School of Life Sciences

Administration

St. John 101
3190 Maile Way
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-8303
Fax: (808) 956-4745
Email: lifesci@hawaii.edu
Undergraduate Advising Email: cnsadvis@hawaii.edu
Web: manoa.hawaii.edu/lifesciences/

Director: M. A. Burgman

Faculty

*M. Burgman, PhD (Director)—ecology and conservation biology (B)
*C. C. Daehler, PhD (Associate Director of Instruction, Botany Graduate Chair)—population biology, invasive plants, plant-herbivore interactions (B)
*A. L. Moran, PhD (Associate Director of Curriculum)—marine ecology and evolution (Z)
*M. Porter, PhD (Associate Director of Research)—evolution and ecology of vision, crustacean phylogenetic (Z)
*S. Prisic, PhD (Microbiology Graduate Chair)—molecular pathogenesis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, alternative ribosomal proteins and zinc signaling (M)
*A. N. Wright, PhD (Zoology Graduate Chair)—population ecology, community ecology, conservation biology (Z)
*K. A. Barton, PhD—evolutionary ecology (B)
*M. Butler, PhD—evolution ecology of reptiles, amphibians, odonates, and emerging viruses through studies of biodiversity, phylogenetics, functional morphology, and microbiome (MZ)
*R. Chong, PhD—evolution, genomics, and symbiosis (Z)
*K. Cole, PhD—ichthyology, behavioral ecology, reproductive biology, morphology and morphogenesis, microgravity biology (Z)
*S. P. Donachie, PhD—marine microbiology, microbial diversity, and taxonomy (M)
Y. Heackock-Kang, PhD—molecular genetics of pathogenic and opportunistic bacteria (M)
*M. A. Hixon, PhD—marine ecology and conservation biology (Z)
*T. T. Hoang, PhD—vaccine and diagnostic development for bacterial infectious diseases; molecular pathogenesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Burkholderia species, Mycobacterium leprae (M)
*C. L. Hunter, PhD (MOP Director)—conservation biology, coral reef ecology, biology and ecology of marine invertebrates (Z)
S. D. Kraft-Terry, PhD—academic advising and assessment
*P. B. J. Marko, PhD—biogeography, evolution and conservation (Z)
*M. Merlin, PhD—biogeography, ethnobotany, natural history of the Pacific (B)
*C. W. Morden, PhD-plant molecular systematics and evolution (B)
L. M. Munger, PhD—marine mammal passive acoustic monitoring and behavioral ecology, reef soundscapes, anthropogenic noise in marine habitats
*M. Norris, PhD-global health, vaccine development, molecular diagnostics, bacterial pathogens (M)
*F. A. Reed, PhD—population genetics (Z)
*A. Rominger, PhD-Quantitative Biology (Z)
H. C. Shen, PhD—immunology, cancer biology, drug design
*A. R. Sherwood, PhD—systematics, evolution and biogeography of algae (B)
*C. M. Smith, PhD—physiological ecology of marine macrophytes, marine ecology, cell biology (B)
*R. Thomson, PhD—evolutionary biology and phylogenetics (Z)
*T. B. Ticktin, PhD—ethnoecology, conservation (B)
*T. Tricas, PhD—marine animal behavior (Z)
J. Walguarnery, PhD—ecology and animal behavior
*G. J. Wong, PhD—mating systems and biosystematics of basidiomycetes (B)
*M. Yoshizawa, PhD—evolutionary developmental biology, neuralbiology, behavioral adaptation; microbiome and behavior (MZ)

Emeritus Faculty

J. Bailey-Brock, PhD—invertebrate biology
G. D. Carr, PhD—systematics and evolution
S. Conant, PhD— ecology and evolution, conservation
H. G. de Couet, PhD—molecular cell biology, development biology, evolution
R. Fujioka, PhD (Emeritus)—environmental microbiology
J. B. Hall, PhD—microbiology
F. I. Kamemoto, PhD—marine biology
S. Keeley, PhD—systematics
G. S. Losey, PhD— reef fish ethology
F.D. Miller, PhD (Emeritus)—epidemiology of infectious diseases
P. E. Nachtigall, PhD (Emeritus)—behavior and sensory processes of marine mammals
P. Patek, PhD—cellular immunology
T. A. Ranker, PhD—systematics and evolution
S. A. Reed, PhD—marine biology
C. Smith, PhD—conservation, Hawaiian lichens
J. S. Stimson, PhD—evolution
A. D. Taylor, PhD—population and community ecology, applied statistics
C. Z. Womersley, PhD—physiological ecology

