Summary

The Biosystems Engineering Department of the University of Hawaii at Manoa seeks a visiting scholar to assist in the development of curricula, and research and demonstration programs in bioremediation, and to interact with representatives of industry and the military to strengthen bioremediation technology and services in Hawaii. The Biosystems Engineering program will provide a stipend to partially support the candidate during the assignment at the University of Hawaii which is intended to begin in the summer or fall of 2000 and have a duration of at least one semester. Interested candidates should send (by March 15, 2000) a resume, brief statement of interests, and description of potential contribution to this program, to the address given below.

Background

The University of Hawaii's Biosystems Engineering (BE) Department manages a program, "Technology Development and Training in Bioremediation," under the Agriculture-Based Remediation Program (ABRP), funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Army via the Pacific International Center for High Technology Research. The BE program under the ABRP aims to strengthen bioremediation skills locally, nurture a bioremediation industry that can serve Hawaii and other locations in the Asia-Pacific region, and increase public awareness of agriculture-based bioremediation technologies. Activities in the BE program fall under two major components: (1) Technology Development and Capacity Building and (2) Information Dissemination and Outreach. The primary objective of the first component is to strengthen biologically-based environmental remediation skills to support the military and agricultural sectors locally and nationally, and help develop a bioremediation industry that has the capability to share technologies and services internationally. The primary objective of the second component is to provide formal training to educators, government agencies, and the general public on advances in bioremediation; increase public awareness of the social and economic benefits of environmental restoration through agriculture-based bioremediation; and instill environmental stewardship in the public.

It is largely under the second component that the BE program invites scholars from other universities or industry with specific experience and expertise in environmental biotechnology to present lectures on bioremediation at the University of Hawaii, participate in training faculty, assist in preparing related curricula, and assist in refining the University's bioremediation R&D program. The visiting scholar also will be asked to interact with industry and the military through the ABRP. A stipend will be offered to the selected candidate, although available funds are insufficient to provide full salary compensation (to that end, candidates are encouraged to participate in this program while on partially compensated sabbatical leave). Temporary assignment at the University of Hawaii is targeted to begin in the summer or fall of 2000 and have a duration of at least one semester.

Inquiries

Interested candidates should send (via mail, FAX, or e-mail, by March 15, 2000) a (1) resume, (2) brief statement of interests, (3) description of potential contributions to Component 2 of the ABRP, to:

Charles M. Kinoshita
Biosystems Engineering Department
University of Hawaii at Manoa
3050 Maile Way, Gilmore 111
Honolulu, Hawaii 96822

Phone: (808)956-8867; FAX: (808)956-9269
e-mail: kinoshi@wiliki.eng.hawaii.edu

Candidates with extensive experience in commercial and demonstration projects and in participating in bioremediation training will be given highest consideration. Leading candidates will be contacted to discuss possible work plans and, as appropriate, negotiate terms of the assignment. Names and qualifications of leading candidates will be forwarded to the managing entities and members of a review committee of the ABRP for review and final approval.