Graduate Research Assistantship (M.S.)
Bioacoustics & Simulation-Based Power Analysis for Endangered Palila Conservation
Location: University of Hawai‘i at Hilo

Program: Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science

Project Timeline: August 2027 – December 2029 (5 semesters / 28 months)

Salary Information & Hours: $2,353 to 3,210 monthly, part-time (up to 50% FTE)

Partners: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) & U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

Project Description:
The Palila (Loxioides bailleui) is a critically endangered, finch-billed Hawaiian honeycreeper endemic to the subalpine woodlands of Mauna Kea. With a population estimated at approximately 500 individuals, conventional in-person surveys are insufficient for monitoring their seasonal, resource-driven movements across the landscape.

To address this limitation, partner agencies deployed a comprehensive Passive Acoustic Monitoring network consisting of 134 autonomous recording units. While this network generates substantial datasets, the management and indefinite processing of terabytes of audio files present significant financial and logistical challenges.

As a Master's student on this project, you will develop statistical frameworks designed to optimize the balance between fiscal constraints and statistical power, thereby directly influencing the long-term conservation strategy for avian species in Hawaii.

Core Responsibilities & Objectives
1.Extract Bioacoustic Data: OBJ 1.

Process large-scale ARU audio recordings collected on Mauna Kea since 2024. You will use machine learning embeddings via the Google Perch birdsong classifier to isolate and estimate palila call densities.

2.Build Simulation-Based Power Analyses: OBJ 2.

Design simulations to determine the minimum sampling effort required to reliably detect population trend variables while taking into consideration changes in palila calling behavior across time and space as they transition between breeding and non-breeding seasons, track food availability, and respond to changing environmental conditions.

3.Conduct Cost-Benefit Analysis: OBJ 3.

Translate statistical power into economic terms. Model various monitoring design alternatives to provide agencies with a quantitative assessment of how biological data acquisition varies at different budget thresholds.

Key Deliverables
A completed Master’s Thesis at UH Hilo.
Direct presentations of your data to the Hui Palila (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Hawaii DLNR, and other expert advisory team members guiding recovery efforts).
At least one peer-reviewed manuscript submission and presentations at scientific conferences.