OIKI Graduate Research Assistant 0000GA11

Title: Graduate Research Assistant

Position Number: 0000GA11

Hiring Unit: VP Research and Innovation/Office of Indigenous Knowledge and Innovation

Location: Manoa Campus Sherman Laboratory

Date Posted: September 3 2024 (Continuous Recruitment)

Monthly Type: 11 Months

Salary: Pay Level Step 13

Full Time/Part Time: Part Time; 0.50 FTE 20 hours per week)

Temporary/Permanent: Temporary

Duration: One year with intent to extend based on performance and availability of funds up to 60 months.

Position Summary :

This position will be supported and mentored by the Director of the Office for Indigenous Knowledge and Innovation (OIKI) Kamuela Enos. The role offers access to a robust network of engagement and support within the Hawaii ClimateSmart Partnership (HiCSC). This will include introductions and training in appropriate protocols and opportunities for professional development.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the development of the Indigenous Genealogy component of the climatesmart multimetric addressing the question How is Indigenous knowledge reflected within a land practice Indigenous Genealogy refers to the ancestral ties or connection to the traditional land stewardship practices that can be identified and traced to family genealogy moku and relationship to place.

• Assist in developing the Community (Indigenous) Wellbeing component of the climatesmart multimetric addressing the question What is the value of practice beyond financial benefit Using the Makahiki Framework Metrics as a baseline to address this question.

• Conduct literature reviews archival research interpret Olelo Hawaii records interviews with agricultural producers who identify as Indigenous and have ties to ancestral genealogy and place.

• Codevelop and adhere to processes for communityresearch engagement UH requirements Internal Review Board data privacy and sovereignty.

• Codevelopment of metrics reflecting Indigenous and/or placebased knowledge within land practices and contribute to the codevelopment of collaborative monitoring and interpretation of data from Indigenous Genealogy and community wellbeing perspective.

• Participate in relevant project circle meetings to maintain connection to breadth and depth across the project as it relates to the multimetric. Participate in circle operations possibly including meeting recording facilitation delegate representation within the sociocracy organizational structure.

• Communicate and collaborate with other groups engaging with producers and practitioners according to the Partnership CommunityResearch Engagement Plan.

• Report progress to the relevant parent circle to integrate indicators into the climatesmart multimetric.

• Prepare scholarly materials for professional engagement within the state national and international community for example peerreviewed manuscripts conference presentations book chapters etc.

• Other appropriate duties as requested as part of the Partnership or member of a relevant research group.

• Other Duties As Assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelors Degree from an accredited college or University in Hawaiian Studies Anthropology Sociology Environmental Social Sciences Ethnobotany Agriculture Agroecology Soil Science Natural Sciences Environmental Science Ecology Natural Resources or related field.

• Acceptance into a UH Manoa graduate degree program.

• Considerable comprehension of Native Hawaiian indigenous knowledge. Familiarity with genealogy practices and the cultural significance of moku and relationships to place.

• Considerable knowledge of the agricultural community in the State of Hawaii and Indigenous agricultural practices.

• Knowledge of implementation of standard operating procedures for internal and external placebased equity implementation that focuses on cultural continuity ecological conservation economic development and educational attainment.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Masters Degree from an accredited college or university in Hawaiian Studies Anthropology Sociology Environmental Social Sciences Ethnobotany Agriculture Agroecology Soil Science Natural Sciences Environmental Science Ecology Natural Resources or related field.

• Experience with appropriate processes and protocols for relationship building with local producer/agriculture communities and indigenous practitioners in Hawaii

• Experience and foundational understanding of Indigenous genealogy including ancestral ties traditional land stewardship practices and connection to place in Hawaii.

• Background in conducting literature reviews interpret lelo Hawaii records archival research and qualitative data collection through interviews and oral histories.

• Experience with research methods relevant to Indigenous studies including communitybased participatory research (CBPR).

• Ability to analyze and synthesize information from various sources to develop and cocreate meaningful metrics that reflect Indigenous and/or placebased knowledge within land practices.

• Experience in developing and/or following ethical research processes including communityresearch engagement and adhering to University of Hawaii (UH) Internal Review Board (IRB) requirements data privacy and data sovereignty principles.

• Experience in interdisciplinary collaboration and communication across diverse groups engaged in communitybased research and practice.

• Experience in codeveloping metrics and monitoring systems collaboratively with Indigenous communities and local stakeholders.

• Deep cultural competency and sensitivity when working with Indigenous communities including a strong commitment to respecting and upholding Indigenous sovereignty traditions and knowledge systems.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present complex ideas clearly and effectively to both academic and community audiences.

• Proven track record of preparing scholarly materials including peerreviewed manuscripts conference presentations and other professional engagement outputs at the state national or international level.

• Ability to work within a sociocratic organizational structure including facilitation meeting coordination and delegation within collaborative projects.

• Project management and problem solving skills.

Post Offer/Employment Condition:Must be able to complete the UH Laboratory Safety training within twelve 12 months from date of hire.

To Apply:

The University of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Institution and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in employment including on the basis of veteran and disability status. For more information visit: is contingent on satisfying employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; reference checks of previous employers; and for certain positions criminal history record checks.

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Accommodation Request: The University of Hawaii complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the EEO coordinator directly. Determination on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a casebycase basis. For further information please refer to the following link: