Undergraduate Research Opportunities at the University of Hawai`i at Hilo

Research is an excellent means for supplementing the undergraduate classroom experience. Conducting research allows the student to delve into areas of interest, practice the scientific method, and develop technical and analytical skills. Research experience is especially important for those students interested in attending graduate school. There are numerous opportunities for undergraduates to carry out research in the biological sciences at the University of Hawai`i at Hilo.

Summer Programs:

Pacific Internships Programs for Exploring Science (PIPES)

The PIPES Program is an umbrella program encompassing several summer internship opportunities (including UH-HIP, REU, and MASSIP).

This program links kama`aina (local) undergraduates with ten-week, paid summer internships with host agencies and organizations throughout Hawai`i to work on environmental issues. For more information on UH-HIP, click the above link or contact Sharon Ziegler-Chong at ziegler@hawaii.edu .

REU is a ten-week summer internship program based at the University of Hawai`i at Hilo that centers on conservation biology. For more information or an application, check the link above or contact Sharon Ziegler-Chong at ziegler@hawaii.edu .

This program links undergraduates from US-affiliated Pacific islands to ten-week summer internships with host agencies and organizations on their home islands for the purpose of working on environmental issues. For more information on MASSIP, check the link above or contact Sharon Ziegler-Chong at ziegler@hawaii.edu .

Academic Year Programs:

Keaholoa Internship Program

The Keaholoa Program seeks to increase participation of Native Hawaiian students in math and science. Internships are available every semester and during the summer. See the website for information on availability and eligibility. Contact Kamaka Gunderson at gkg@hawaii.edu or Drew Kapp at dkapp@hawaii.edu for more information.

Minority Biomedical Research Support Program (MBRS)

The MBRS Program is sponsored by a grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, NIH, and is geared to enhance biomedical research and training at minority-serving institutions. The current grant at the University of Hawai`i at Hilo supports research in biological anthropology, psychology, and philosophy (medical ethics), and has in the past supported research in biology, chemistry, and marine science. For more information contact Dan Brown, Anthropology, dbrown@hawaii.edu .

University of Hawai`i Space Grant Consortium

The Space Grant has Undergraduate Fellowships and Traineeships sponsored by NASA. All full-time undergraduates enrolled at the University of Hawai`i at Hilo who are U.S. citizens are eligible. Each participating student writes his/her own research proposal and identifies a faculty member willing to serve as a mentor during the award period. Contact Sun Park at sunypark@hawaii.edu .

Other Opportunities

Please contact individual faculty members for research opportunities in their respective laboratories.