Graduate Assistant (0000GA11)

University of Hawaii • Honolulu, HI

1d • Onsite

About The Position

This position supports Assistant Professor Ketty Loeb in conducting research for identifying a comprehensive set of metrics to track coastal adaptation to sea level rise. The role involves reviewing existing metrics and tracking systems, assisting with literature reviews, and developing recommendations for identifying and managing indicators in Hawaii and other island coastal communities. The Graduate Assistant will collaborate with an interdisciplinary team and relevant partner organizations, and assist with designing and implementing focus groups to inform best practices in coastal adaptation. Duties may include scheduling and conducting focus groups, qualitative data analysis, and communicating findings. The position also supports the creation of a system for cataloging key datasets and assists with convening the Sea Level Rise Policy Hui (SLRPH), including meeting logistics and outreach.

Requirements

• Full-time classified graduate student at UH Manoa in good academic standing (3.0 GPA or higher).
• Demonstrated interest in coastal policy management, sea level rise adaptation and/or monitoring and evaluation.
• Basic knowledge of Microsoft Excel.
• Excellent oral communication and writing skills.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with monitoring and evaluating policies or programs, developing or tracking indicators, key performance metrics.
• Experience organizing stakeholder engagement events, workshops, or similar input sessions.
• Experience with qualitative methods, including focus groups and stakeholder engagement.
• Proficient in Excel and other data management software.
• Experience working with a variety of stakeholders, such as academic researchers, government agencies, and NGOs.
• Experience working within an interdisciplinary research team, with the ability to work both collaboratively and independently.

Responsibilities

• 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).
• Reviews existing international, national, and local coastal adaptation metrics and tracking systems.
• Assists with creating a literature review on the topic and assists with developing recommendations for identifying and managing indicators in Hawaiʻi and other island coastal communities.
• Collaborates with an interdisciplinary team of researchers within the Institute for Sustainability and Resilience as well as faculty across the University of Hawaiʻi (e.g. Sea Grant).
• Coordinates with relevant partner organizations, including Hawaiʻi State and County Agencies.
• Assists Dr. Loeb with designing and implementing focus groups aimed to inform best practices in coastal adaptation and metrics therein for Hawaiʻi; identify opportunities and challenges; identify and describe key data sets.
• Scheduling and conducting focus groups.
• Qualitative analysis of the data collected.
• Written and oral communication of findings.
• Support Dr. Loeb and relevant partners to create a system for identifying and cataloguing key datasets to support the ongoing collection of indicators.
• Assists Dr. Loeb with the convening of the Sea Level Rise Policy Hui (SLRPH).
• Scheduling of meetings, preparation of materials and agenda items, and outreach to members.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Benefits

• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level