A pathology career asks for a blend of objectivity and a “strong soul.”

Solidifying career aspirations

For Mehring, the Poʻokela Fellowship solidified her career aspirations and prepared her for a future where she can provide answers and much-needed closure to families in their time of grief.

The Po鈥檕kela Fellows Internship Program introduces college students to the City and County of Honolulu鈥檚 , connects them with City leaders and encourages them to apply classroom knowledge to various projects and make a difference in their communities.

The internship gave Mehring confidence in her career path and a sense that she can handle the emotional and physical demands of pathology. Investigators and pathologists at the office gave her insight into the next steps—from medical school to pursuing a master鈥檚 program to become a pathologist assistant. Internship programs such as the Poʻokela Fellowship help to support workforce development in Hawaiʻi, one of the core pillars of the 糖心视频 System Strategic Plan. Research shows too that early career exposure such as Mehring鈥檚 is strongly correlated with academic persistence and early career success.

By honoring the legacy of women in data science, University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa researchers are pushing for a more inclusive and innovative future in the rapidly growing field.

Published in the June 2025 issue of , the piece “Highlighting the Achievements and Impact of Women in Data Science” was written by Lauren Higa, a PhD student in the Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering Program in the , and her advisor, Youping Deng, professor and director of the Bioinformatics Core at the (JABSOM).

The article honors pioneers including Ada Lovelace, the first computer programmer; Florence Nightingale, who used data to improve public health; and NASA mathematicians Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, whose computational work was crucial to space exploration. These trailblazers laid the foundation for modern data science. It also highlights current leaders such as Fei-Fei Li, whose ImageNet project revolutionized artificial intelligence and computer vision, showing the lasting impact of women in the field.

A call for equity and inclusion

Despite these remarkable contributions, women remain underrepresented in science fields, making up only 23% of the global data science workforce, according to a 2024 Anaconda report. Higa and Deng argue that this lack of representation hinders progress, limits innovation and introduces bias in data-driven technologies.

To address the gender gap, Higa and Deng propose a range of actionable solutions, including strengthening mentorship and sponsorship opportunities, ensuring equitable access to authorship and publishing, and creating institutional policies that promote work-life balance and long-term career support.

Through their research and leadership at JABSOM鈥檚 Bioinformatics Core, the 糖心视频 M膩noa team hopes to inspire positive change in the data science landscape, one that is inclusive, equitable and reflective of the communities it aims to serve.

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The first University of Hawaiʻi Program—integrating human and veterinary medicine and environmental science—graduates accepted their certificates at the 糖心视频 M膩noa Commencement Ceremony on May 17. The inaugural One Health certificate recipients were molecular biosciences and biotechnology major Braxton Ramos, and biology major Zarek Kon.

Ramos conducted her capstone research project, “Effect of Environmental Selenium on Microbial Diversity in Culex quinquefasciatus” under the mentorship of Associate Researcher Lucia Seale and Associate Professor Matthew Medeiros at the Pacific Biosciences Research Center. Her study focused on an important symbiotic gut fungus, and aims to profile microbial diversity of the gut microbiome in the presence of increased selenium. Ramos plans to continue her training after graduation to become a physician鈥檚 assistant.

Kon鈥檚 capstone research project, “Environmental Surveillance of Leptospira in Hawaiʻi: Evaluating DNA Extraction Methods for Soil and Water Samples” was mentored by Assistant Professor Jourdan McMillan and Professor Sandra Chang at the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM). His findings demonstrated that commercial DNA extraction kits can successfully identify pathogenic Leptospira in environmental samples. Kon will enter JABSOM as a first-year medical student in fall 2025.

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More on the certificate

The prepares students with the skills and knowledge to work collaboratively across disciplines to solve real-world problems.

The One Health certificate will benefit students pursuing a wide range of professions in human, animal or environmental health. Besides specific jobs in these areas, other One Health-related careers include science writing, food safety, disaster preparedness, global disease surveillance, policy and sustainability practices.

