Project Title: The Role of Multicultural Identity Integration on Well-Being and Biomedical Science Pathway Persistence
Position: Assistant Professor
Institution: University of Hawaii at Mānoa
Funding NIH Institute/Center: National Institute of General Medical Sciences
Project ID: K99GM151640
K. Kanoho Hosoda, PhD, is an assistant professor and director of the Native Hawaiian Center of Excellence at the University of Hawaiʻi’s John A. Burns School of Medicine. She was born and raised in Kailua, Hawaii. Her strong bond with Native Hawaiian indigenous practices including Hula (Hawaiian dance), ʻŌlelo Hawaii (Hawaiian language), and Aloha ʻĀina (land stewardship), along with her inquisitive nature and aspirations to support her Indigenous community, motivated her to obtain conventional science training in her homeland. Dr. Hosoda received her BS in biological sciences, her MS in molecular biosciences and biological engineering, and her PhD in communication and information sciences, all from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Dr. Hosoda’s recent research in the behavioral science field examines the influence of positive psychological experiences (such as kindness), Indigenous community values (e.g., reciprocity, responsibility, respect, and relevance), and multicultural identity integration on individual and community well-being and persistence in the biomedical sciences. She employs quantitative research methods to validate culturally relevant measures for Indigenous populations, advancing the science of mentorship and inclusion. Dr. Hosoda is growing a research program that informs interventions and programs that support and amplify the knowledge of Indigenous scholars pursuing biomedical science careers.