Faculty-Mentored Research

---

Each GES student performs faculty-mentored original research, writes a thesis and presents their findings to the public. Faculty mentors include SOEST faculty—global leaders in the fields of ocean, earth, atmospheric, climate, and space sciences—along with other UHM faculty experts in natural resource management, coral reefs, water quality, marine biology, environmental planning, public health, environmental anthropology, and sustainability. Throughout the GES degree program, students are engaged in fieldwork, laboratory work, and field trips, and have access to deep ocean and coastal research vessels as well as SOEST’s world-class Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology.

---

Resources for Research, Thesis, and Presentation

Below you will find resources to help you complete your research and thesis requirement. Faculty members who are new to mentoring GES students are encouraged to utilize these resources as well! Click on the links to go to these resources and/or download the files. The Frequently Asked Questions page may be an additional and helpful resource as well.

Research

• For New Mentors: GES Research at a Glance (PDF) NEW
• GES Research and Thesis Guide for Mentors and Students (PDF) current as of January 24, 2024
• GES Research and Thesis Roadmap – a step-by-step and visual guide to conducting research and writing your thesis
• GES directory of faculty mentors willing to mentor GES students
• List of submitted GES theses – for project ideas and possible mentors
• GES students’ co-curricular experiences – ideas for research and activities on and around campus

Thesis

• Thesis Proposal template (WIP) updated February 2025 | Sample thesis proposal for reference (WIP) (reference for completing the proposal)
  • Name your PDF in this format: “Last Name, First Name Term Year”. E.g. “Doe, Jane Spring ’25”
  • Email Subject: “Thesis proposal – Name”. E.g. “Thesis proposal – Jane Doe”
  • Cc your research mentor(s) when you submit your thesis proposal
• Sample semester thesis timeline (PDF) | Sample summer thesis timeline (PDF)
• GES MS Word formatted thesis template (does not work properly in Google Docs) current as of September 20, 2023
• GES Thesis Style and Policy Guide (PDF) current as of October 5, 2023
• GES thesis assessment rubric (PDF fillable) | GES thesis assessment form (Google form)

Presentation (at the GES Symposium)

• GES Symposium Guidelines for Students (PDF)
• Speaker Bio Guidelines for Students (PDF)
• Symposium Recordings
• Guide to reviewing GES student presentations (PDF) – for faculty reviewers
• GES presentation assessment form (Google form)

The following websites are not maintained by GES. If you have any questions pertaining to any of the resources below, contact the corresponding department or organization.

Important note: not all projects are appropriate or eligible for the GES thesis. You must submit a thesis proposal, and which must be approved, before you begin a research project that you intend as basis for your thesis.

Maintained by various units within the UH System

• SOEST Research and Mentoring Resources 
• Native Hawaiian Science & Engineering Mentorship Program – for students of Native Hawaiian, Polynesian, Alaska Native, and Native American ancestry)
• Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) – ForagerOne database of faculty mentors and available research projects 
• Entering Research and Creative Work (ERC) – for students who have >60 credits remaining to complete
• Our Project In Hawaii’s Intertidal (OPIHI) – Recruitment Flyer (PDF)
• Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU): Environmental Biology for Pacific Islanders
• UROP Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE)
• PI-CASC Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) – climate science and environmental issues in Hawaiʻi and Guam
• Sea Grant Program Funding Opportunities
• UHM Research Centers and UHM Research Units – to find research topics and researchers who may potentially be willing to be a mentor
• Pacific Internship Programs for Exploring Science (PIPES) (UH Hilo)

Maintained by organizations outside of the UH System

• NOAA Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship
• NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Young Scientist Opportunity (PYSO)

Updated May 9, 2024.