The tradition of academic and research excellence at the University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa was on international display as several experts were named to the list. Among the 2024 honorees were Samir Kumar Khanal, Daniel Huber, Bin Wang and Daniel Mende.

The scholars on the list were recognized as having shown exceptional and community-wide influence that shapes the future of science, technology and academia globally. Each researcher earned their place by consistently publishing papers that rank in the top 1% by citations in their respective fields, as measured by the Web of Science citation index. This elite recognition places them among the most influential 0.1% of the world鈥檚 scientists, according to the list鈥檚 methodology. The list includes 6,886 influential researchers from more than 1,200 institutions from 59 countries and regions.

CTAHR Professor Samir Kumar Khanal

Samir Kumar Khanal, a professor in the in the (CTAHR), was selected for the list in the cross-field category.

He leads research in the interface of energy and environment. More specifically, he is globally known for his work in the fields of anaerobic digestion, nanobubble technology, aquaponics, and waste-to-resources. Khanal鈥檚 work has made significant contributions to the field, with more than 160 publications and multiple books, including a best-selling work on anaerobic biotechnology and a textbook on bioenergy.

IfA Astronomer Daniel Huber

(IfA) Associate Professor and Astronomer Daniel Huber was recognized on the highly cited researchers list for the sixth consecutive year. He was one of just 65 scientists worldwide selected to the space science category.

Huber鈥檚 research at IfA focuses on the structure and evolution of stars, as well as the discovery and characterization of planets outside our solar system. Huber鈥檚 research uses data from NASA space telescopes such as Kepler and TESS, as well as ground-based telescopes in Hawaiʻi such as Keck, Subaru, ATLAS and ASAS-SN.

SOEST Professor Emeritus Bin Wang

(SOEST) Professor Emeritus Bin Wang has been recognized in the geosciences category for the fifth time (previously in 2017, 2018, 2022 and 2023). He has been with the at 糖心视频 M膩noa 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 biology and biochemistry category, making the highly cited researchers list for the third straight year. Mende specializes in environmental microbiology, microbial ecology, metagenomics and more. He is now an assistant professor at Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam.

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

The University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa was awarded a $486,000 National Institutes of Health grant to expand educational opportunities in computational genomics (the study of DNA of organisms) and data science for Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and other underrepresented students.

Related 糖心视频 News story: $10.9M to establish 糖心视频 Pacific Center for Genome Research, October 2023

Led by Youping Deng and Yiqiang Zhang from the (JABSOM), the Pacific Computational Genomics and Data Sciences (CGDS) Research Education Program is the first of its kind in Hawaiʻi, and aims to develop a diverse pipeline of talent equipped with cutting-edge skills in genomics research.

Genomics research analyzes an organism’s DNA to understand gene functions, traits, and disease interactions using lab techniques and bioinformatics (computer algorithms) to identify genetic mutations linked to specific diseases. With the grant, the Pacific CGDS program will equip students with advanced genomics data skills, addressing critical health issues such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes.

“At the heart of this initiative is the use of cloud computing technologies, including NIH-sponsored big-data ecosystems,” Deng said. “This technology will enable students to analyze large omics datasets, enhancing Hawaiʻi鈥檚 genomics research capabilities.”

By creating new educational pathways in CGDS, we open doors for our students and communities to engage with the future of medicine and science.
—Yiqiang Zhang

The program also emphasizes cultural values such as community and collaboration. “By creating new educational pathways in CGDS, we open doors for our students and communities to engage with the future of medicine and science,” said Zhang. “We are proud to bring these opportunities to Hawai驶i, where the spirit of m膩lama鈥攃aring for one another鈥攎eets the frontiers of genomics and data science.”

JABSOM Dean Sam Shomaker highlighted the program鈥檚 mission. “Who better to address the health issues affecting our diverse population than individuals from that very community?” He noted that training local talent through this program aligns with JABSOM鈥檚 vision of achieving lasting health for all in Hawai驶i.

