UH Mānoa Students: Undergraduate research takes your education beyond the classroom — it sharpens your career goals, builds skills, and prepares you for graduate study or future careers. My group works at the intersection of earth science, physics, math, and programming, and I'm always glad to talk through project ideas with interested students.

What I most enjoy is building multi-year research relationships — students who start early and grow into a project, rather than a single semester. Beginning early opens the most opportunities for the future, including possible funding through the UROP program or external grants, presentations at national conferences, field experiences, or even a senior thesis. If you're an Earth Sciences BS student looking ahead to your required ERTH 398, the best move is to reach out well in advance, so we can find a direction worth building on.

I'm always glad to talk with interested students, whatever stage you're at. Specific funded opportunities, when available, are listed at the top of this page.

Non-UH Mānoa Students: We offer a summer REU program: Earth Science on Volcanic Islands. Apply to join us for a 9-week long summer program. Research projects available will vary by year. Check the program information for a given year to see if I am participating.

If you’re interested in research in geophysics/seismology, I encourage you to apply to the graduate program in Earth Sciences at UH Manoa. I look for students who bring enthusiasm, curiosity, and perseverance, along with a solid background in physics, math, programming, and earth sciences.

The most important step: email me before you apply! Funding varies year to year, and I can tell you whether I'm able to take a student in the current cycle before you put in the work of applying. I'd love to hear what draws you to earth sciences, any research experience you have, and what's motivating you to consider graduate school. And if you're excited about the work but worried your background isn't a perfect fit, please reach out anyway. Let's talk it through.

I’m a field seismologist, so I sometimes deploy instruments in places near and far, on land and at sea. There may be opportunities to join fieldwork, and I support students seeking field experience elsewhere, but it’s not a requirement. There's plenty of great science to do with seismic data from the comfort of your office.

As a graduate student you’ll conduct original research, engage with the scientific community, and take courses, typically supported by a stipend through my research grants or teaching assistantships. I also encourage you to apply for external funding. The NSF GRFP is worth applying for if you’re eligible, and SOEST maintains a list of other potential funding opportunities. UH Mānoa seeks to serve as a model of a Hawaiian place of learning, and I welcome applicants who bring diverse experiences and perspectives.

I welcome inquiries from prospective postdoctoral researchers interested in seismology, marine geophysics, and subduction zones and volcanic systems. At the postdoc stage I'm looking for highly motivated, independent scientists who bring their own ideas and want to shape their own research direction. The postdoc years are a launching point toward your independent career, and I'll support you in building the publication record, proposal experience, and professional network to get there.

If that sounds like a fit, please get in touch. I'm glad to discuss potential projects, talk through how your interests align with my group's work, and explore funding options together. Postdoctoral positions may be available on funded projects from time to time, but many strong postdocs are supported through external fellowships, and I'm happy to collaborate on a fellowship application. The earlier we start a conversation, the more options we have.