Cooperating Graduate Faculty in Botany

A. S. Amend, PhD—evolutionary ecology (B)
D. A. Christopher, PhD—gene regulation of photosynthesis, uv effects
S. Honarvar, PhD—ecology and conservation biology, sea turtles and primates
C. L. Hunter, PhD—reef ecology
N. Hynson, PhD—mycorrhizal symbiosis, mycoheterotrophic plants, plant-fungal community feedbacks in pioneer and invaded ecosystems
*M. L. Knope, PhD—ecology, evolution, and conservation biology (B)
R. Ostertag, PhD—ecology
J. Price, PhD—native bird and plant species hotspots with GIS, area identification for restoration of threatened and endangered species
K. Winter, PhD—biocultural restoration of socio-ecological systems in Hawaiʻi

Affiliate Graduate Faculty in Botany

L. Fortini—-population and community ecology modeling and analyses
S. Gonn III—invertebrate biodiversity and conservation; community involvement in conservation: Hawaiʻi biodiversity
N. Kurashima—ethnoecology, agroecology, traditional knowledge, biocultural conservation
D. Lorence—systematics of flowering plants
K. Peyton—ecology, restoration and adaptive management of Hawaiian estuaries, coastal wetlands, streams, marine systems
S. Walsh—plant ecology; breeding systems, floral biology, pollination ecology
D. Wolkis—seed conservation biology, seed and pollen storage behavior
R. Zahawi, PhD—tropical forest ecology, restoration ecology

Cooperating Graduate Faculty in Microbiology

R. Alegado, PhD—microbial ecology and evolution; microbiome of coastal habitats
M. Arif, PhD—host-bacterial interactions, bacterial genomics, phylogenomics and evolution, molecular diagnostics, microbiome
D. Borthakur, PhD—plant-microbe interactions
S. P. Chang, PhD—immunology and vaccine development; effect of molecular adjuvants on B cell development and differentiation
Z. Du, PhD—synthetic biology for valuable bioproducts; symbiosis of microbes; lipid metabolism in photosynthetic organisms; tropical crop engineering and breeding; bioreactor design and applications
J. Graf, PhD—interactions between microorganisms and animals, using genetics, microscopy and next-generation sequencing, in medicinal leeches, humans, other animals and aquatic biofilms
M. Kirs, PhD—microbiological water quality standards and public health; microbial source tracking; impact of anthropogenic contaminants on the environment; phycotoxins; taxonomy and systematics
Q. X. Li, PhD—chemical proteomics, microbial transformation, and enzymology
V. R. Nerurkar, PhD—pathogenesis of infectious diseases; delineating cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying microbe-host interaction
Z. Wang, PhD—environmental biotechnology, nutrient removal, resource recovery

Affiliate Graduate Faculty in Microbiology

S. N. Bennett, PhD—evolutionary ecology of emerging viruses; vectorborne, zoonotic and fast-evolving RNA viruses
B. Smagghe, PhD-antibody—based cancer therapy, cancer immunotherapy, protein biochemistry, protein engineering
H. Turner, PhD—immunological signaling pathways, immunopharmacology, data science and machine learning for drug discovery
A. C. Whelen, PhD—laboratory diagnosis of infectious disease; clinical and public health laboratory management

Cooperating Graduate Faculty in Zoology

B. Bowen, PhD—phylogeography and conservation genetics of marine vertebrates
R. Cowie, PhD—origins and determinants of biological diversity in Pacific islands
M. Donahue, PhD—spatial population dynamics; marine community ecology; habitat selection, scaling of ecological processes
E. Franklin, PhD—marine ecology coral reefs, fish and fisheries, invasive species, restoration ecology
D. K. Hartline, PhD—quantitative neurophysiology and simulation of simple networks
B. Holland, PhD—conservation biology, island biogeography, phylogenetic reconstruction
K. N. Holland, PhD—physiology, behavior, ecology of aquatic organisms
S. Honarvar, PhD—ecology and conservation biology, sea turtles and primates
K. Y. Kaneshiro, PhD—systematics, evolution, insect behavior
P. Lenz, PhD—neuroecology of zooplankton sensory systems
E. Madin, PhD—marine community ecology and food webs, fish behavior
M. McFall-Ngai, PhD—animal-bacterial symbioses, molecular design of tissues that interact with light
M. Medeiros, PhD—evolutionary biology, ecology of infectious pathogens
R. Richmond, PhD—invertebrate zoology, conservation biology
E. Ruby—microbe-host signaling, comparative genomics and population biology
R. Toonen, PhD—molecular genetics of marine organisms
J. Yew, PhD—chemical communication of insects, neurobiology of chemosensory perception, mass spectrometry methods for natural product chemistry