Gernot Presting from 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补’蝉 is also part of the program team. The Pacific CGDS Research Education Program is one of four partner sites of NIH-funded CGDS hubs. This effort complements another NIH-funded training program focused on AI and biomedical research, where Deng and Zhang also hold leadership roles.

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The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources has officially changed its name to the (CTAHR), in a step that CTAHR Dean Parwinder Grewal said will better reflect the college鈥檚 mission and vision (below).

“This update embodies our college鈥檚 commitment to fostering resilience across individuals, communities, economies and ecosystems, emphasizing its focus on sustainable agriculture, climate change adaptation, and family and community well-being,” said Grewal. “We at CTAHR define human resilience as building individual, community and environmental endurance in the face of challenges such as climate change.”

CTAHR aims to lead research and educational initiatives that help prepare Hawaiʻi and the Pacific region to respond to and recover from climate-driven impacts to agriculture and communities.

“Our programs are centered on enhancing the human condition through a comprehensive approach to building resilience in agricultural and natural systems in the face of climate change,” said Grewal.

The process to change the name, which retains the college鈥檚 well known acronym, CTAHR, began shortly after Grewal started as dean of the college in March 2024. He had a series of meetings with faculty, students, staff, and alumni who all supported the name change proposal. A survey conducted among CTAHR faculty, staff, students, alumni and stakeholders found that more than 67% of respondents endorsed the change, with more than 72% agreeing that 鈥渉uman resilience鈥� better captures the college鈥檚 mission and values.

The mission of several of CTAHR‘s departments already reflect the name change such as the , which conducts research and teaching programs on individual and family resiliency. The focuses on research and academic programs in human nutrition and dietetics, to enhance nutritional health of individuals, children and families. The explores human dimensions research through the relationships between humans and the natural environment for improved human management decisions and policy creation. CTAHR‘s extension programs focus on improving economic, social, and health and wellbeing of individuals, families and communities and offer youth development programs such as 4-H to build teenage resiliency.

The school will be changing its signage and webpages over the coming months to reflect the name change. 鈥淗uman Resources鈥� was added to the then “College of Tropical Agriculture” in 1978 when the college merged with the 糖心视频 Hawaiʻi Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, which was dissolved in 1999. The meaning of “human resources” has since shifted from resources for people, like healthy food and clean water, to primarily being associated with business and personnel management.

CTAHR was the very first college at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa when it was founded in 1907 under the Morrill Act as a land-grant college of agriculture and mechanic arts. The flagship campus now has 17 colleges and schools.

CTAHR Mission

CTAHR creates and delivers knowledge that supports and strengthens families, agricultural and food systems, and the natural environment. We educate and serve the people of Hawaiʻi and those from around the world with integrity and excellence.

CTAHR Vision

CTAHR provides exceptional education, research, and extension programs in tropical agriculture and food systems, family and consumer science, and natural resource management for Hawaiʻi and the international community. We cultivate innovative scientific inquiry, solve real world challenges, and provide experiential learning in an interdisciplinary setting with global impacts.

A limu (seaweed) native to Hawaiian waters, Dictyota sp., is gaining attention for its potential to produce compounds that have high-value ingredients in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, food processing, medical and dental industries. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researchers are exploring ways to establish an Indigenous limu commercial industry in the islands using the second of two $150,000 Sun Grant Western Region awards granted to Samir Khanal of the .

Although the limu is currently “unexplored” as an algal feedstock, Khanal of the 糖心视频 believes it could potentially launch a significant commercial industry—if researchers could figure out a way to boost its growth rate.

“If we can develop a biorefinery, focused on this Indigenous Hawaiian seaweed, to produce high-value compounds while simultaneously remediating aquaculture effluent [waste], this will introduce sustainable macroalgal-based bioproducts to the Hawaiʻi marketplace and create new avenues for a circular bioeconomy in the state,” said Khanal.

