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Hawai‘i Sea Grant Opportunities

Sea Grant Ulana ʻIke Center of Excellence Graduate Fellow in Unihi ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi

Background: The Hawaiʻi Sea Grant Ulana ʻIke Center of Excellence serves as a collaborative hub coordinating Sea Grant faculty and partners who work on projects that engage multiple knowledge systems. The goal of Ulana ʻIke is to ensure that customary practitioners from multiple knowledge systems have decision-making power in research and extension and can direct co-management of coastal and marine resources.

Native Hawaiian knowledge holds a breadth of information about the past that is critical for informing ocean and coastal management decisions in the present and future. However, the dismantling of many Indigenous governance and cultural systems by Western colonization has left major knowledge gaps around historical baselines for ecosystem resiliency and biodiversity. In Hawaiʿi, local and Native communities are increasingly advocating for the co-management of land and waters with state natural resource agencies, with an aim to restore more place-based stewardship of the land and coast. One first step toward a resolution is understanding how to include Indigenous knowledge in current management systems. The proposed work centers Native Hawaiian knowledge and perspectives to develop historical baselines of marine biodiversity in the nearshore ecosystems of Hawaiʿi. They will use this knowledge to evaluate the impact of both natural and human-caused climate events through history to better inform management decisions of Hawaiian marine biodiversity. Results from this project will offer insight into Native Hawaiian resource management and facilitate critical conversations with state and federal agencies around broadening forms of monitoring data that can be used in management decisions.

Narrative of Duties: Work under the supervision and guidance of Dr. Rosie Alegado (Oceanography and Hawaiʻi Sea Grant) on a Hawaiian language newspaper research and translation project to understand the discourse of Native Hawaiians regarding marine biodiversity and the terms, idioms, metaphors, stories associated with this topic. Specific duties include proposing research strategies, planning research efforts, and researching digitized Hawaiian language newspapers and archival documents from collection files, and preparing existing materials for inclusion in archival catalogue systems and other relevant resources; conducting searches on that document living marine resource in other information repositories; drafting translations of identified text from Hawaiian to English; provide technical, processing and proofing support for production of searchable newspaper text files, including OCR operations.

Minimum qualifications: Graduate student status upper-level (4 years +) proficiency and fluency (vocabulary and grammar) in Hawaiian language; background in Hawaiian history and familiarity with each of the monarchical periods, familiarity with Hawaiian language idioms and conventions of the 19th and early 20th–century writings; ability to summarize historical Hawaiian-language texts, including published and private communications; capability in translation from Hawaiian to English; familiarity with archival cataloguing systems; research skills, including searching Hawaiian Language newspaper and archive files; the ability to propose, plan and carry out research projects with Hawaiian Language source material; general computer skills, including typing, and use of word processing and database programs; ability to work independently as well as collaborate on projects with minimal supervision; ability to maintain schedules and meet deadlines.

Desirable qualifications: Experience or interest in interfacing with database systems for archival organization.

Appointment and application: All appointments are initially for one year, renewable for a second year based on performance. Compensation will be at GA-11 step 20 per SOEST graduate assistant rate.

To apply, submit a curriculum vitae, cover letter that describes your experience and that indicates how you satisfy the minimum and desirable qualification and the names and addresses of three academic references to:
Dr. Rosie Alegado (rosie.alegado@hawaii.edu). Date posted: November 4,, 2024. Review of applications will begin immediately; to ensure full consideration apply by November 18.

RVCC Graduate Assistant with the Sea Grant Ulana ʻIke Center of Excellence

Background: The Hawaiʻi Sea Grant Ulana ʻIke Center of Excellence serves as a collaborative hub coordinating Sea Grant faculty and partners who work on projects that engage multiple knowledge systems. The goal of Ulana ʻIke is to ensure that customary practitioners from multiple knowledge systems have decision-making power in research and extension and can direct co-management of coastal and marine resources. Outside of Hawaiʻi, Ulana ʻIke extends its mission to support Indigenous knowledges through its participation in the Rising Voices, Changing Coasts National Indigenous and Earth Sciences Hub (RVCC). RVCC was developed to create a space where Indigenous knowledge-holders from diverse coastal regions work with university-trained social, ecosystem, and physical Earth system scientists and students on transformative convergence research to address coastal hazards in the contexts of their communities. The goals of RVCC are (1) to co-produce convergence research with social and Earth sciences and Indigenous knowledges to improve modeling and prediction of coastal processes that support decision-making by Indigenous communities around mitigation and adaptation; (2) develop a successful, inclusive framework for cross-cultural convergence research that can be adopted and adapted by future research collaborations; (3) broaden participation amongst Indigenous students and researchers and train a new generation of diverse convergence research scientists; and (4) increase administrative and technological infrastructure to support current and future research with and by Indigenous scientists and communities. Together these goals are targeted to enable the Indigenous members of the RVCC Hub to identify the likelihood and nature of future coastal changes, to develop mitigation and adaptation strategies that target their priorities, and to take steps to protect future generations’ ways of life. The RVCC Hub addresses these goals through a convergence research framework that aims to tackle socially-relevant complex issues by integrating diverse forms of expertise to result in emergent forms of fundamental understanding. HISG-UI is supporting the RVCC Hawaiʻi Hub by supporting knowledge exchanges as well as the development of new or extended convergence research by and with Native Hawaiian knowledge-holders.

Job description and duties: To support Ulana ‘Ike’s work with RVCC, we seek a Graduate Assistant (GA) to facilitate project management activities, including by developing infrastructure within Hawaiʻi Sea Grant for convergence research. The GA will be responsible for:

  1. Assisting the Ulana ʻIke Principal Investigator in fulfilling obligations to the RVCC National Indigenous and Earth Sciences Convergence Hub, including the following functions:
    1. Support work that bridges multiple knowledge systems to inform development of potential strategies for climate resilience.
    2. Assist in organizing two Regional Knowledge Exchanges focused on community priorities in the Hawaiian Islands and extending into the Pacific Islands to contribute to the design and delivery of co-produced information that supports appropriate actions for coastal hazard mitigation.
    3. Assist with compiling and submitting quarterly reporting materials for project administration.
    4. Participate in RVCC annual meetings and other Hub knowledge exchange activities to share Pacific Island Region strategies for addressing coastal hazards and learn from other contributing Indigenous communities.
  2. Supporting projects and communication needs relevant to furthering priorities of the Ulana ʻIke Center of Excellence, including the following functions:
    1. Participate in weekly meetings with Sea Grant Ulana ʻIke Center of Excellence leadership and project related meetings.
    2. Support ongoing UI projects and Center administration.
    3. Update online and social media platforms.

Minimum qualifications: Strong written and verbal communication skills; event planning; general computer skills, including typing, and use of word processing; ability to work independently as well as collaborate on projects with minimal supervision; ability to maintain schedules and meet deadlines; understanding of Native Hawaiian natural resource management strategies; ability to communicate with people of diverse backgrounds.

Desirable qualifications: Experience or interest in web design; social media

Appointment and application: All appointments are initially for one year, renewable for a second year based on performance. Compensation will be at GA-11 step 20 per SOEST graduate assistant rate.

To apply, submit a curriculum vitae, cover letter that describes your experience and that indicates how you satisfy the minimum and desirable qualification and the names and addresses of three academic references to:
Dr. Rosie Alegado (rosie.alegado@hawaii.edu). Date posted: November 4, 2024.

Review of applications will begin immediately; to ensure full consideration apply by November 18.

Junior or Assistant Extension Agents (Moku Resilience Stewardship Coordinators) (OPEN)

(Job Number 2024 – 02235)

The Moku Resilience Stewardship Coordinators will oversee and coordinate resilience and adaptation activities within a specific moku (socio-ecological region) as part of a larger initiative aimed at promoting community empowerment, holistic resource stewardship, and climate change adaptation. These roles involve working closely with state and county government agencies, academia, non-profits, local communities, Indigenous leaders, cultural practitioners, and ʻaina stewards to enhance biocultural stewardship and resilience in the face of climate change. The coordinators will also work closely with the UH Mānoa Native Hawaiian Place of Learning Office to expand engagement around helping communities be reflective of Hawaiian language, history, and culture for all people to learn, grow, and connect. Activities will span a range of resilience and stewardship actions intended to reinvigorate the moku system including:

  • conserving and restoring forests and watersheds
  • enhancing regional community-based coastal stewardship
  • restoring marine abundance
  • sharing knowledge and strengthen networks across communities
  • reducing risk and improving disaster resilience, and
  • advancing community governance.