Affiliate Graduate Faculty in Zoology

R. Allison, PhD—systematics, biogeography and ecology
C. Birkeland, PhD—conservation biology regarding coral
J. Ferguson, PhD—population ecology, statistical ecology
A. Friedlander, PhD—marine ecology, marine conservation biology
R. Zenil-Ferguson, PhD—polyploidy, breeding systems, diversification

* Graduate Faculty

The Academic Program

The School of Life Sciences formed in 2020 through the merger of the Departments of Biology, Botany and Microbiology. There are five undergraduate disciplines within which students can major: Biology (BA, BS), Botany (BA, BS), Marine Biology (BA, BS), Microbiology (BA, BS) and Molecular Cell Biology (BS). Minors in Biology, Botany and Microbiology are also possible. Additionally, there are four graduate programs for preparation toward a profession within these disciplines: Botany, Marine Biology (see Interdisciplinary Programs), Microbiology, and Zoology.

The Life Sciences are of fundamental importance in a science or liberal arts education, as they provide students with a keener insight into and a deeper appreciation of the many facets of living systems. Most students plan to use their training as preparation for professional work, such as aquaculture, biotechnology, biological research, dentistry, marine biology, medicine, optometry, conservation, pharmacy, and teaching. Our graduates have an outstanding record of acceptance in advanced degree programs at dental, medical, pharmacy, and graduate schools. Many of our graduates also become teachers after obtaining a post-baccalaureate teaching certificate at the College of Education.

Undergraduate Study

Students must earn a grade of C (not C-) or higher in each course applied to the major, including required courses in CHEM, BIOL, PHYS, and MATH.

Advising

Undergraduate student advising is mandatory. Prospective majors should visit natsci.manoa.hawaii.edu/sasc or contact cnsadvis@hawaii.edu to meet with an advisor to design a curriculum that satisfies program requirements.

Biology

The Biology (BIOL) undergraduate major provides an academic home to students who wish to pursue a broad training in the biological sciences. The biology curricula are designed to provide students with a strong background in the principles of biology and with rigorous upper division instruction in a number of basic areas. This combination of breadth and in-depth instruction allows students to develop the intellectual foundations and the skills necessary to deal with the specific biological concerns of today and the flexibility to meet the needs of the various professions. From this base, our graduates can pursue future specialization with confidence.

Botany

The Botany (BOT) undergraduate programs train students to understand and appreciate the diversity of plants, algae, and fungi that sustain the world’s terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. The curriculum provides broad-based training, from traditional field methods to the latest molecular techniques. The program offers excellent opportunities for research experience for undergraduates and graduate students, and takes advantage of Hawaiʻi’s unique location by offering students unparalleled opportunities to explore the botanical diversity of tropical freshwater, marine, and terrestrial ecosystems through a wide range of field and laboratory experiences. Students may focus on topics ranging from the ecology, evolution, and conservation of Hawaiʻi’s unique ecosystems and flora, to the threats posed by invasive species, to the uses of plants by humans.

Affiliations

Botanical studies are enhanced by cooperative working relationships between the School of Life Sciences and Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology, Harold L. Lyon Arboretum, Kewalo Marine Laboratory of the Pacific Biosciences Research Center, Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit of the National Park Service, The Nature Conservancy, State of Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Tropical Botanical Garden, Honolulu Botanical Garden, Herbarium Pacificum and the Department of Botany of the B. P. Bishop Museum, Hawaiʻi Agriculture Research Center, and Waikīkī Aquarium.

Marine Biology

The Marine Biology undergraduate program examines all aspects of marine life, their behaviors, and their relationships to the marine environment. The curriculum is designed to provide students with a strong background in both the biotic and physical aspects of marine ecosystems. Hawaiʻi’s location provides an unparalleled setting to learn about the variety of marine systems, from coastal to deep-sea, through a range of field and laboratory experiences. Undergraduate majors receiving a Marine Biology BS degree will be prepared to pursue marine-related careers in a diversity of fields, including conservation, research, education, resource management, and policy, or for continuing toward an advanced degree.

