University of Hawai'i University Relations Media & Publications Honolulu, HI 96822	(808) 956-8856 Telephone (808) 956-3441 Facsimile ur@hawaii.edu E-Mail
For Immediate Release:	December 18, 1998
Contact: Cheryl Ernst, 808 956-5941

Malahoff to head Marine Bioproducts Engineering Center University of Hawai'i Senior Vice President for Research Alan Teramura has announced the appointment of Alex Malahoff to be director of the newly-formed Center for Marine Bioproducts Engineering (MarBEC). Malahoff, professor of oceanography and chair of the Department of Ocean Engineering, assumes the post previously held by Oskar Zaborsky. Zaborsky has left UH to pursue other opportunities. MarBEC is a partnership of the University of Hawai'i and the University of California at Berkeley. The National Science Foundation last month announced funding for the center totaling $12.4 million to support development of new engineering programs in marine bioproducts and examination of marine microorganisms to discover new bioproducts. "I have the utmost confidence in Dr. Malahoff and the scientific and engineering team that we have assembled at UH and at Brekeley," Teramura said. "They have already identified several very promising projects that have the potential to develop some novel marine bioproducts. MarBEC will serve as a model for the types of partnerships we need for future strategic research involving the university, the federal and state governments and the private sector."

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