NOTE: There are 5 positions available, 1 in each of the 5 moku:  Kona, Kauaʻi;  Waiʻanae, Oʻahu;  Kona, Molokaʻi;  Puʻali Komohana, Maui;  and Kohala, Hawaiʻi. (Some of these moku are divided and named differently depending on the source. Hawaiʻi Sea Grant has opted to utilize the state-defined moku boundaries with larger areas that allow for broader geographic implementation.)

To Apply:
Submit the following online through NEOGOV:

  1. Cover letter indicating how you satisfy the minimum and desirable qualifications (Describe which moku you are applying for and why; multiple moku may be listed.)
  2. Current curriculum vitae
  3. Names and contact information (phone and e-mail) of three (3) professional references
  4. Official transcripts (copies acceptable for application, but if selected, originals required at time of hire).

All application materials must be submitted by the closing date.  Failure to submit all application materials by the closing date shall deem an application incomplete and will not be considered.

Title:                                     Junior or Assistant Extension Agent (Moku Resilience Stewardship Coordinator)
Position Numbers:         0084907T, 0084908T, 0084922T, 0084926T, 0084929T
Hiring Unit:                       University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program
Geographic Location:   Hawaiian Islands
Date Posted:                     October 7, 2024
Closing Date:                    Continuous – Application review begins on October 28, 2024 and will continue until the positions are filled. (Applications received after this date may be considered.)
Monthly Type:                 11 Month
Tenure Track:                  Non Tenure
Full Time/Part Time:    Full Time (100% FTE)
Temporary/Permanent: Temporary
Other Conditions:         Renewal contingent upon availability of funds and satisfactory performance of duties.

For more details on duties, responsibilities, and qualifications, and to apply, visit the UH Job listing.

Improve the health of the Ala Wai watershed

Hawaiʻi Sea Grant now accepting applications for projects that improve the health of the Ala Wai watershed

Hawai‘i Sea Grant is Seeking Science Writers (OPEN)

CONTINUOUS

Please reply to Cindy Knapman, lknapman@hawaii.edu

Science writers specializing in coastal and ocean resource management and water resource management needed for Hawai‘i Sea Grant’s biannual magazine Ka Pili Kai, published by the University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program, Honolulu, Hawai‘i. Must possess an understanding of Hawai‘i and Pacific Islands issues. It is helpful if the contractor is based in Hawai‘i or the Pacific Islands, but is not required.

Ka Pili Kai magazine communicates scientific knowledge to people of all ages who are interested in ocean and coastal management. It focuses on the topics such as water resources, coastal and climate science, sustainable coastal tourism, smart building and community design, marine education, and indigenous science, knowledge, and culture. The magazine is geared for ocean and coastal resource managers, policymakers, nongovernmental organizations such as environmental groups, and interested citizens. Please find a copy of our last issue HERE.

  1. The contractor will collect information on a pre-selected topic by interviewing scientists, resource managers, or cultural experts who are involved with the topic of interest.
  2. The contractor will be requested to write one or more of the following:
  3. 600-word profile on an individual
  4. 600-word story on a specific topic of interest that will be assigned
  5. 1,500-word summary of a selected book
  6. 2,000-2,500-word story on a specific topic of interest that will be assigned

The target audience includes policymakers, ocean and coastal resource professionals, and interested citizens. The articles should spark the reader’s interest by:

  1. Translating technical scientific information into layman’s terms.
  2. Providing context so the relevance of the information is readily apparent.
  3. Providing interesting quotes from the scientists and other interviewees.
  4. Craft a frame narrative so the article tells an interesting story and holds the reader’s
    attention.

The contractor will also:

  1. Obtain photos and/or figures from the featured scientist(s) or cultural experts related to the findings and write captions for each. Photos and figures should be provided electronically as individual files. Photos should be .jpg or .tiff files with a minimum resolution of 300 dots per inch (dpi).
  2. Provide managing editor with a preliminary draft for review and work with them to resolve any issues regarding clarity and accuracy.
  3. Submit the final draft electronically in Microsoft Word along with photos and figures to the managing editor within 3 weeks.

The contractor must have sufficient understanding of science and ocean and coastal management to translate complex scientific information and make it interesting and accessible to a broad audience.

How to apply:

To apply, please send a PDF of the following application materials to lknapman@hawaii.edu:

  •    Cover letter
  •    Resume or CV
  •    3 writing samples that demonstrate an ability to translate scientific information in a style that stimulates the interest of an educated audience.
  1. Potential contractors shall supply a lump sum bid for writing one or more of the articles described above.
  2. Contractor is paid per article following satisfactory submittal.
  3. The contractor does not own the copyright to any work or writing produced.

Email responses to: lknapman@hawaii.edu

Questions? Please contact Cindy Knapman, lknapman@hawaii.edu, (808) 956-7410

About the University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program

Founded in 1968, the University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program (Hawai’i Sea Grant) is part of a national network of 33 programs that promote better understanding, conservation, and use of coastal resources. Hawai’i Sea Grant works in partnership with the University of Hawaiʻi’s prestigious School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to identify Hawaiʻi’s critical resource management issues and guide cutting-edge scientific research to address these challenges.

Hawai’i Sea Grant supports an innovative program of research, extension, education, and communication services directed to the improved understanding and stewardship of coastal and marine resources. Realizing the necessity of collaboration to address coastal resource issues, Hawai’i Sea Grant also provides links between academia, federal, state, and local government agencies, industries, and local community members.

NOAA Coastal Management and Digital Coast Fellowship

2022 Coastal Management and Digital Coast Fellowships

CLOSED

Important dates and deadlines

  • Friday Jan 21, 2022: applications due to Hawaiʻi Sea Grant via eProjects
  • August 2022 start date for Coastal Management and Digital Coast Fellowship

The Coastal Management and Digital Coast Fellowships provide on-the-job education and training opportunities in coastal resource management and policy for postgraduate students. This is a two-year opportunity that offers a competitive salary, medical benefits, and relocation and travel expense reimbursement to selected fellows. The program matches postgraduate students with state coastal resource agencies and nonprofit organizations to work on projects proposed by the hosts and selected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

For further details, visit the Coastal Management and Digital Coast Fellowship websites at:

https://coast.noaa.gov/fellowship/coastalmanagement.html

https://coast.noaa.gov/fellowship/digitalcoast.html

A reminder that students are eligible to apply if they completed or plan to complete their master’s, doctoral, or professional degrees between August 1, 2020, and July 31, 2022. Any questions on the fellowship or application process can be directed to Hawaiʻi Sea Grant Assistant Director for Research and Fellowships, Maya Walton (waltonm@hawaii.edu, 808-956-6992).

Read full announcement HERE

Sea Grant and NOAA Fisheries Fellowships

CLOSED

Applications due Jan. 25, 2024 5:00PM HST 

to Hawaiʻi Sea Grant via eSeaGrant

The 2024 NMFS-Sea Grant Joint Fellowship Program in Population and Ecosystem Dynamics and Marine Resource Economics is a fisheries focused fellowship that places Ph.D. students in research-based fellowships that provide support for up to three years. The program is designed to fulfill workforce development needs identified by the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and since 1990, has provided opportunities for 144 Ph.D. students.

Applications are due to Hawaiʻi Sea Grant via eSeaGrant by January 25, 2024. A reminder that students are eligible to apply if they are currently enrolled as PhD students. Prospective fellows must be United States citizens. The award amount for the fellowship is $62,500 per year.

Students who are planning on submitting an application must meet with Hawaiʻi Sea Grant prior to the deadline. We encourage students to be in contact with our office early in the application process. Please contact the Hawaiʻi Sea Grant office to arrange meetings (uhsg@hawaii.edu, 808-956-7031). Any questions on the fellowship or application process can be directed to Hawaiʻi Sea Grant Assistant Director for Research and Fellowships, Maya Walton (waltonm@hawaii.edu, 808-956-6992).

For more info

John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship Program

2025 John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship

CLOSED

The call for student applications for the 2025 Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship is now open. Applications are due to Hawaiʻi Sea Grant via eSeaGrant by February 15, 2024. We encourage interested students to be in contact with our office early in the application process (email waltonm@hawaii.edu). Any questions on the fellowship or application process can be directed to Hawaiʻi Sea Grant Assistant Director for Research and Fellowships, Maya Walton (waltonm@hawaii.edu). Graduate Students nearing completion of their degrees who are interested in ocean and coastal resources and in the national policy decisions affecting those resources are encouraged to apply.

