“When I see how beneficial a project is to everyone, it
gives my job more meaning,” she said. “It goes beyond checking that (the researchers)
have their i’s dotted and t’s crossed.”
Ong is responsible for overseeing the administration of
grants — primarily federal funding — totaling approximately $3-5 million
annually. The staff provides pre- and post-grant award support to HPU
researchers. This includes finding new grant funding sources, which is the
primary responsibility of Mark Canney and Cynthia Thurlow, Research Administrators.
The three-member OSP team works with various researchers including
Scott Okamoto, Ph.D., (Social Work), who is the principal investigator for a National
Institute of Health R01 grant funding the study of substance abuse prevention
for Hawai‘i Island youth. The staff also works with Kristi West, Ph.D., (Biology
and Marine Science), who engages with a team of HPU students and community
members in marine mammal stranding research, and Brenda Jensen, Ph.D.,
(Biology), who provides a tissue bank for the stranding samples.
A highlight for Ong last year was collaborating with two HPU
student interns on a Hawaii Energy grant. The students, under the direction of
Art Whatley, Ph.D. (Global Leadership and Sustainable Development) and HPU
Facilities Project Coordinator Dingilizwe “Clarence” Ncube, were shepherding a grant
funding energy conservation outreach.
“I really do enjoy the students, and I wish I had more
interaction with them,” said Ong. “My goal and HPU’s goal as a university is to
support the students.”
Currently, the OSP team is making a concerted effort to find
more funding for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) and also support
for underrepresented students.
Office of Sponsored Projects staff Mark Canney, Sonavie Ong and Cynthia Thurlow |
When asked how she chose this line of work, Ong said she happened
upon the field and learned on the job.
“With the changing world of federal compliance, it’s not something you learn in school,” said Ong.
She was introduced to grants administration at the
University of Maryland, working as the business manager for the Department of
Veterinary Medicine. She held this job for more than 10 years and oversaw the
business operations and grants for the department.
In 2008, she had the opportunity to move to Hawai‘i to take
a grants position at a biomedical research company. One of her sisters was
already living in Hawai‘i, and Ong liked the weather, people and lifestyle.
By 2010, she joined Hawai‘i Pacific University as its grants
manager and has been with OSP since then, expanding her scope of
responsibility.
With HPU’s mission to offer an international learning
community set in the rich cultural context of Hawai‘i, it is very fitting Ong —
a global citizen herself — is at the university. She was born in Cambodia and
lived as a child in France, Uruguay and Maryland. On living in Hawai‘i, she
said it “feels like home here.”
Outside of work Ong enjoys standup paddle boarding, kayaking and hiking. She also volunteers for causes like Make-A-Wish, Lantern Floating Hawaii, Ronald McDonald House Charities and Lanakila Meals on Wheels.
The OSP staff rocks!
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