Meet The CIRCLE Grant Team!
Meet the CIRCLE Grant Administrative Team!
Dr. Kelley Withy is Professor of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine and the Director of the Hawaii/Pacific Basin Area Health Education Center (AHEC). Her research focuses on health workforce assessment, health careers development, rural health, telehealth, and substance use prevention. Dr. Withy has over 100 presentations, publications, and funded grants for projects on predoctoral training, rural health disparities, health careers recruitment, provider retention, cultural factors in medicine, distance learning methods, telehealth, opioid prevention and treatment, and community health education.
Zachary Oglesby is one of our CIRCLE Grant Research Coordinators, bringing plenty of experience and dedication to the program. Having been a CIRCLE Participant for the first two years, Zach has a deep understanding of the program's dynamics and the transformative power of research. Recently graduating from the University of Hawaii at Manoa with a degree in Kinesiology and Public Health, Zach is passionate about utilizing his knowledge to ensure that all CIRCLE students have an engaging and enriching experience. With a strong commitment to research and mentorship, Zach strives to provide the necessary guidance and support to empower students in their pursuit of scientific research.
Kimberly Naruse, our other CIRCLE Grant Research Coordinator, is a recent graduate in Biological Engineering and is a valuable member of the Hawaii/Pacific Basin AHEC team, where she has dedicated over five years as a volunteer and employee. Her long-standing commitment to helping others is a testament to her passion for education and research. As she steps into her role working with CIRCLE Students this summer, Kimberly brings a wealth of knowledge and experience. Her background in biological engineering, combined with her familiarity with AHEC's mission and values, positions her perfectly to guide and inspire students. Kimberly is enthusiastic about contributing to the program and is keen to leverage her expertise to enrich the CIRCLE students' learning journey. With her practical experience and academic background, she is well-equipped to provide valuable mentorship and support to students as they explore the exciting world of scientific research.
Meet the CIRCLE Grant Principal Investigators (PIs)!
Christopher K Pierret, PhD
Rochester, Minnesota
Project: "Zebrafish Modeling"
Robert Martiniano, PhD
New York, NY
Project: "Developing Rational Service Area"
Tony Ward, PhD
Missoula, Montana
Project: "Air Quality Particulate Matter" and "Air Quality CO2"
Summer Kuhn, MPH, PhD candidate
West Virginia
Project: "Protein Supplementation"
Steve Koury, BS, MT (ASCP), MS, Phd
Buffalo, New York
Project: "Genetic Bioinformatics"
Mark Speck, PhD
Honolulu, Hawaii
Project: "Understanding Data sets using Google"
Alva O. Ferdinand, DrPH, JD
Houston, Texas
Project: "Using Clinical Data to Inform Health Policy"
Kelley Withy, PhD, MS, MD
Honolulu, Hawaii
Project: Physician Shortage Summer Research Internship
Meet the CIRCLE Grant Student Mentors!
Alanna Nicole Rillorta
James Campbell Highschool
Bio: As a high school student, I never thought I'd have the opportunity to participate in research. Yet, the CIRCLE program gave me the opportunity to work with leading professionals in the scientific community and attain skills in data collection, figure-making, and more. I gave my very first poster presentation through the CIRCLE program and was supported thoroughly throughout the process. I met students from an array of educational backgrounds, and in turn, have made many friends along the way.
Jamie Saito
Brown University
Bio: I have done research with CIRCLE since March 2020, and it has been a great place for me to enter the research world. CIRCLE has taught me integral research skills, such as designing scientific procedures, analyzing data, and presenting results professionally. Because of this program, I felt confident taking on more intensive research positions in college. My piece of advice is to be an active participant. Don't be afraid to ask questions during meetings and try to take yourself out of your comfort zone. Not only will this build your confidence but you will also learn so much more!
Michael Garvin
University of California, Berkeley
Bio: I am a Freshman currently pursuing a B.A. in Molecular Cell Biology at the University of California, Berkeley. I really enjoy learning biology and applying it in a way that can put a smile on other people’s faces. Because of my interest, I plan on applying to joint MD-PhD programs in the future to further develop my curiosity in Neurobiology. The CIRCLE Grant Research group was my first experience conducting and designing a research project. Over the course of the year I’ve been in this program, I’ve built great relationships with my PI and fellow peers. Meeting people from various age groups has shown me many different perspectives on how one might view research and it is something that shouldn’t be taken for granted. No matter your experience, anyone can contribute and learn about science together.
Timothy Rudolph-Math
SUNY Upstate Medical University
Bio: I am a rising second-year medical student interested in primary care, mental health, and rural medicine. As a new addition to the CIRCLE Grant team, I am excited to help guide students through their summer research journeys. With an undergraduate background in the humanities (B.S. Foreign Service), I am hoping to provide a different perspective for students considering careers in science and healthcare. My advice for any student is to explore a broad range of academic interests, discover the variety of pathways toward their career goals, and to seek out hands-on experiences.
Ku'uipo Borges
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Bio: My name is Ku’uipo B., and I was studying Biochemistry at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. I am now currently a research mentor this year for the CIRCLE program. I was given the chance to do research in Bioinformatics for the CIRCLE program. I got to work with PI Dr. Koury, who is located in New York, but since this is distant research it shows that is never a problem. I learned a great deal of skills, knowledge, and problem-solving that I did not have before working with him. Also, being able to present at the end of the program all my data made me feel like a “true” researcher than I ever felt before. My advice for those doing the CIRCLE program is don’t give up and keep pushing. No matter if it gets a bit tough or the research information may seem hard to understand at first, it gets better over time. Also, you accomplish and learn a great deal in such a short period of time. Overall, I look forward to working with many of you this year as a mentor as well as a researcher. I hope we have an amazing experience this summer!
Alyshia Munoz
University of Hawai'i, Manoa
Bio: I am a Fall 2023 Public Health candidate at the University of Hawai’i, Mānoa. I'm from Los Angeles, California, where I gained a foundation in Biology at Los Angeles Mission College. I have remotely participated with CIRCLE Grant since the summer of 2021, initially with the Evaluating Student Research Project through the University of Hawai’i, West Oahu, and currently with the Air Quality Particulate Matter Project through the University of Montana-Missoula. Indubitably, developing research skills facilitates my creativity and curiosity about Public Health challenges. Fundamentally, CIRCLE Grant has provided my first research experience directly working with Principal Investigators, analyzing primary and secondary data, and building my confidence in presenting scientific findings. Throughout this journey, I am learning the power of resiliency and recommend immersing yourself into your research projects by reading studies that lay the groundwork for your topics, asking questions, or reaching out to your PIs, or the CIRCLE Grant team who are ready to offer guidance. I am grateful for the opportunity to assist PI, Summer Kuhn and support students as a mentor with the Community Survey Research Project through the University of West Virginia!