 Any student, regardless of citizenship, is eligible to submit to the 2025 fellowship (which begins February 1, 2025 and ends on January 31, 2026) if, 

·  The student is enrolled towards a degree in a graduate program at any point between the onset of the 2023 Fall Term (quarter, trimester, semester, etc.) and February 15, 2024;

·  The graduate degree will be awarded through an accredited institution of higher education in the United States or U.S. Territories, and;

·  The student has an interest in ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources and in the national policy decisions affecting those resources.

Important dates and deadlines

  • Monday November 20, 2023, 12:00 PM HST: Knauss Fellowship Info Session in person in HIG 210 and on zoom (register in advance HERE)
  • Thursday Feb. 15, 2024, 5 pm HST: applications due to Hawaiʻi Sea Grant through eSeaGrant
  • Feb. 1, 2025 start date for Knauss Fellowship in Washington DC

 Knauss Fellowship description

Are you a graduate student with an interest in ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources, and in the national policy decisions affecting those resources? If so, consider applying for the Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship, a one year paid fellowship where highly qualified graduate students are matched with hosts in the legislative and executive branches of the U.S. government. Knauss fellows receive a $71,400 stipend for the length of their fellowship (12 months).

Contact

For more information please visit http://seagrant.noaa.gov/Knauss or contact Hawaiʻi Sea Grant Assistant Director for Research and Fellowships, Maya Walton (waltonm@hawaii.edu).

Peter J. Rappa Resilient and Sustainable Coasts Fellowship

2024 Peter J. Rappa Resilient and Sustainable Coasts Fellowship

CLOSED

APPLICATIONS DUE: March 29, 2024 at 5:00 PM HST

**Please remember to submit applications to eSeaGrant

https://eseagrant.soest.hawaii.edu/

About the Rappa Fellowship:

To continue the spirit and good work of long-time coastal sustainability extension agent Peter Joseph Rappa, the University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program (Hawai‘i Sea Grant) created the Peter J. Rappa Fellowship (Rappa Fellowship) in memory of Mr. Rappa. Rappa Fellow(s) will be selected and involved in training and research to better understand aspects of coastal sustainability and resilience conducted within several of the Hawai‘i Sea Grant Centers of Excellence. Annually Rappa Fellows engage in projects that look into the natural, social, and built environments in Hawaiʻi and work on projects to better manage issues that affect coastal community livability, sustainability and resilience. The Rappa Fellows will further their knowledge and understanding of sustainable coastal communities through research, extension, and community-based education in topics of coastal smart growth and community planning and their integration with hazard mitigation and climate change adaptation, as well as cultural and traditional knowledge of Hawai‘i.

Eligibility:

All full-time undergraduate or graduate students currently enrolled in an accredited university or community college are eligible to apply for the Rappa Fellowship. In order to be eligible, applicants must be students at the application deadline in March. Students who graduate before the start of the Rappa Fellowship in June are eligible to apply.

Location:

The 2024 Rappa Fellowship will take place at the following location.

  • Hawai‘i Sea Grant office, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa campus in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi

Length of Fellowship

  • 8-weeks full time (40 hour/week) summer fellowship
  • The fellowship will begin on Monday June 17, 2024 and end on Friday, August 9, 2024

Stipend:

  • $7,000

Application Submission:

Please submit via eSeaGrant by March 29, 2024 at 5:00 PM HST

https://eseagrant.soest.hawaii.edu/

Application components:

  • Cover Letter (2 pages maximum)
    • The cover letter should describe your goals with an emphasis on what you, as the applicant, expect to gain from and contribute to the Rappa Fellowship program.
    • The cover letter should also describe your specific interest or preference in the potential projects listed below and how your background and experience supports this project.
  • Resume (2 pages maximum)
    • In the resume we encourage you to highlight any employment, volunteer, or extracurricular activities that highlight skill sets in project management or outreach especially as it relates to work in environmental sustainability and resilience.
    • Please also include any experiences that show prior leadership roles relevant to the goals of the Rappa Fellowship (e.g., student government, faculty committees, advisory committees, professional societies, community initiatives, etc.).
  • Unofficial transcripts
  • Names, emails, and phone numbers of two references
    • Please note that the selection committee will only be contacting references for applications that move forward to the interview phase.

Selection of finalists:

Finalists will be selected by a review panel and will be contacted for interviews in April or May. Final decisions will be made by late May and all applicants will be notified of a decision by this time.

Additional Opportunities through Rappa Fellowship:

In addition to engaging fully in one of the listed potential projects below, the Rappa Fellow will also gain an understanding of the multifaceted operations of Hawai‘i Sea Grant through shadowing extension faculty and participating in activities as scheduling permits. Rappa Fellows participate in field trips and site-visits to learn from Hawaiʻi Sea Grant extension agents, build relationships with community partners and place, and engage in environmental restoration activities. There will be several opportunities to also gain professional development on topics such as building and maintaining community partnerships, establishing reciprocal relationships between mentors and mentees, and expanding professional networks.

Contact for Questions:

Maya Walton
Assistant Director for Research and Fellowships, University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program, waltonm@hawaii.edu, (808) 956-6992

Potential 2024 Rappa Fellowship Projects

1. Assessing contamination risk in U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Island coastal communities

Hawaiʻi Sea Grant Mentor

Dr. Eileen Nalley, Ocean and Coastal Ecosystem Health Specialist

Project Summary

Contamination of terrestrial, aquatic, freshwater, and coastal ecosystems can present both acute and chronic issues in Hawaiʻi and the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI) with known consequences to fisheries, as well as environmental and human health. Prioritization strategies are needed to assess the potential acute and chronic impacts of pollutants in these systems in order to mitigate risk and prevent catastrophic and irreversible consequences to the food and water security of coastal communities throughout the USAPI. At present, formalized frameworks for conducting risk assessments in Hawaiʻi and across the USAPI to support decision-making, including contaminant monitoring and mitigation processes, are scarce. The Rappa Fellow will assist the project team with an assessment of infrastructure, ongoing activities, or land use in the USAPI that may present a risk for both acute disaster-related and long-term contamination risk to coastal communities (e.g., Lahaina and Red Hill fuel disaster, respectively). This will consist primarily of a systematic review of literature and reports to outline areas of particular concern for contaminant risk assessment and potentially risk mitigation in the future.

Desired skills and background include

  • Knowledge of environmental and human health, and experience conducting research related to environmental health
  • Experience with data collection and analysis
  • Experience reading reports and literature pertaining to risk assessments, contaminant exposure, climate change, and other matters related to environmental health.
  • Strong oral and written communication skills

Outcomes

  • Knowledge of the ecology and history of the Pacific Islands
  • Experience engaging in the risk assessment process
  • Improved oral and written communication skills
  • Increased ability to work on an interdisciplinary team
  • A draft document that summarizes contaminant risks for coastal communities in the USAPI and potential options for decreasing that risk

2. Charting a path for Conservation Management Education at the University of Hawai‘i

Hawaiʻi Sea Grant Mentor

Dr. Beth Lenz, Assistant Director for Diversity and Community Engagement

Project Summary

University of Hawaiʻi (UH) graduates at all levels who aim for a career in conservation in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific typically earn degrees in life sciences (e.g., biology, botany, marine biology, zoology, entomology, microbiology) or other physical or social sciences (e.g. geography, oceanography, economics). A critical missing component of education for conservation jobs is the development of skills in conservation management and leadership. This includes training in areas such as accounting and budgeting, ʻāina-based learning, strategic planning, project management, GPS, GIS, data analysis for management recommendations, human resource management and leadership, grant proposals and grants management, community engagement, facilitation, environmental review, administrative procedure, and public meetings. It can also include practical field skills training, such as chain saw safety, helicopter safety, dive and boating safety, wildfire fighting, and pesticide application. This Rappa Fellow will work with Hawaiʻi Sea Grant and the UH Office of Land and Ocean Conservation Futures to review available curricula in conservation management skills training, as well as potential course paths such as certificate programs, summer courses, and master’s degrees in conservation management, and develop one or more proposals for such a program at UH.

