Oceanography graduate Gabrielle Ellis earned the 2024–25 Dr. Clifford K. Mirikitani, MD, JD & John M. Mirikitani, JD PhD, Outstanding Dissertation Award from the UH Mānoa Graduate Division. Ellis, supported by the Gregory and Lucia Leong Foundation Oceanography Graduate Student Fellowship, focused her research on tiny deep-sea animals living more than two miles below the ocean surface in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, a vast area between Hawaiʻi and Mexico. The region holds valuable mineral deposits and is home to fragile and little-known marine life. By studying thousands of samples, Ellis created one of the most complete pictures so far of deep-sea biodiversity in an untouched environment.

Support from the Gregory and Lucia Leong Foundation allowed Ellis the dedicated time and resources to pursue this groundbreaking research, advancing scientific understanding of the deep ocean and generating knowledge that will help inform responsible stewardship of marine ecosystems for the benefit of all.

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