Graduate Assistant; GA

Position: Graduate Assistant (0000GA11)
Description

Title:

Graduate Research Assistant (Institute for Sustainability & Resilience - Coastal Adaptation Indicators)

Position Number: 0000GA11

Hiring Unit:
Institute for Sustainability & Resilience (ISR)

Location:

Manoa Campus

Date Posted:
June 4, 2026

Closing Date:
Continuous recruitment until position filled; application review to begin approximately around July 5, 2026.

Salary Information:
Minimum step 17 - $31,524 annually ($2,627 monthly) - Commensurate with qualifications and experience

Monthly Type: 11 months

Part Time/ Full Time:
Part Time (20 hours per week)

Full Time Equivalency: 50%

Temporary/ Permanent:
Temporary

Vacancies: 1

Other

Conditions:

The appointment is anticipated to begin 8/17/2026 for an initial one-year appointment. Renewal depends upon satisfactory performance, position need, availability of funds, and meeting the eligibility requirements of the assistantship (for details, go to the UHM Graduate Division website). The Position is not remote.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Supports Assistant Professor Ketty Loeb by conducting background and best practices research for identifying a comprehensive set of metrics to track coastal adaptation to sea level rise (e.g. across economic, ecological, biocultural, and built environment metrics). The GA will review existing international, national, and local coastal adaptation metrics and tracking systems, and assist with creating a literature review on the topic and assist with developing recommendations for identifying and managing indicators in Hawai?i

and other island coastal communities.

2. Collaborates with an interdisciplinary team of researchers within the Institute for Sustainability and Resilience as well as faculty across the University of Hawai?i (e.g. Sea Grant). Coordinates with relevant partner organizations, including Hawai?i State and County Agencies.

3. Assists Dr. Loeb with designing and implementing focus groups aimed to inform best practices in coastal adaptation and metrics therein for Hawai?i; identify opportunities and challenges; identify and describe key data sets. Duties may include (but are not limited to): (1) Scheduling and conducting focus groups (2) qualitative analysis of the data collected; (3) written and oral communication of findings.

4. Support Dr. Loeb and relevant partners to create a system for identifying and cataloguing key datasets to support the ongoing collection of indicators.

5. Assists Dr. Loeb with the convening of the Sea Level Rise Policy Hui (SLRPH). This includes the scheduling of meetings, preparation of materials and agenda items, and outreach to members.

6. Additional duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Full-time classified graduate student at UH Manoa in good academic standing (3.0 GPA or higher).

2. Demonstrated interest in coastal policy management, sea level rise adaptation and/or monitoring and evaluation.

3. Basic knowledge of Microsoft Excel.

4. Excellent oral communication and writing skills.

Desirable

Qualifications:

1.

Experience with monitoring and evaluating policies or programs, developing or tracking indicators, key performance metrics.

2. Experience organizing stakeholder engagement events, workshops, or similar input sessions.

3.

Experience with qualitative methods, including focus groups and stakeholder engagement.

4. Proficient in Excel and other data management software.

5. Experience working with a variety of stakeholders, such as academic researchers, government agencies, and NGOs.

6. Experience working within an interdisciplinary research team, with the ability to work both collaboratively and independently.

To Apply:

If you have not applied for a position before using Neo Gov, you will need to create an account. Click on the "Apply" button on the top right corner of the screen to complete an application and attach required documents.

Applicants must submit the following:

1. Cover letter indicating how you satisfy the minimum and desirable qualifications;

2. Resume or CV;

3. Names and contact information (telephone number and email addresses) of 3 professional references;

4. Writing Sample related to coastal policy or management or monitoring and evaluation; and

5. Copy of unofficial transcript (official transcripts will be required at the time of hire). Academic record/grade summaries will NOT be accepted. Copy of diplomas will NOT be accepted.) Documents issued from an institution outside the United States of America require a course-by-course analysis with an equivalency statement from an agency having membership with the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc.,

verifying the degree equivalency to that of an accredited institution within the USA. Expense of the evaluation shall be borne by the applicant.

IMPORTANT Note:

If multiple applications are received from the same candidate, only the last one will be reviewed. Please DO NOT include any self-identifying photos, REFERENCES TO SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS AND BIRTH DATE on any documents within the application packet. All…