Desired skills and background include

  • Experience with reviewing documents related to courses and curriculum
  • Strong analysis, summary, organization communication, and writing skills
  • Interest in a conservation career in Hawaiʻi and/or the Pacific
  • Comfort with in-person and online communication
  • Interest in curriculum and workforce development

Outcomes

  • Engagement with the UH Office of Land and Ocean Conservation Futures
  • Summary of current opportunities within the University of Hawaiʻi System for conservation management education
  • Summary of advantages and disadvantages of potential course paths
  • Proposed curriculum for conservation management courses
  • Listing of interested faculty, teaching partners, and external partners

3. Community outreach for the Waikīkī World Surfing Reserve

Hawaiʻi Sea Grant Mentor

Dolan Eversole, Coastal Processes Specialist

Project Summary

The overarching goal of the Waikīkī Surfing Reserve is to develop, coordinate and foster a marine stewardship plan to protect and preserve the renowned surf breaks of Waikīkī.  The purpose of the World Surfing Reserves program is to preserve and protect outstanding surfing areas and their surrounding environments. The goal of the Rappa Fellowship will be to develop a final application for the Waikīkī Surfing Reserve complimented by community engagement and outreach supported by the Hawaiʻi Sea Grant network and project stakeholders. The Rappa Fellow will also work closely with the Local Stewardship Council (LSC), an independent and comprehensive coordinating advisory body composed of government agencies, coastal conservation organizations, and the local surfing and ocean community in Waikīkī to develop an education and communication strategy. We are searching for a Rappa Fellow applicant who can conduct work in a spirit of inclusion, respect for others, transparency, accountability, and with a commitment to the conservation of surfing resources.

Desired skills and background include

  • Strong writing and presentation and communication skills
  • Comfort with public outreach and public speaking
  • Data visualization and GIS mapping (i.e., developing charts, diagrams, GIS maps, Story maps and infographics)
  • Familiarity with Zoom or other online communication
  • Familiarity with Hawaiʻi marine conservation government agencies, networks, and organizations
  • Familiarity with Waikīkī Beach history, culture and interested parties, as well as Waikīkī ocean recreation and surfing sites
  • Surfing, canoe paddling, and ocean recreation experience is a plus but not required

Outcomes

  • Complete the Waikīkī World Surfing Reserve application
  • Develop and coordinate a World Surfing Reserve education and communication strategy
  • Mapping of priority projects, impacts and environmental concerns
  • Support and participate in the World Surfing Reserve community outreach

Build experience with grant-writing, budget development and fostering partnerships

E. Gordon Grau Coastal and Marine Resource Management and Policy Fellowship Program

2024 E. Gordon Grau Coastal and Marine Resource Management and Policy Fellowship Program
(2024 Grau Fellowship)

CLOSED

APPLICATIONS DUE: 5:00 pm HST on Friday, May 10, 2024

Informational webinar on zoom: Tuesday, April 25, 2024 at 12:00 PM (register in advance HERE)

About the Fellowship

In recognition of Professor Emeritus E. Gordon Grau’s service of more than 14 years to the Sea Grant College Program at the University of Hawaiʻi (Hawaiʻi Sea Grant) and the national network of 34 Sea Grant College Programs nationwide, we have established the E. Gordon Grau Coastal and Marine Resource Management and Policy Fellowship Program (Grau Fellowship). Sponsored by Hawaiʻi Sea Grant, the Grau Fellowship provides a unique educational and work opportunity for recent graduates (Masters, Ph.D., or J.D.) who are interested in coastal and marine resource management and policy decisions affecting those resources in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific region. Modeled after the highly successful John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship Program, the Grau Fellowship provides fellows an opportunity to acquire on-the-job experience in the planning, implementation, and management of marine, coastal, and/or watershed resource policies and programs. The program matches highly motivated and qualified recent graduates of graduate programs with hosts in state, federal, or municipal agencies and nonprofits in Hawaiʻi for a 2-year paid fellowship.

Eligibility

Graduate students at institutions of higher education in Hawaiʻi who complete their graduate degrees (Masters, Ph.D., or J.D) between May 1, 2023 and August 31, 2024 in fields related to conservation, management, public policy, planning, or law of marine and/or coastal resources are eligible and encouraged to apply. Additionally, applicants who graduated from a high school in Hawaiʻi and complete their graduate degrees between May 1, 2023 and August 31, 2024 in related disciplines as described above from accredited institutions of higher education outside of Hawaiʻi are encouraged to apply (e.g., students who graduated high school in Hawaiʻi and completed graduate degrees in California). Fellows must complete all degree requirements before starting the fellowship on September 1, 2024.

This fellowship is open to both U.S. and non-U.S. citizens. If you are a prospective applicant who is a non-U.S. citizen please contact Maya Walton, Hawaiʻi Sea Grant’s Assistant Director for Research and Fellowships (waltonm@hawaii.edu) to discuss.

Hawaiʻi Sea Grant is committed to supporting a diverse workforce in Hawaiʻi. Sea Grant embraces individuals of all ages, races, ethnicities, national origins, gender identities, sexual orientations, disabilities, cultures, religions, citizenship types, marital statuses, job classifications, veteran statuses, income, and socioeconomic statuses. Hawaiʻi Sea Grant is committed to building inclusive research, extension, communication, and education programs that serve people with unique backgrounds, circumstances, needs, perspectives, and ways of thinking.

Stipend and Expenses

Each fellow will receive a $62,000/year stipend for the 2-year fellowship ($5,167/month). Fellows will be responsible for obtaining health insurance and for the tracking and allocation of state and federal taxes as appropriate. Possible travel associated with the fellowship may be covered by the host agency at the agency’s discretion.

Length of Assignment

The length of assignment is 2 consecutive years (24 months; non-renewable). The fellowship will begin September 1, 2024 and end August 31, 2026.

Application Process

A complete application will include:

1. Personal and academic curriculum vitae (two pages maximum, 12-point font)

  • Describes applicant’s experience in either marine/coastal/watershed/climate science, natural and cultural resource management, planning, public policy, and/or law.
  • Describes honors, awards, and other recognition received by the applicant.
  • Demonstrates applicant’s interest in working with diverse communities.
  • Describes applicant’s commitment to apply scientific expertise to serve society.
  • Describes applicant’s prior leadership roles relevant to their career stage (e.g., student government, faculty committees, advisory committees, professional societies, community initiatives, etc.).

2. A personal education and career goal statement (1,000 words maximum, 12-point font) that answers the following questions:

  • What are your abilities, relevant background, and experience that may address one of the listed host offices and projects needs?
  • What do you hope to gain from and contribute to the Grau Fellowship Program?
  • What is your specific preference in the potential host office(s) listed? If you have interest in more than one host office/project please indicate that.
  • What are your long-term career goals and how does the Grau Fellowship support your long-term career plans?

3. Copies of all undergraduate and graduate student transcripts. Unofficial copies will be accepted at time of application deadline, but official transcripts are required prior to finalizing awards.

4. Two letters of professional recommendation, with one, we suggest, written by the student’s advisor; however, not required to be from the advisor and could be from a faculty member who is most familiar with the applicant academically. Letters will be received at seagrant@hawaii.edu. We encourage applicants to enter the names and emails of their letter writers in eSeaGrant early in the application process.

5. Written documentation that a graduate degree has been conferred or will be conferred by August 31, 2024. For most students the copy of the transcript will show that the graduate degree has been conferred. For applicants who are graduating after Grau Fellowship applications are due in May 2024, we ask for a signed letter from the applicant’s advisor, committee member, or department chair stating the applicant’s intended graduation date and what remains to be completed in their degree program before graduation.

How to Submit Application

Applications should be submitted via eSeaGrant by 5:00 PM HST on Friday, May 10, 2024:

https://eseagrant.soest.hawaii.edu/ (Note: upon first arrival at eSeaGrant, if you do not already have an account, you will be asked to sign up and create a username and password). Applicants will be asked to submit the names and emails for their letter writers. Letters of recommendation will be submitted to seagrant@hawaii.edu directly from the letter writers. Late applications will not be considered.

Potential Host Offices for the 2024 Fellowship

In the 2024 Grau Fellowship cohort, there are two potential placements for fellows. Depending on the applications received, Hawaiʻi Sea Grant and the host office partners may not fill all placements.