Creating a biorefinery

Khanal and his team of researchers including Surendra KC, Manpreet Kaur and graduate student Ty Shitanaka are using CO2-nanobubbles and aquaculture waste as a nutrient source.

The team鈥檚 approach includes lab-scale experiments to optimize growth conditions, followed by pilot-scale cultivation trials. They plan to refine extraction methods for fucoidan (sulfated, fucose rich polysaccharides) and alginate (natural polymer), investigate potential applications for the limu鈥檚 biomass residue—and most importantly—assess the economic potential of scaling up a Dictyota-based biorefinery.

“The outcomes of this project have the potential to develop larger extramural grants and strong collaborations between private and public institutions, with special emphasis on commercialization,” said Khanal.

To help Hawaiʻi reach net-zero energy by 2045, two researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (CTAHR) received a $150,000 Sun Grant Western Region grant to assess how bioenergy generated from bioresources such as agricultural residues and animal manures, via anaerobic digestion, could significantly contribute to the state鈥檚 renewable energy.

Samir Khanal, of the , and Tomoaki Miura, of the , are planning to develop the first comprehensive geodatabase on available bioresources across the Hawaiian Islands, and assess their bioenergy production potential.

“The National Renewable Energy Laboratory Biofuels Atlas, a valuable tool for identifying areas with abundant feedstocks, does not have specific data for Hawaiʻi,” Khanal said. “Given the decentralized nature of bioresources across the Hawaiian Islands, developing a comprehensive bioenergy feedstock map is essential.”

Khanal and Miura will combine geographical information system (GIS)-based modeling with bioconversion data. The database will be an interactive, online tool, providing vital insights to encourage the adoption of distributed anaerobic digestion technology.

“We will gather field data from all four major islands and employ GIS-based analysis specifically aimed at mapping the bioenergy potential of agricultural residues and animal manures within the Hawaiian Islands,” said Miura. “This information is crucial for resource management and for strategically planning the size and location of processing facilities to maximize both economic and environmental benefits to the state.”

Other accolades

Khanal was appointed editor-in-chief of , reflecting his achievements in the field of biological waste treatment/bioconversion and bioenergy. The journal is considered tier one, and ranks first in agricultural engineering receiving nearly 10,000 manuscripts per year.

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A researcher at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (CTAHR) received a Fellow of the American Society of Plant Biology (ASPB) Award which is granted to no more than 0.2% of the current membership each year. Robert Paull, of the , will be formally recognized in June during the ASPB鈥檚 Annual Plant Biology Conference. In 2014, he was previously made a Fellow of both the American Society for Horticulture Sciences and the International Society for Horticulture Science.

Paull鈥檚 research has led to improved crop growth and yield under environmental stress, and extended postharvest life of tropical ornamentals, fruits and vegetables. His research is valued by the agricultural industry, and his publications have led to more than 17,300 citations in his career, with about 1,000 citations per year since 2019. Paull has been placed on Stanford University鈥檚 list of the top 2% of the most-cited scientists in various fields (2022–23).

“Unique to Robert is his willingness to energetically help anyone on any project who requests his assistance,” said David Christopher of the . “He has formed a cadre of respected and grateful national and international academic colleagues, farmers, industry scientists and friends who value his collaborations.”

Paull has made numerous contributions to the areas of tropical and subtropical fruit, nut, vegetables, ornamental physiology and genetics, their postharvest physiology, handling and storage. He has co-authored five books; edited an encyclopedia, seven volumes and proceedings; authored 127 book chapters; and published 151 peer-reviewed journal articles and 138 conference abstracts and presentations.

“We congratulate Robert for his lifetime of diverse, impactful, and exceptional contributions to tropical agriculture, the field of plant biology and for bringing prestige to the University of Hawaiʻi,” said Christopher.

The award is a recognition of a lifetime of distinguished contributions to plant biology and to serve society in areas including research, education, mentoring, collaborations, outreach, and professional and public service.

