OIKI Graduate Research Assistant (0000GA11)

University of Hawaii System • Honolulu, HI

344d

About The Position

The Graduate Research Assistant position is supported and mentored by the Director of the Office for Indigenous Knowledge and Innovation (OIKI), Kamuela Enos. This role provides access to a robust network of engagement and support within the Hawai'i Climate-Smart Partnership (HiCSC), including introductions and training in appropriate protocols and opportunities for professional development. The position is part-time (20 hours per week) and temporary, with a duration of one year and the potential to extend based on performance and availability of funds, up to 60 months.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or University in a relevant field such as Hawaiian Studies, Anthropology, Environmental Science, etc.
• Acceptance into a UH Manoa graduate degree program.
• Considerable comprehension of Native Hawaiian indigenous knowledge and genealogy practices.
• Knowledge of the agricultural community in Hawai'i and Indigenous agricultural practices.
• Understanding of standard operating procedures for place-based equity implementation focusing on cultural continuity and ecological conservation.

Nice To Haves

• Master's Degree in a relevant field.
• Experience with relationship building with local producer/agriculture communities and indigenous practitioners in Hawai'i.
• Foundational understanding of Indigenous genealogy and traditional land stewardship practices.
• Experience in conducting literature reviews and qualitative data collection through interviews.
• Experience with community-based participatory research (CBPR).
• Ability to analyze and synthesize information to develop meaningful metrics.
• Experience in ethical research processes and adherence to data privacy and sovereignty principles.
• Experience in interdisciplinary collaboration and communication across diverse groups.
• Experience in co-developing metrics and monitoring systems with Indigenous communities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for presenting complex ideas.
• Proven track record of preparing scholarly materials for professional engagement.
• Ability to work within a sociocratic organizational structure.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of the Indigenous Genealogy component of the climate-smart multimetric, addressing how Indigenous knowledge is reflected within land practices.
• Assist in developing the Community (Indigenous) Wellbeing component of the climate-smart multimetric, focusing on the value of practice beyond financial benefit.
• Conduct literature reviews, archival research, interpret Olelo Hawaii records, and interview agricultural producers who identify as Indigenous.
• Co-develop and adhere to processes for community-research engagement, including UH Internal Review Board requirements, data privacy, and sovereignty.
• Contribute to the co-development of metrics reflecting Indigenous and/or place-based knowledge within land practices and collaborative monitoring of data.
• Participate in relevant project circle meetings and maintain connections across the project.
• Communicate and collaborate with other groups engaging with producers and practitioners according to the Partnership Community-Research Engagement Plan.
• Report progress to the relevant parent circle to integrate indicators into the climate-smart multimetric.
• Prepare scholarly materials for professional engagement, including peer-reviewed manuscripts and conference presentations.
• Perform other appropriate duties as requested as part of the Partnership or relevant research group.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Educational Services
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree