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Marine Biology

c/o Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB)
P.O. Box 1346
Kaneohe, HI 96744
Tel: (808) 236-7401
Fax: (808) 236-7443
Web: www.soest.hawaii.edu/oceanography/marbiol.html

Graduate Faculty

J. Leong, PhD (Chair)—HIMB
M. Alam, PhD—microbiology
M. J. Atkinson, PhD—oceanography/HIMB
W. W. L. Au, PhD—HIMB
J. H. Bailey-Brock, PhD—zoology
R. Bidigare, PhD—HIMB
C. Birkeland, PhD—zoology
B. Bowen, PhD-HIMB
R. Cann, PhD—genetics
S. Conant, PhD—zoology
I. Cooke, PhD—zoology
H. G. de Couet, PhD—zoology
S. Donachie, PhD-microbiology
J. Douglas, PhD—microbiology
R. Gates, PhD—HIMB
G. Grau, PhD—zoology
L. Herman, PhD—psychology
K. Holland, PhD—HIMB
T. D. Humphreys, PhD—biochemistry
C. Hunter, PhD—Biology
D. Jameson, PhD—biochemistry
P. Jokiel, PhD—HIMB/zoology
D. Karl, PhD—oceanography
S. Karl, PhD—HIMB
R. Kinzie III, PhD—zoology
E. Laws, PhD—oceanography
T. Lewis, PhD—HIMB
P. E. Nachtigall, PhD—HIMB
M. Rappe, PhD—HIMB
K. Selph, PhD—oceanography
C. Smith, PhD—botany
G. Steward, PhD-biological oceanography
J. Stimson, PhD—zoology
F. Thomas, PhD—HIMB
R. Toonen, PhD—HIMB
T. Tricas, PhD—zoology
G. Wang, PhD-oceanography

The Academic Program

The marine biology specialization is a UH-wide program focusing on recent advances in the understanding of marine systems at the ecological, organismic, and cellular-molecular levels. Students can select courses, advisors, and research opportunities from a wide range of specialties, including: marine botany, ecology, genetics, virology, microbiology, zoology, aquaculture, behavioral biosystematics, biological oceanography, coral reef biology, fisheries and molecular biology.

The marine biology specialization is available to graduate students in botany, microbiology, oceanography, and zoology. Prospective graduate students must apply first to one of these programs. Applications from students who have been accepted to botany, microbiology, oceanography, or zoology who have also indicated a desire to specialize in marine biology are reviewed by the Marine Biology Admissions Committee.

Students specializing in marine biology supplement the courses required for a degree in their chosen field with courses specific to marine biology. The actual selection is determined by the student in consultation with his or her advisor. Graduate student research is carried out in the laboratories of the graduate faculty. These include laboratories in Edmondson Hall, Snyder Hall, the St. John Laboratory (botanical sciences), the Marine Science Building, the Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology (located on Coconut Island in Kaneohe Bay), the Bekesy Laboratory, and the Kewalo Laboratory of the Pacific Biomedical Research Center. Research capabilities include DNA sequencing using PCR technology; video and acoustic recording for ecological and behavioral studied of coral reef and planktonic organisms; transmission and scanning electron, ultraviolet, and light microscopy; electrophoretic analysis; flow cytometry; and radioisotope tracer studies.

Selected courses:

  • ANSC 450 Aquaculture Production (3)
  • BOT 480 Algal Diversity and Evolution (4)
  • BOT 680 Marine Macrophytes Seminar (2)
  • OCN 450 Aquaculture Production (3)
  • OCN 621 Biological Oceanography (3)
  • OCN 626 Marine Microplankton Ecology (4)
  • OCN 627 Ecology of Pelagic Marine Animals (4)
  • OCN 628 Benthic Biological Oceanography (4)
  • OCN 750 Topic in Biological Oceanography (V)
  • ZOOL 466 Fisheries Science (3)
  • ZOOL 467 Ecology of Fishes (3)
  • ZOOL 475 Biology of Invertebrates (3)
  • ZOOL 620 Marine Ecology (3)

Interdisciplinary Studies

Degree Offered: BA in interdisciplinary studies

See the “Colleges of Arts and Sciences” section for more information.

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