#MahiMicrobe2025 Award Results
- Nov 11, 2025
- 1 min read
Our #mahimicrobe2025 Michael Bruno Award for Excellence in Microbiome Science was a competition open to UH Mānoa graduate students (MS/PhD) and postdoctoral trainees. Awards of up to $10,000 were given to support innovative, microbiome-focused projects that address pressing Hawaiʻi-based problems through research, science communication, and transdisciplinary collaboration.
Congratulations to our #MahiMicrobe2025 award recipients!
$10,000 - Mamo Waianuhea (PI: Matthew Medeiros)
Mamo's project will utilize metagenomic sequencing to investigate how microbiome taxonomic diversity can translate into functional contributions to the mosquito host across various life stages. By understanding the diversity of the mosquito microbiome and its contribution to mosquito health, Mamo aims to improve mosquito control efforts to prevent the spread of avian malaria in native forest birds.
$8,000 - Sebastian Church (PI: Kiana Frank)
Sebastian's project will study loʻi from a molecular ecological lens to understand how microbial community functions are affected by management practices such as fallowing. His project aims to develop qPCR protocols to quantify Phytophthora colocasiae (Phytophthora leaf blight) and Pythium spp. (Pythium rot), which are fungal pathogens that cause severe kalo crop loss. By examining fungal pathogen loading and soil composition in loʻi kalo, Sebastian aims to work with farmers to optimize management strategies.
$7,000 - Stephanie Murray (PI: Lenore Pipes)
Stephanie's project will compare the microbial communities found on ‘ōhi‘a trees that have survived Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death (ROD) with those on neighboring, infected trees. She will utilize amplicon sequencing, and statistical and machine-learning ranking to highlight potential protective microbes. Through microbiome analysis, Stephanie aims to determine if certain microbes may help protect ‘ōhi‘a trees from ROD.