Microbiology

Microbiology (MICR) deals with microscopic forms of life and their activities. Bacteria, algae, fungi, protozoa, and viruses are included in this discipline. The field is diverse and concerns the nature of microorganisms, as well as their interactions—both advantageous and adverse—with other organisms and with the environment. Entire academic disciplines and commercial enterprises are based on what microorganisms do. For example, the very forms that may cause infectious diseases and epidemics may also support industries that produce vaccines or antimicrobial agents. Microorganisms play an essential role in the cycling of the limited supply of nutrients available on Earth’s surface by decomposing plant and animal remains, and by being primary producers of food and oxygen in the oceans. Many microorganisms or their products may be eaten, drunk, used as fuel, or disposed of as undesirable. They may be used to clean up the environment or controlled only with great effort to prevent corrosive, obnoxious, or destructive activities that they may bring about. Microbiology also deals with the physiology, biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology of microorganisms. Many of the advances in DNA technology are mediated through bacteria, yeasts, and viruses; much of what we know about metabolism, gene regulation, evolution, and other fundamental biological processes comes from their study.

Molecular Cell Biology

The BS degree in Molecular Cell Biology (MCB) is designed to prepare students for careers in fields that require advanced knowledge of molecular biology, in particular those that relate to human health and welfare. Examples of such fields include, but are not limited to, medicine, pharmacology, pathology, genetic testing and counseling, biotechnology, nanotechnology, teaching, and basic research.

Graduate Programs

Graduate Study in Botany

The School of Life Sciences offers programs leading to MS and PhD degrees in Botany. Hawaiʻi’s location offers unique opportunities to study the patterns and processes of evolution, ecology, and morphological and physiological variations within a geographically variable yet isolated setting. Abundant opportunities are available for research in marine, aquatic, and terrestrial environments, and faculty expertise spans a phylogenetically diverse set of organisms including land plants, algae, and fungi. The faculty is composed of a number of nationally and internationally recognized scientists in conservation, ecology, ethnobotany, and systematics.

Recipients of the MS degree often teach at the high school level, pursue careers with state or federal government agencies, or work with environmental organizations and consultancies. Those with a PhD may teach and/or conduct research in colleges and universities, work as environmental consultants, and pursue careers with environmental organizations or the government.

Graduate students in botany may join the interdisciplinary graduate specializations; Cellular and Molecular Biology (CMB); and the Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology (EECB) Program. The program has active cooperative working relationships with-Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology, Harold L. Lyon Arboretum, Kewalo Marine Laboratory of the Pacific Biosciences Research Center, Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit of the National Park Service, The Nature Conservancy, State of Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Tropical Botanical Garden, Honolulu Botanical Garden, Herbarium Pacificum and the Department of Botany of the B. P. Bishop Museum, Hawaiʻi Agriculture Research Center, and Waikīkī Aquarium.

A listing of faculty members and their research areas and publications is available on the program website: manoa.hawaii.edu/lifesciences/graduate/botany-graduate-program/. Applications for admission and opportunities for financial aid and support are available upon request.

At the time of application, three letters of recommendation from persons who can appraise the student’s aptitude for advanced work are required. In their statement of objectives; applicants should identify a specific area of study within botany: conservation, ecology, ethnobotany, general botany, marine botany, systematics/evolution, or whole plant biology. Minimum curriculum requirements for each track are available at the department website. Applicants will be evaluated for their level of preparation and potential to successfully complete their proposed plan of study. The application deadline is December 15 for the following fall semester. Normally, teaching assistantships are available for the beginning of fall semester, but openings may occur mid-year.

MS and PhD students are admitted to candidacy when they have successfully completed any requirements and pre-program proficiencies identified by their committee and after they have demonstrated the ability to collect, analyze, integrate, and communicate scientific information effectively in the English language.

Because scientific findings are typically presented orally as well as in writing, all students must gain and demonstrate proficiency in the presentation of seminars. Students must complete BOT 610 to satisfy this requirement. In addition, MS Plan A and PhD students must give presentations at professional meetings, seminars or classroom instruction, plus present two public seminars: first, outlining the background of a research problem and the student’s proposed research program; and second, at the conclusion of their program, describing the research results and conclusions. The latter seminar also includes a final examination by the thesis or dissertation committee. MS Plan B students must complete a culminating experience, that may consist of research or another relevant project that is decided in consultation with the student’s advisor.

