UH Hilo students take top research, memorial scholarship

A Marine Science student in the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Marine Option Program (MOP) recently took top honors in the 30th Annual Marine Option Program Student Symposium, held April 13 at University of Hawaiʻi Maui College.

The Award for Best Overall Research Paper went to Marine Science senior Kristina Tietjen for her project entitled “Evidence for a New Genus of Triphoridae in Hawaiʻi Based on Scanning Electron Micrographs of the Protoconch.”

In addition, Marine Science senior and MOP Student Coordinator Laura Knight was awarded the prestigious Anna Toy Ng Memorial scholarship. This award was established to annually recognize the most exemplary MOP student from across the UH System for marine scholarship, ocean stewardship, and participation in MOP. Knight is a member of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)-MOP Sea Turtle Rescue Team, was a NOAA Whale Count Site Leader for MOP, participated in the QUEST Scientific Diving program, and was awarded internships through the Kalākaua Marine Education Center (KM EC) to work as a research diver as part of NOAA’s Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument surveys.

Seven other UH Hilo students presented their work at the MOP conference, which included oral and poster presentations on research and internship projects. Students included Sandor Baranyi, Chelsey Bryson, Sean Cantero, Brittany Dolan, Hōkūokahalelani Pihana, Alanna Sutton, and Derek Watts. They all received full travel stipends from the UH Hilo MOP program to attend the symposium.

The UH Hilo MOP is a hands-on program open to students in any field of study who have an interest in the ocean. It is directed on the UH Hilo campus by the Kalākaua Marine Education Center (KMEC) and is a certificate granting program which offers courses on marine project development through the Department of Marine Science.

For more information or to join MOP, email uhhmop@hawaii.edu or call (808) 933-3907.