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Collecting, identifying, describing and naming new species of seaweed that live in deeper waters off Hawaiʻi is the focus of a new University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa research project that received a $892,290 grant from the .

The target area is called the mesophotic zone, which is an extremely low-light environment. In Hawaiʻi, the mesophotic zone extends approximately 30 to 150 meters deep (10-story building to 1.5+ football fields) off Hawaiʻi鈥檚 coastlines. The organisms, such as seaweeds, that live in these zones are poorly known. A previous study in this habitat found that 52% of the seaweed species were new to science. This research will mark the first investigation into genome-level adaptations of red, green and brown seaweeds that live in the low-light environment of the mesophotic zone.

Led by principal investigator Alison Sherwood ( professor and acting dean and associate dean), and co-principal investigator Gernot Presting ( professor, ), this project will add to biodiversity records data, mesophotic genomic resources and herbarium (dried plant) collections, and the discovery of new species of seaweed in Hawaiian waters. Mesophotic seaweeds will be collected through a collaboration with NOAA researchers.

“Characterizing and describing these species is important for developing a greater understanding of the distribution of marine organisms across the Pacific, for tracking invasive species, and contributing to the larger goal of understanding global biodiversity,” Sherwood said. “While little is known about the seaweeds now, we hope our research will find out how these organisms are able to grow and thrive in the low light environment of the mesophotic zone, and shed light on the many endemic species that inhabit this depth range.”

Hawaiian names for new species of seaweeds will be developed through an ongoing partnership with the NOAA Cultural Working Group, which has already resulted in names for a number of new Hawaiian seaweed species.

The project will also train the next generation of algal biologists for jobs by exposing them to the most up-to-date DNA sequencing techniques, training in herbarium curation, genomics, bioinformatics, and ecological and evolutionary analyses.

The researchers will showcase their results through outreach events, scientific conferences and peer-reviewed publications. Samples of the newly discovered seaweed species will also be archived by the Bishop Museum and displayed through a continuously updated exhibit dedicated to Hawaiian mesophotic seaweeds.

A researcher鈥檚 determination to tackle agricultural chemistry issues relevant to Hawaiʻi and his dedication to the American Chemical Society (ACS) have earned him a place as an ACS fellow.

During the induction ceremony on August 14 in San Francisco, Professor Qing X. Li from the University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa 鈥� (CTAHR) (MBBE) was recognized for two citations—Contribution to the Science/Profession and Contribution to the ACS Community.

“It is a great honor to be recognized as an ACS fellow; I am beyond blessed and humbled,” said Li. “This encourages me to continuously address critical agricultural issues in Hawaiʻi such as pesticide contamination, pest control and green pesticide discovery.”

“Our heartiest congratulations on being a part of this distinguished group of ACS fellows!” said ACS President Angela Wilson.

An ACS member since 1989, Li had just assumed a leadership post when the COVID-19 pandemic occurred; he subsequently oversaw many ACS programs鈥� conversions to virtual environments, enabling ACS to continue serving its members.

Contributions to the agricultural chemistry community

When Li joined MBBE in 1995, his research focused on chemical proteomics (the study of proteins), phytopharmaceuticals (plant-based drug class), food chemistry and safety, pesticide chemistry and environmental monitoring and remediation.

Li has nearly 500 peer-reviewed scientific publications that have been cited more than 16,000 times. Additionally, Li has 20 patent applications and licensing and technology disclosures, and serves as editorial board member for five journals.

He is a past and present member of numerous USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture multistate research projects, including the agrochemical impacts on human and environmental health, a pesticide registration program and more.

Furthermore, Li鈥檚 research has had state-level impacts in ensuring food safety of pesticides; discovering phytopharmaceuticals relevant to Alzeimer鈥檚 disease and obesity; and leading the development of immunoassays (biochemical tests to detect specific molecules) and biosensors, which are used to image and quantify proteins and small molecules.