Advising

Graduate students entering the program are assigned an interim committee of three faculty members who provide general advice. The student’s committee and the graduate program chair oversee requirements and provide a link between Graduate Division and the student. Graduate students are encouraged to interact with each faculty to become acquainted with various research approaches and areas of expertise. Once a research topic has been identified, a permanent committee will be established to provide specific assistance.

Graduate Study in Microbiology

The School of Life Sciences offers programs leading to the MS and PhD in microbiology with areas of specialization in microbial ecology, biochemistry, physiology, genetics, and ultrastructure; metabolic regulation and the regulation of gene expression; marine microbiology; medical microbiology; bacterial pathogenesis; animal and environmental virology and viral pathobiology; and immunology, immunogenetics, and immunochemistry.

Applicants for advanced degrees in the program must supplement the forms and transcripts required by Graduate Division with three confidential letters of recommendation, a letter of objectives, and a CV/resume.

Both the MS Plan A and the PhD are research degrees requiring a research project, a thesis or dissertation, a peer-reviewed research publication, and an oral defense. MS Plan B requires passing final examinations. Prospective graduate students are encouraged to contact faculty or cooperating graduate faculty to determine whether there might be a laboratory that is conducting research of interest and to determine which laboratories are taking new students (see the program website at https://manoa.hawaii.edu/lifesciences/ to find areas of research and faculty contact information).

Graduate Study in Zoology

The School of Life Science offers programs of graduate study and research leading to the MS and PhD degrees in Zoology. Especially strong programs have developed in areas that use the resources of Hawaiʻi’s unique island setting, including developmental biology, marine biology, and ecology, evolution and conservation biology. Much of the research in the program emphasizes the animals of Hawaiʻi: marine invertebrates, terrestrial arthropods, fishes, and birds.

Graduate students in zoology may join two interdisciplinary graduate specializations; the Cellular and Molecular Biology (CMB); and the Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology (EECB) Program. The department has active affiliations with Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology, Kewalo Marine Laboratory, Békésy Laboratory of Neurobiology, and the Center for Conservation Research and Training.

Recipients of the MS degree usually teach, pursue careers in research or government service, or pursue further graduate training. Those with the PhD ordinarily seek teaching positions in colleges and universities or research careers in university, government, or private laboratories.

The School of Life Sciences webpage lists research interests and publications of the members of the zoology graduate faculty, as well as admissions and program requirements and opportunities for financial aid, and a separate graduate student handbook describes the details of program requirements and procedures. The following sections summarize the admissions and program requirements, but the program webpage should be consulted for complete details: manoa.hawaii.edu/lifesciences/graduate/zoology-graduate-program/.

Admissions

Students are admitted to the graduate program only in the fall semester; the application deadline is December 15 the prior year, manoa.hawaii.edu/graduate/admissions. Applicants must submit a completed graduate application form, transcripts for all previous undergraduate and graduate studies; and letters of recommendation from three persons who can appraise the student’s aptitude for graduate study. An applicant also must be sponsored by a member of the graduate faculty who has indicated their willingness to advise and support the student; the applicant should communicate with prospective faculty sponsors well in advance of the application deadline.

Incoming graduate students are expected to have demonstrated proficiency in the biological sciences, typically by having completed a bachelor’s degree in biology or other life sciences field similar to a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biology at UH Mānoa. Typical minimum preparatory undergraduate course work includes:

18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours of biology [note that 2 semesters = 3 quarters]
3 semesters or 5 quarters of chemistry (general and organic)
2 semesters or 3 quarters of physics
1 semester or 2 quarters of biochemistry or molecular biology
1 semester or 2 quarters of calculus (note that calculus is a required prerequisite for the graduate course in Biometry ZOOL 631 )

General Requirements

All entering students are required to take ZOOL 691C during their first fall semester. All graduate students are required to take at least one graduate course in biology each year.

Further Information

Further information about the graduate program in zoology, including full details of admissions and program requirements, may be obtained from the School of Life Sciences or at manoa.hawaii.edu/lifesciences. Other inquiries may be sent to lifesci@hawaii.edu.

Programs

Bachelor’s

Master’s

Doctorate

Undergraduate Certificate

Marine Option, Undergraduate Certificate

Minor