North Shore Community Land Trust (NSCLT)

The mission of the North Shore Community Land Trust (NSCLT) is to protect, steward, and enhance the natural landscapes, cultural heritage, and rural character of ahupuaʻa (land divisions) from Kahuku (Oʻahu’s northernmost point) to Kaʻena (Oʻahu’s westernmost point). The NSCLT has been intimately involved with coastal resource management and works to preserve and restore coastal lands through collaborations with coastal communities on the northern shores of Oʻahu since 1997. The organization facilitates a variety of projects to care for people and place in their mission area, which include restoring coastal lands through community involvement, advocating for multi-use coastal trails, and supporting conservation easements to preserve undeveloped lands.

The Grau Fellow at NSCLT will:

  1. Support NSCLT in background research and outreach for preliminary plans for multi-use coastal trails throughout the North Shore. Multimodal transportation is critical to community connectivity with people and place, which is tied to long-term environmental stewardship. The Grau Fellow may be involved with organizing meetings for the North Shore Trails Working Group, delivering informational presentations to community members, local organizations, and City/State officials, and building relationships with relevant community, private, and government entities for North Shore Trail projects.
  2. Advance restoration of Hawaiian agriculture and aquaculture on 30 acres in the ahupuaʻa of Waialeʻe. The Fellow will help to lead a team of interns and staff in restoration and cultivation activities at Waialeʻe. The Fellow will expand the reach of Waialeʻe Lako Pono through community outreach, and the Fellow will assist with planning larger projects, such as the implementation of new agroforestry areas.
  3. Assist in restoration activities at Kalaeokaunaʻoa (Kahuku Point). The Fellow will assist in advancing work to remove invasive species and out plant native species that create habitat for a number of our target animal species.

Desired skills for this fellow are:

  • Knowledge of current and historical community dynamics impacting NSCLT’s mission
  • Experience applying for individual and organizational funding opportunities
  • Presentation and facilitation skills for government, corporate, and community meetings, including outdoor settings and site tours
  • Knowledge of Hawaiian culture and language
  • Experience working with Hawaiian agriculture and aquaculture
  • Experience working outdoors for long periods of time
  • Ability to learn and translate technical/scientific topics to non-technical audiences
  • Ability connect and communicate with various audiences
  • Ability to work independently or in teams with diverse user groups, cultures, personalities and perspectives
  • Ability to coordinate and organize working groups and meeting logistics and planning
  • Ability to think critically, speak clearly, and write effectively

Contaminants of Emerging Concern

Hawaiʻi Sea Grant will be partnering with a host office organization to support a Grau Fellow who will focus on Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs). Contamination of terrestrial, aquatic, freshwater, and coastal ecosystems can present both acute and chronic issues in Hawaiʻi and the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI) with known consequences to fisheries, as well as environmental and human health. Prioritization strategies are needed to assess the potential acute and chronic impacts of pollutants in these systems in order to mitigate risk to the food and water security of coastal communities throughout the region. Though CECs are relatively understudied in the Pacific at this time, we can look to programs in other places to conceptualize a monitoring and risk assessment framework, while also highlighting areas that would benefit from future research.

The Grau Fellow focused on Contaminants of Emerging Concern will:

  1. Work with local agencies to understand their immediate and long-term CECs needs
  2. Identify gaps in the current knowledge related to CECs in Hawaiʻi and the USAPI
  3. Review and synthesize research, monitoring, and management pertaining to CECs that is currently happening in other locations and develop a guide for best practices that could be applicable to the Pacific Islands
  4. Develop a framework for future monitoring and management strategies for CECs in the region moving forward that is guided by the unique needs in different locations
  5. Support the Hawaiʻi Sea Grant and the Grau Fellowship host office in developing new communications and outreach products to educate the public about CECs
  6. Support the host office’s partnerships with community-based organizations that promote education on environmental contaminants

Desired skills for this fellow are:

  • Knowledge of environmental and human health, and experience conducting research related to environmental health
  • Experience with data collection and analysis
  • Experience reading reports and literature pertaining to risk assessments, contaminant exposure, climate change, and other matters related to environmental health.
  • Knowledge of and ability to use geospatial tools
  • Understanding of relevant local, state, and federal policies and programs
  • Ability to think critically, speak clearly, and write effectively
  • Ability to work independently or in teams with diverse user groups, cultures, personalities, and perspectives

Selection

Selection of finalists (2024 Grau Fellowship Cohort) will be made based on reviews of written application materials and interviews (in person, by Zoom, or by phone). Selection criteria include: academic ability, communication skills, diversity and appropriateness of academic background, clear articulation of career goals and how the fellowship fits in the student’s anticipated career path, additional qualifying experience, and letters of support.

Timeline

  • May 10, 2024 (5:00 PM HST):

Applications due via eSeaGrant https://eseagrant.soest.hawaii.edu/

  • May 2024 (approximate):

Interviews for selection of finalists by Hawaiʻi Sea Grant. Finalists are notified of status.

  • September 1, 2024:

Fellowship begins (date can be negotiated between fellow and host agency).

Contact

For additional information, please contact:

Maya Walton

Assistant Director for Research and Fellowships

University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program   waltonm@hawaii.edu; (808) 956-6992

Application Evaluation Criteria

1. Personal and academic curriculum vitae (40 percent).

For the Grau Fellowship Program, the personal and academic curriculum vitae is reviewed on the extent to which:

  • the applicant has relevant employment, volunteer, or extracurricular activities in academic, applied, research, administration, outreach, or policy positions that would be beneficial to one of the listed host offices;
  • the experience in the applicant’s area of expertise is appropriate to the career stage;
  • the applicant has received honors, awards, and other recognition;
  • the applicant has shown interest in working with diverse stakeholders;
  • the applicant’s experience demonstrates a commitment to apply scientific expertise to serve society;
  • the applicant’s experiences show prior leadership roles relevant to the career stage (e.g., student government, faculty committees, advisory committees, professional societies, community initiatives, etc.); and
  • records of publications and/or presentations (academic or nonacademic) are appropriate to the career stage, field, and institutional settings.

2. Personal education and career goal statement (45 percent).

For the Grau Fellowship program, the cover letter is reviewed on the extent to which the letter:

  • is specific, direct, and concise while discussing what the applicant would bring to and gain from the Grau fellowship;
  • clearly articulates the applicant’s career or life goal;
  • demonstrates the applicant’s diverse personal and professional background;
  • provides evidence of creative thinking, analytical skill, and/or indicates the applicant’s capacity and willingness to make connections between science and broader economic, social, and policy issues; and
  • demonstrates the applicant’s ability to convey scientific knowledge in broader, nonscientific contexts.

3. Academic record (5 percent).

For the Grau Fellowship Program, the graduate and undergraduate transcripts are reviewed on the extent to which:

  • the education and experience in the applicant’s area of expertise are appropriate to the career stage and relevant to one of the listed host offices; and
  • the applicant displays strength in academic performance and competitive course grades.

4. Letters of Recommendation (10 percent).

For the Grau Fellowship Program, the letters of recommendation are reviewed on the extent to which the letters:

  • demonstrate knowledge of the applicant and their abilities;
  • speak to the leadership potential, confidence, maturity, and self direction of the applicant;
  • provide evidence of the applicant’s willingness and flexibility to tackle issues beyond their area of expertise, and an openness and capacity to broaden their experience base; and
  • provide evidence of the applicant’s ability to successfully convey scientific knowledge in broader, nontechnical contexts.
HOST OFFICE PROPOSALS for Grau Fellowship

HOST OFFICE PROPOSALS for the 2024 Grau Fellowship
E. Gordon Grau Coastal and Marine Resource Management Fellowship Program (Grau Fellowship)

CLOSED

Applications due March 1, 2024 5:00PM HST to Hawaiʻi Sea Grant via email: waltonm@hawaii.edu

About the E. Gordon Grau Coastal and Marine Resource Management
and Policy Fellowship Program (Grau Fellowship)

In recognition of Professor Emeritus E. Gordon Grau’s service of more than 14 years to the University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program (Hawaiʻi Sea Grant) and the national network of 34 Sea Grant College Programs nationwide, we have established the E. Gordon Grau Coastal and Marine Resource Management and Policy Fellowship Program (Grau Fellowship). This fellowship provides a unique degree-to-work experience for post-graduate students who have an interest in ocean and coastal resources in the state of Hawaiʻi and the management and policy decisions affecting those resources.

