CTAHR Summer Research Institute

 

The College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR) has established an exciting new program to engage high school and undergraduate students from Hawaiʻi in research projects being conducted by CTAHR faculty at its Mānoa campus and at CTAHR Agricultural Research and Extension Stations (CARES) centers on the islands of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, Kauaʻi, Maui, and Molokaʻi. 

The goal of this 8-week summer research program is to empower students to become innovators by building solutions to real-world problems. Student researchers will engage in laboratory, field, and/or library-based research projects focused on addressing to local and global problems. 

Student researchers will spend 25 hours per week, with a flexible schedule agreeable to the student and their mentor(s), in laboratory and field research facilities across the state. Each student researcher will conduct original scientific research under the guidance of a faculty mentor and possibly also a post-doctoral researcher or a graduate student acting as co-mentor. At end of the summer, student researchers will present the findings of their projects at a symposium on the Mānoa campus.

 

CTAHR Photo

 

Location

  • Hawaiʻi
  • Kauaʻi
  • Oʻahu
  • Maui
  • Molokaʻi

 

Date

  • June 9, 2025 - August 1, 2025

 

Eligibility and Program Requirements

  • Rising high school juniors to college undergraduates (does not need to be a UH student)
  • Minimum Grade Point Average of 2.70 (transcript required)
  • Submit a one-page application
  • Minimum 25 hours per week, flexible schedule agreeable to student and mentor

 

Activities

  • Engage in field, lab, and/or library-based research, 25 hours each week
  • Weekly professional development workshops
  • Research proposal and paper writing 
  • Data analysis and interpretation
  • Poster preparation and presentation

 

Benefits

  • Learn research skills and the scientific process
  • Build critical thinking and problem-solving skills while tackling real-world issues
  • Aloha ʻāina foundations
  • Discover new scientific knowledge and build solutions to local and global problems
  • Build connections with other students and researchers
  • Enhance communication and presentation skills
  • Boost your credentials for college applications and jobs
  • Earn a Certificate of Completion by fulfilling all program requirements
  • Opportunity to compete for a student/faculty team research award
  • Opportunity to use the research project for state, national or international competitions with permission from the faculty mentor
  • Earn college credit (free for Hawaiʻi public school students)