In a nutshell...

Growing up by the bay, I have always connected strongly with nature. This connection fueled my curiosity about the planet and developed my interest in biological sciences. I pursued marine biology in college, where my thesis investigated the response of sandfish Holothuria scabra populations to lunar cycles. This early research experience sparked my fascination with how species distributions change across time and space, ultimately shaping my interest in understanding the origins of biodiversity and the mechanisms that drive it.

After finishing college in 2015, I worked as research assistant for Dr. Kim Hill (Arizona State University-Tempe) in their coastal foraging models project in southern Mindanao, Philippines. Under his supervision, I conducted ethnographic fieldwork and gathered data on foraging return rates in sea gypsy communities in Sarangani Bay. Field anthropology trained me to be a critical, clear-thinking, and detail-oriented researcher—but more than that, it taught me empathy and an awareness of privilege. Over two years, I came to deeply appreciate the dedication and resilience required to gather empirical field data to answer the questions that drive scientific inquiry. This inspiration led me to pursue a Master’s degree in Wildlife Studies at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) for my professional growth. 

At UPLB, I had the privilege of working with Dr. Leticia Afuang, whose passion for herpetology sparked my own. Dr. Afuang entrusted me with significant independence in designing my research project and crafting grant proposals, which ultimately led to my first research grants from The Rufford Foundation and the United States Agency for International Development. This training solidified my commitment to herpetology and launched my ongoing work on the Biodiversity of the Mt. Busa Key Biodiversity Area—a high conservation priority in my home region that remains largely understudied. Our research has been instrumental in advancing the establishment of this KBA as a protected area, a process I actively facilitated as an Ecosystems Management Specialist with the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources - South Cotabato (2020–2022). I place high value on science communication in the biodiversity conservation process, and I have actively engaged with diverse stakeholders to bridge the gap between science, policy, and practice. My experiences span from grassroots public engagement in southern Mindanao to policy advocacy at the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity.

After working for DENR and as the pandemic began to subside, I decided to pursue a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Kansas to deepen my knowledge about biodiversity science and hone my skills as a research scientist. But why KU? Generations of scholarly works from KU EEB's department have shaped my understanding and appreciation of Philippine biodiversity, making KU EEB a natural fit both professionally and personally. I share KU EEB program’s research focus on evolutionary processes driving diversification in island archipelagos like the Philippines. Dr. Rafe Brown and his collaborators have been pivotal in elucidating the evolutionary history of Philippine vertebrates, particularly amphibians and reptiles—making KU's Herpetology Division an ideal and exciting place to study Philippine herpetofauna!

I am currently in my second year at KU EEB, embracing the thrill and challenge of spending the next several years in the U.S. for graduate school. This journey is both daunting and inspiring—daunting because starting a Ph.D. is a significant commitment, but inspiring because it empowers me to leverage my diverse background to advance biodiversity conservation in the Philippines. I am eager to generate new insights into Philippine biodiversity and to translate that knowledge into tangible conservation outcomes.

WORK EXPERIENCES

Graduate Teaching Assistant (2023 – ongoing)

Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas 

• Served as a GTA under the supervision of faculty, with responsibilities including grading assignments and participation, facilitating laboratory activities and discussion sections, providing detailed feedback on student performance, reviewing exam materials for accuracy and clarity, conducting office hours to support student learning, and contributing to the development of course policies outlined in syllabi. 

• Courses supported: BIOL 100 (Introduction to Biology), BIOL 150 (Principles of Cellular and Molecular Biology), BIOL 412 (Evolutionary Biology), BIOL 413 (Tree of Life), and BIOL 583 (Herpetology).

Ecosystems Management Specialist (2020 – 2022)

Protected Area Management Office - Allah Valley Watershed Forest Reserve/Protected Landscape 

Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)

• Led biodiversity field surveys in forest and wetland habitats within our area of responsibility

• Established, maintained, and curated a biodiversity database system, which provides firsthand information for science- and evidence-based policy and conservation interventions

• Prepared the protected area suitability assessment reports for the full inclusion of the Allah Valley Protected Landscape or AVPL into the Philippine National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS)

• Served as the Planning Officer designate, which entailed overseeing and providing technical assistance in the implementation of programs, activities, and projects in the AVPL

• Assisted in the overall implementation of programs & activities of the Protected Area Management Board which includes, but are not limited to, conducting activities in compliance with the provisions of the ENIPAS Act of 2018, preparing and presenting reports and accomplishments, conducting policy research and program development, and facilitating stakeholder engagement

Research Assistant - Philippines (2015 – 2017)

Institute of Human Origins, Arizona State University – Tempe 

Project: Coastal Foraging Models – Project 4 of Evolutionary Foundations of Human Uniqueness; Supervisor: Kim Hill, Ph.D.

• Obtained training in anthropological research techniques and methodologies 

• Conducted ethnographic fieldwork with minimal supervision; administered seven sets of structured interviews

• Investigated foraging return rates, economic production patterns, social interaction patterns, cooperative resource flows, reproductive life histories, social learning, and cultural transmission patterns of a Sama-Tausug coastal community in Sarangani Province, Philippines

• Assisted in securing necessary research permits and coordinated with concerned offices and agencies for the whole duration of the project

• Performed translations from Cebuano to English, and vice versa