Sponsored by Hawaiʻi Sea Grant, the Grau Fellowship provides a unique educational and work opportunity for post-graduate students who are interested in coastal and marine resource management and policy decisions in Hawaiʻi. Modeled after the highly successful John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship Program, the Grau Fellowship provides fellows an opportunity to acquire relevant experience in the planning, implementation, and management of marine, coastal, and/or watershed resource policies and programs in Hawaiʻi. The program matches highly motivated and qualified recent master’s, JD, and PhD recipients with hosts in state, federal, or municipal agencies and nonprofits in Hawaiʻi for a 2-year paid fellowship.

Host Office Tracks for 2024 Fellowship
For the 2024 Grau Fellowship, there are two host office tracks to which organizations can submit a host office proposal.

Host Offices with coastal and marine management and policy focus
Hawaiʻi Sea Grant seeks to partner with host offices in state, federal, or municipal agencies and/or nonprofits in Hawaiʻi that focus broadly on coastal and marine resource management, marine policy, and work in partnership with coastal communities. Host offices in this track should be prepared to engage Grau Fellows in projects that increase their understanding and professional experience in management and policy that address the sustainability and resilience of coastal and marine resources. Host offices should be located in Hawaiʻi.

Examples of host offices Hawaiʻi Sea Grant has collaborated with in the past include:

● Hawaiʻi Division of Aquatic Resources
● Hawaiʻi Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands
● Wastewater Alternatives and Innovations (WAI)
● NOAA Pacific Region Executive Board
● NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Pacific Islands Region
● National Disaster Preparedness Training Center
● Honolulu Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency

For more information regarding the selected Grau Fellows from previous cohorts and descriptions of their projects please visit https://seagrant.soest.hawaii.edu/directory/grau-fellows/.

Host Offices with contaminants of emerging concern focus
For the 2024 Grau Fellowship, Hawaiʻi Sea Grant also seeks proposals from host offices that are working to address impacts from contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). CECs are a worldwide issue and encompass a range of toxicants present in industrial products, personal care products, pharmaceuticals, endocrine disrupting chemicals, and other routinely-used and widely-distributed products. Toxicants are classified as contaminants of emerging concern if they are relatively understudied with concerns regarding their impacts on ecosystems and human health. Until recently, contaminants of emerging concern have not been managed or regulated, and the breadth and degree of potential impacts are unknown. In Hawaiʻi and other U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI), intense development along a narrow strip of seaside land results in a suite of CECs, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), being released and transported into groundwater and coastal systems.

Host offices in this track should be prepared to engage Grau Fellows in projects that improve the understanding and management of CECs in marine ecosystems, and ideally fellows will be able to develop an interdisciplinary perspective on this complex issue during their fellowship by collaborating with agencies that address the health of ecosystems and humans. Host offices can be located in Hawaiʻi or in the Pacific Region.

Host Office Responsibilities 

Prospective hosts will provide an educational opportunity to fellows, who will, in turn, provide substantial professional contributions to the office. Hosts are expected to supervise, mentor, and provide opportunities for the fellow to be involved in critical issues that support the fellow’s professional and educational goals. The fellow will be expected to engage with the host office and work on-site and with other staff and/or leadership, as appropriate.

Fellowship applications are submitted to Hawaiʻi Sea Grant and screened for appropriate academic background, employment history, career and education goals, community and extracurricular activities, interest in the fellowship, and personal characteristics such as initiative, adaptability, and strong communication and analytical skills.

Prospective hosts are expected to contribute $46,000 per year of the costs to support a fellow ($92,000 over two years). Hawaiʻi Sea Grant will administer the monthly stipend payments for each fellow.

Budget

Hosts are expected to contribute $46,000/year towards total costs of the fellowship award. The fellowship is cost-shared with Hawaiʻi Sea Grant. Fellows receive a stipend of $62,000/year. Once hosts are confirmed, they are expected to work with Hawaiʻi Sea Grant to put into place a memorandum of agreement or a contract for each fellowship award prior to the start of fellowships in Fall 2024. Fellows are NOT ALLOWED to start the fellowship until the funding agreement is completed.

Length of Assignment

The length of assignment is 2 years (24 months; non-renewable). The fellowship will begin September 1, 2024 and end August 31, 2026. In some cases, the start date can be negotiated to August 1, 2024.

Host Office Application Process

The Grau Fellowship is open for participation by municipal, state, and federal agencies in Hawaiʻi, as well as Hawaiʻi-based nonprofits that work on coastal or marine research, policy, or management.

A host office application should include the following information in two pages or less:

1. Host office name and location.
2. Name of fellowship mentor/supervisor and contact information.
3. Short summary and mission statement outlining the overall work of the office.
4. A list of potential projects that the Grau Fellow could work on with a short description of the measurable deliverables and/or outputs for each of the projects
5. A list of desired skill sets and areas of expertise that the fellow should possess.
6. A list of skill sets that the mentor will help the fellow develop; in other words, what professional skills will the Grau Fellow gain from the host office.
7. A summary of a plan to onboard and provide timely feedback throughout the fellowship so that the fellow can improve their skills and stay on track with their work plan. For example, describe how often the mentor will check in with the fellow, or the kinds of questions that could be asked to facilitate reflection on project progress and new skills learned.

If selected as a participating host, this description provided in the host office application will be made available and submitted to prospective fellowship applicants.

How to Submit Application 

Host office applications should be submitted via email to Maya Walton, Assistant Director for Research and Fellowships (waltonm@hawaii.edu), by 5:00 PM HST on March 1, 2024. Late applications will not be considered.

Host Office Selection

Acceptance of a host office application will be based on the following criteria:

1. The perceived quality of the fellowship opportunity.
2. The level of educational benefit for the fellow.
3. The host office’s previous experience working with interns, fellows, or other mentoring/educational programs.
4. Verification of available funds to meet host office financial commitment for the Grau Fellowship. Hosts are required to provide $46,000/year (or $92,000 over the two year fellowship) towards total costs of the fellowship award.

Selection of Fellow

Final selection of the Grau Fellow will be made by Hawaiʻi Sea Grant. Official offer of the Grau Fellowship to the selected applicant will also be made by Hawaiʻi Sea Grant. Hawaiʻi Sea Grant will partner with host offices in interviews of top tier candidates preceding final selection, and before making a decision, will discuss with the host offices the rankings of candidates from the Hawaiʻi Sea Grant Grau Fellowship review committee and rankings from host offices.

Contact

For additional information about the Grau Fellowship program, please contact:

Maya Walton
Assistant Director for Research and Fellowships
University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program waltonm@hawaii.edu
(808) 956-6992

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship

SURF logo with acronym, a wave graphic, and logo elements from Hawaiʻi Sea Grant and PI-CASCSummer
Undergraduate
Research
Fellowship

 

The Hawaiʻi Sea Grant track of the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) is designed to provide promising undergraduates the opportunity to gain valuable research experience, improve their skills in actionable ocean sciences, and expand their knowledge of environmental issues in Hawaiʻi and across the Pacific region. Selected fellows are matched with a mentor – depending on their location, either a faculty researcher or extension agent at the University of Hawaiʻi (UH) at Mānoa, UH Hilo, or the University of Guam (UOG), or a mentor from a federal research center (e.g., USGS, NOAA, EPA) – whose field of expertise and ongoing research complements to the extent possible the expressed interests of the student, and aligns with Hawaiʻi Sea Grant objectives. (Mentor Details Information Sheet)

Hawai‘i Sea Grant conducts an innovative program of research, outreach, and education services toward the improved understanding and stewardship of coastal and marine resources of the state, region, and nation, serving those who live, work, and recreate in coastal communities in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific Region. Hawai‘i Sea Grant is one of 34 Sea Grant College Programs nationwide with core funding provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that, as a network, promote unbiased, evidenced-based understanding, conservation, and sustainable use of marine and coastal resources. Funded activities focus in four areas: healthy coastal ecosystems, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, resilient communities and economies, and environmental literacy and workforce development.

Hawai‘i Sea Grant endorses a diverse workforce in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific and embrace individuals of all ages, races, ethnicities, national origins, gender identities, sexual orientations, disabilities, cultures, religions, citizenship types, marital statuses, job classifications, veteran status types, and income and socioeconomic status types and intersectionalities.

Student Eligibility for SURF
This fellowship is open to any undergraduate currently enrolled at any of the UH system campuses or UOG, or currently enrolled at another accredited two- or four-year institution but attended a high school in Hawaiʻi or Guam. All are encouraged to apply.

