A University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa alumnus has returned to his alma mater as a faculty member to help launch a new initiative aimed at creating engineering opportunities for students statewide.
Trevor Shimokusu completed his PhD in mechanical engineering as a NASA Space Technologies Graduate Research Opportunity fellow at Rice University earlier this year and joined UH Mānoa’s College of Engineering in the fall. The Waiākea High School graduate, who earned his bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from UH Mānoa in 2019, will play a key role in a new pre-engineering pathway program that allows students to begin their engineering studies at UH Hilo before transferring to UH Mānoa to complete their degrees.
“Having this streamlined program where you can do two years at UH Hilo and then two years at UH Mānoa, I think would have definitely benefited my case where I could have stayed home and taken advantage of some of the savings,” Shimokusu said.
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The initiative serves multiple purposes: supporting technology development for telescopes on Maunakea and Haleakalā, building educational pathways for aspiring engineers in the state, and expanding Hawaiʻi’s tech sector and creating more high-paying jobs on Hawaiʻi Island and across the state, particularly in astronomy and related fields.
Hawaiʻi Island roots
Growing up in the close-knit community of Hilo on Hawaiʻi Island, Shimokusu was particularly inspired by a family friend uncle who helped design Daniel K. Inouye Highway (formerly Saddle Road) that significantly reduced travel time across the island. This early exposure to engineering’s societal impact influenced his career path. To students considering the new pathway program, Shimokusu emphasizes the importance of staying curious and being open to opportunities.
“I don’t think many students are aware of the cutting-edge technologies and high-paying engineering jobs available on Hawaiʻi Island and Maui to support ground-based astronomy,” he said. “It’s good for them to get that exposure whether it be through research or interacting with industry members in the classroom.”
Earlier this year, Shimokusu learned about the college’s efforts to expand its focus on space science and engineering. He knew that it was a perfect fit.
“It’s an exciting time to be a part of the College of Engineering, which is fostering collaborations across the state and impacting the community with breakthroughs in areas ranging from biomedical applications to clean energy materials,” he said.
Optimizing heat management
As a faculty member of the space science and engineering initiative, Shimokusu will teach courses in the mechanical engineering department at UH Mānoa. His research lab brings expertise in thermal control devices and systems to address energy efficiency challenges.
“Almost all energy used today is dissipated as heat into the environment, like heat coming from your computer or hot exhaust leaving your car,” Shimokusu said. “My research focuses on controlling heat with smart materials, devices and systems to improve the efficiency of these kinds of processes. In the context of ground-based astronomy, tunable or smart thermal control could lead to energy savings when applied to power-hungry cryogenic refrigeration systems, which are used to keep infrared detectors very cold.”
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—By Marc Arakaki
