UOG CIS and Sea Grant awards more than $700K for research addressing Micronesia’s coastal challenges

From stormwater management and groundwater pollution to coral reef conservation and coastal erosion protection, six new research projects at the University of Guam are set to tackle some of the most pressing environmental challenges facing Guam and the wider Micronesian region.

The projects were selected as recipients of the 2026–2028 UOG Sea Grant Competitive Research Funding, with more than $709,000 in grants awarded through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Sea Grant College Program to support innovative, community-focused scientific research tied to the region’s coastal resources.

UOG Vice Provost of Academic Excellence, Graduate Studies, and Online Learning Monique Storie, Ph.D., congratulated the awardees and highlighted the university’s role in supporting research that benefits the community. “Thank you for joining us here today as we get ready to start another great cycle of important research that will have great impacts on our island and on our community,” she said.

The announcement was made Thursday at the Dr. Lucio C. Tan Student Success Center. For this cycle, a total of 11 research proposals underwent a two-tier panel review process before final selection.

Below are the 2026–2028 UOG Sea Grant competitive research awardees:

• • • Rui Zeng, Ph.D. — Improving Infiltration Chamber Designs for Enhanced Coastal Resilience and Stormwater Management in Guam
    • Chris Yeo, Ph.D. and Seung-Buhm Woo, Ph.D. — Integrated Modeling of Land-Based Pollutant Discharge and its Coastal Marine Impact for Guam’s Coral Reef Conservation
    • Ernesto Guades, Ph.D. — Seawater-based Concrete Wall with Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites for Guam Coastal Erosion Protection
    • Bastian Bentlage, Ph.D. and Pablo De la Vega — Characterization of Microbiome Interaction Networks across Kingdoms and Ecosystems
    • Yong Sang Kim, Ph.D. and David J. Yu, Ph.D. — Integrated Resilience-Building Approach for Addressing Water Pollution and Extreme Weather Stressors on Guam’s Water Resources
    • Laurie Raymundo, Ph.D. — Transitioning the Malesso Coral Ocean Nursery to a Nursery and Spawning Hub

UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant (UOG CIS & Sea Grant) Director Austin Shelton, Ph.D, said the federal funding allows the university to invest directly into locally relevant scientific innovations. “We’re both a Land Grant and a Sea Grant institution, that means that we have to ensure that our university is delivering public value, doing science and bringing it out into the community in ways that are useful, usable, and understandable,” he said.

Several awardees shared how their projects aim to address environmental challenges facing Guam and the wider Micronesian region. 

Yeo highlighted the importance of protecting Guam’s natural resources from pollution and climate-related impacts. “This work is intended to support the information about decisions and strengthen conservation efforts and protect long-term resilience of Guam’s coastal area, Guam’s reef and Guam’s coastal community,” he said.

Guades said his project will explore stronger and more sustainable coastal protection materials. “We usually use concrete and steel (for retaining walls)…But the problem with steel is once saltwater intrudes, it weakens.” He added, “And so what I’m going to do for this project is to develop materials from concrete and fiber reinforced polymers. They are suitable because it doesn’t corrode.”