Program Details and Expectations for Students

  • The 2024 SURF Program will run from June 3 to August 9 (10 weeks).
  • Fellows must commit to working full-time (40 hours per week) for the entire program.
  • Fellows must attend an orientation (June 3) and 2 professional development workshops (dates TBD).
  • Fellows are required to present their research at a final SURF Symposium (August 8).
  • Fellows are required to write a short reflection on their summer accomplishments and experiences.
  • A stipend of $7000 ($17.50/hr) will be provided in support of 10 weeks of summer research training.

Application Process for Students
To apply for this opportunity, please collect the following information and submit through the eSeaGrant platform by 5 pm, February 29, 2024:

  • Name, email, address (campus, summer, or permanent), phone number
  • Two identified areas of interest from a supplied list of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant-relevant topics
  • Current resume
  • Unofficial college transcript (If freshman, please supply an unofficial high school transcript.)
  • 500-word essay on the following topic:
  • What inspired your interest in actionable ocean science? How would this research fellowship contribute to your current major or planned field of study?
  • Letter of recommendation from a faculty member or mentor familiar with your abilities. (This will be submitted separately and directly from the recommender.)

For more detailed instructions on submitting through eSeaGrant, see page three of the Student Details Info Sheet.

Virtual Information Session
SURF organizers will host a virtual information session at 2 pm on January 26, 2024 to reiterate details of the program, introduce the eSeaGrant platform, and answer questions from prospective students and mentors. Register for the event to receive zoom connection information.

Contacts & Notification
For questions about the SURF program or applying, please visit the SURF FAQ page or contact Dr. Rachel Lentz at rlentz@hawaii.edu. Notification of acceptance and student/mentor pairing will be emailed by about April 15, 2024.

Marine Debris Challenge Competition

NATIONAL SEA GRANT BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW
Marine Debris Challenge Competition

CLOSED

Important Due Dates:

Completed Partnership form due to Hawaiʻi Sea Grant: November 10, 2023, 5:00PM HST

Letters of Intent (LOI) due to the National Sea Grant Office: January 31, 2024

Full Proposals due to grants.gov: March 27, 2024

National Sea Grant anticipates having ~ $16,000,000 to fund between 5-12 projects for up to three years. We expect the average project size will be between $1,000,000 and $2,000,000; however, applications may request up to $3,000,000 in federal funds addressing the program priorities. The anticipated start date is September 1, 2024, with projects to be completed by August 31, 2027.

For complete information please review the Notice of Federal Funding Opportunity: NOAA-OAR-SG-2024-23706

All applicants must complete a Partnership form by November 10, 2023 by 5:00PM HST to help coordinate proposals with Hawaiʻi Sea Grant extension, education, and communication personnel.

Partnership forms not submitted by November 10, 2023 will not be considered for partnership with Hawaiʻi Sea Grant for this competition.

See more details below.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY OVERVIEW

The National Sea Grant College Program was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1966 (amended in 2020, Public Law 116-221) to support leveraged federal and state partnerships that harness the intellectual capacity of the nation’s universities and research institutions to solve problems and generate opportunities in coastal communities.

Subject to the availability of funding in fiscal years 2024 and 2025, Sea Grant anticipates approximately $16,000,000 will be available to support innovative, transformational research to application (R2A) projects that will address the prevention and/or removal of marine debris, with award periods of three years. “Research to application” or R2A refers to research and development projects that transition into tangible, scalable outcomes and outputs. Examples include (but are not limited to) new prototypes, products, processes, or tools.

Proposals may address (but are not limited to) innovative interception and/or removal technologies, reusable systems, microplastics, and/or nanoplastics. Proposals are sought that will build upon and extend existing knowledge and efforts related to marine debris; support broad, non-proprietary, and innovative research to address critical gaps with respect to marine debris; make that information available to communities and stakeholders; include Sea Grant education and extension professionals, community representatives, government, academic, non- governmental, and industry partners, as appropriate; and proactively incorporate principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and accessibility at every level of the work.

Proposals must include funding for Sea Grant education and/or extension personnel as collaborators. Community, government, academic, non-government, and industry participation/involvement in projects is strongly encouraged. Applications DO NOT require the standard 50% non-federal match for Sea Grant projects. However, applicants are strongly encouraged to combine NOAA federal funding with formal matching contributions and informal leverage from a broad range of sources in the public and private sectors. To this end, applicants should note that cost sharing and leverage of other funds is an element considered in the evaluation criteria.

Applicants and awardees from the FY22/23 National Sea Grant Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Marine Debris Challenge Competition are eligible to apply for these funds. Current awardees may submit an application outlining how additional funds would advance their original project. These applicants should focus on scaling and operationalizing their original technology or method rather than additional research. NOAA also encourages new applicants or previous applicants with new project ideas to apply.

Fully integrated teams of collaborators noted above must submit proposals with a Sea Grant program (Sea Grant Colleges, Institutions, or Coherent Area Programs) as a partner. A Sea Grant program may participate in more than one proposal. Collaborations among Sea Grant programs are encouraged, as appropriate. Please note that it is not a requirement that investigators, including the PI, are part of a Sea Grant program. Contact information for each program can be found at https://seagrant.noaa.gov/About. All 34 Sea Grant programs are eligible to serve as partners and to submit applications. If you need further assistance in identifying a program to partner with please contact the National Sea Grant Office via email at sg.grants@noaa.gov

Full details on requirements for submitting to this funding opportunity are detailed in the full announcement (NOAA-OAR-SG-2024-23706).

This is one of two National Sea Grant federal funding opportunities in support of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to address the prevention and removal of marine debris. This competition will support original, innovative, and transformational marine debris prevention and removal research that pushes the boundaries of existing technologies and approaches, changes the current landscape of marine debris mitigation, and ties that research to tangible outputs. This competition will also advance the goal of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative. Established by Executive Order 14008 on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, the Justice40 Initiative aims to provide 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments, such as climate, clean energy, and other areas, flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized and overburdened by pollution and underinvestment.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVE

To strengthen efforts in prevention and mitigation, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), has directed NOAA’s National Sea Grant College Program to execute $50.0 million over five years for the prevention and removal of marine debris. While plastics are a key focus, this work will also address other relevant types of marine debris, as appropriate. This work will complement broader NOAA efforts, particularly, the National Ocean Service’s Marine Debris Program, focused on active removal, cleanup, mitigation, and prevention of marine debris. Each Sea Grant program will determine and prioritize local needs and research-driven solutions that fully integrate the needs of historically underserved communities as defined by Executive Order 13985 (Section 2(b)).

This competition will support innovative research to application (R2A) projects that will address the prevention and/or removal of marine debris and provide the potential for transformational behavior change. “Research to application” or R2A refers to research that transitions into tangible outputs. Example outputs include (but are not limited to) inventive prototypes, commercial products, specialized services, or cutting-edge tools. Big ideas and risk taking are encouraged. Planning and capacity building activities are allowed but must accompany subsequent implementation activities; the end result of these projects cannot be solely academic or non-tangible outputs (e.g., scientific publications, awareness/training). A strong application will clearly outline how the project will produce new and effective deliverables that change the landscape for marine debris prevention and/or removal. Projects will communicate these outputs to the public (communities, stakeholders, industry, etc.) with the aim of addressing critical gaps with respect to marine debris. Proposals may address (but are not limited to) innovative or non-proven interception and/or removal technologies (i.e. prototype devices that require additional research and development prior to deployment, and/or need to be tested in new environments), reusable systems, and/or the detection and mitigation of microplastics and/or nanoplastics. See Section I.B. Program Priorities for more details.

Competitive projects will include funding for Sea Grant education and extension professionals and display a diverse coalition of partners including (but not limited to) community representatives, stakeholder groups, and industry collaborators. Projects will proactively incorporate principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and accessibility at every level of the work.

Principal investigators of proposals selected for funding will be required to participate in annual National Sea Grant Marine Debris meetings to share results of work conducted, discuss challenges, synthesize outputs, and to plan next steps. Cost sharing, leveraged funds, and in-kind support will make projects more competitive. Applicants are strongly encouraged to combine NOAA federal funding with formal matching contributions and informal leverage from a broad range of sources in the public and private sectors. To this end, applicants should note that cost sharing and leverage of other funds is an element considered in the evaluation criteria.

