The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a $767,462 Project Grant under the Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074) to the University of Hawaii at Manoa. The funding will support collaborative research to inventory and characterize the diversity, distribution, and evolution of Pucciniomycotina yeasts, which play important roles in industry, human health, and ecosystems. The project will leverage the environmental diversity of Hawaii and the evolutionary diversity of zoo animals to isolate and describe hundreds of novel yeast species, using genome sequencing, physiological data, and culture characteristics. The research aims to increase understanding of yeast biodiversity and evolution, predict global species diversity and hotspots, and support the participation and research capacity of underrepresented groups, including Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students and postdoctoral researchers. The award period is from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2028.
Generated 3/4/25, 5:15 AM