PROGRAM PRIORITIES

This competition will fund proposals that invest in transformative marine debris research to application (R2A) projects that will show clear and measurable outcomes and applications for marine debris prevention and removal. Projects should have a clear pathway for research or ideas to transition into application, operation, or commercialization by relevant stakeholders, and have the potential for long-term utilization. Proposal topics should support priorities laid out in relevant documents, such as the NAS 2021 report, Section 132 Draft Report on Microfiber Pollution, Draft National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution, relevant regional marine debris action plans (https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/emergency-response-guides-and-regional-action-plans#pub-term-145), strategic plans, and/or other documents, such as:

  • Development of innovative or non-proven removal and/or interception technologies (i.e., prototype devices that require additional research and development prior to deployment, and/or need to be tested in new environments) and reusable systems that prevent debris from entering the marine environment.
  • Innovative solutions for mitigation and clean-up of abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear and including sustainable disposal methods and/or recycling of end of life gear.
  • Microplastics, nanoplastics, and microfibers, including:
    • Understanding the effects of microplastics, nanoplastics, and microfibers on human health and marine biota (including immune responses, effects on cell growth and tissue formation, and translocation once inside humans or biota
    • Mitigation of the effects of microplastics, nanoplastics, and microfibers, such as:
      • Mitigation of microfibers during laundering
      • Mitigation of microplastics via green infrastructure (rain gardens, bioswales, other bioretention options)
      • Potential mitigation options for stormwater and/or wastewater
      • Potential mitigation options for biosolids
      • Potential mitigation or best practices for reducing microplastics and microfibers from construction related debris, geotextiles, and agricultural debris.
  • Detection methods for microplastics, nanoplastics, and microfibers in products, organisms, and/or the environment.
  • Improvements to wastewater treatment that eliminate microplastics and nanoplastics from effluent and sludge.
  • Mitigation of the impacts of plastics in food webs (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 2021. Reckoning with the U.S. Role in Global Ocean Plastic Waste).

This competition may also fund current awardees from the FY22 National Sea Grant Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Marine Debris Challenge Competition. These applicants should propose activities that build on their current award and focus on scaling, operationalizing, and/or commercializing their prototype, product, process, or tool.

Proposed projects should also:

  1. Be responsive to state, local, tribal, and regional needs within a national framework.
  2. Leverage existing Sea Grant and partner investments and capacities.
  3. Embed diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and accessibility (DEIJA) fully into the effort.
  4. Show how this work will be enhanced through partnerships, including collaboration among Sea Grant programs, and with other appropriate partners.

Proposals should address any of the priorities in this section along with the four principles above to be acceptable for this opportunity.

AWARD INFORMATION

Subject to the availability of funding, this announcement describes how eligible applicants should apply for the National Sea Grant BIL Marine Debris Challenge Competition. Sea Grant anticipates having approximately $16,000,000 to fund approximately 5-12 projects of up to three years’ duration. We expect the average project size will be between $1,000,000 and $2,000,000; however, applications may request up to $3,000,000 in federal funds addressing the program priorities.

There is no guarantee that funds will be available to make awards, or that any application will be selected for funding. If an applicant incurs any costs prior to receiving an award agreement signed by an authorized NOAA official, it does so at its own risk of not being selected or of these costs not being included in a subsequent award. NOAA and DOC will not be responsible for any incurred project costs if a project fails to receive full funding.

The anticipated start date is September 1, 2024, with projects to be completed by August 31, 2027

The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement to an eligible institution. A cooperative agreement is used when substantial involvement of the federal government during performance of the proposed work is anticipated. The nature of the substantial involvement includes strategic engagement with the National Sea Grant Marine Debris Team, support from National Sea Grant Communication efforts, and annual National Sea Grant Marine Debris meetings.

ELIGIBILITY

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

This opportunity is open to any person or group within the United States or its territories, as well as tribal nations within those geographies. Applicants must submit proposals in partnership with a relevant Sea Grant program. Please note that it is not a requirement that investigators, including the PI, are part of a Sea Grant program.

Hawaiʻi Sea Grant requires prospective collaborators to complete a partnership form no later than 5PM HST on November 10, 2023 to help coordinate proposals with Hawaiʻi Sea Grant extension, education, and communication personnel.

Federal agencies and their personnel are not permitted to receive federal funding under this competition; however, federal scientists and other employees can serve as uncompensated partners or co-Principal Investigators on applications. Federal labs and offices can also make available specialized expertise, facilities, or equipment to applicants but cannot be compensated under this competition for their use.

The National Sea Grant College Program champions diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and accessibility (DEIJA) by recruiting, retaining, and preparing a diverse workforce, and proactively engaging and serving the diverse populations of coastal communities. Sea Grant is committed to building inclusive research, extension, communication, and education programs that serve people with unique backgrounds, circumstances, needs, perspectives, and ways of thinking. We encourage applicants of all ages, races, ethnicities, national origins, gender identities, sexual orientations, disabilities, cultures, religions, citizenship types, marital statuses, education levels, job classifications, veteran status types, income, and socioeconomic status types to apply for this opportunity.

COST SHARING OR MATCHING REQUIREMENT

No cost sharing is required for this competition. However, cost sharing, leveraged funds, and in-kind support will make projects more competitive. Applicants are strongly encouraged to combine NOAA federal funding with formal matching contributions and informal leverage from a broad range of sources in the public and private sectors. Community, government, academic, non-government, and industry stakeholder participation/involvement in projects is strongly encouraged through cost sharing, leveraged funds, and/or in-kind match.

SUBMISSION INFORMATION

Full details on requirements for submitting to this funding opportunity are detailed in the full announcement (NOAA-OAR-SG-2024-23706).

PARTNERSHIP FORM

All applicants must complete a partnership form to help coordinate proposals with Hawaiʻi Sea Grant extension and communication personnel. Applicants will be asked to provide an overview of their idea(s) for proposals to help our staff understand your interests. You can submit this form multiple times for separate proposal ideas. After you submit the form, our team will follow-up with you directly.

Those interested in applying need to complete this partnership form as soon as possible, and no later than 5:00 PM HST on November 10, 2023.

LETTER OF INTENT

LOIs must be sent via email to the Competition Manager no later than January 31, 2024.

FULL PROPOSAL

Full proposals will be due to grants.gov by Friday, March 27, 2024.

CONTACTS

Questions about Partnership Form: enalley@hawaii.edu

Questions about Budgets: elysehan@hawaii.edu

Questions about the Funding Opportunity: oar.sg.marine-debris@noaa.gov

APPLICATION RESOURCES

Notice of Funding Opportunity

2021 Hawaii Marine Debris Action Plan

Reckoning with the U.S. Role in Global Ocean Plastic Waste

Hawai‘i Sea Grant Strategic Plan 2018-2023

Hawai‘i Sea Grant Request for Proposals

Hawai‘i Sea Grant supports a multidisciplinary, integrated program of applied research, outreach, and education addressing marine and coastal issues of public concern. Information generated by Hawai‘i Sea Grant-funded research reaches stakeholders via Hawai‘i Sea Grant extension, education, and communications activities in Hawai‘i and via the national network.

Please read about our Pacific Islands Indigenous Science Competition and our Biennial Research Competition on the Sea Grant Request for Proposals page.

Science Writer-Communications Student Internship

(CLOSED)

Hawai’i Sea Grant is seeking a University of Hawai’i graduate student intern.
Student applicants must have completed a bachelors degree and be able to perform interviews and other tasks independently. Excellent writing and communications skills required, including the ability to write articles and press releases with moderate supervision. Must be able to convey complex scientific information to non-scientific audiences. Knowledge of graphic design and website development software desirable but not required. Communications or science background preferred.

Duties include interviewing researchers and extension faculty to write about their projects for various media products. Topics may include coral reefs, fisheries, sustainable development, marine mammals, coastal hazards, and community outreach. Must be willing to take high resolution photographs suitable to include in various media products. In addition, audio interviews will be conducted and synthesized for use on website, podcasts, etc.

This internship may also include other activities and duties as assigned in support of the Hawai’i Sea Grant Communications unit.

$17.35/hr
10-20 hours per week

To apply, log in to the Campus Student Employment website: https://sece.its.hawaii.edu/sece and search for position 78259-A5

Application review begins May 1, 2022. Position open until filled.

IN THIS SECTION

Learn more about Hawaiʻi Sea Grant.