Education
Ph.D. & M.Sc.in Life Sciences (Plant Molecular Biology) with specialization in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology University of Hawai’i at Mānoa (UHM) School of Life Sciences, Honolulu, HI, USA
Bachelor of Science in Biology (Major Marine Biology University of San Carlos (USC) , Cebu, Philippines
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10+ years of laboratory and research experience
2025 - Present
University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC)
Postdoctoral Research Scientist (PI: Aide Macias-Muñoz)
Investigating eye evolution and neurorergeneration in Cnidarians using model systems Hydra sp. and Aurelia spp.
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa School of Life Sciences
2018 – 2024
Research Assistant (PI: Alison Sherwood)
lead and co-authored 12 publications as part of the NSF Biodiversity Survey of Hawaiian Mesophotic Algae , and NSF PurSUiT: Discovery and characterization of mesophotic seaweeds in Hawaiʻi: genomic adaptations to low light environments
2024
Data analyst (PI: Mark Burgman)
conduct International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) assessments of several species using various risk analysis methods following IUCN rules, assessing threats to species, and using argument maps to make decisions for conservation
2022 – 2023
Smithsonian Institution
Research Fellow (PI: Sonia Rowley and Andrea Quattrini)
design and execute NGS genomic workflow for the specific enrichment of genomic regions of interest across over 250 gorgonians as part of NSF: Novel target-enriched genomic approaches to assess the diversity of Gorgonian Octocorals on Indo-Pacific Mesophotic Coral Reefs
2017 – 2018
University of San Carlos, Department of Biology
Research assistant (PI: Paul Geraldino)
conducted fieldwork for sample collection and use analytical chemistry (GC-MS and HPLC) to profile and isolate secondary metabolites particularly polyunsaturated fatty acids in local red seaweeds Halymenia
2015 – 2017
Philippine Local Government agencies
Field scientist
conducted and designed field experiments on the following government projects as needed. As part of these projects, I regularly conduct presentations to policymakers and tourists to raise awareness of environmental science and conservation issues among the broader public.
University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC)
Postdoctoral Research Scientist (PI: Aide Macias-Muñoz)
Investigating eye evolution and neurorergeneration in Cnidarians using model systems Hydra sp. and Aurelia spp.
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa School of Life Sciences
2018 – 2024
Research Assistant (PI: Alison Sherwood)
lead and co-authored 12 publications as part of the NSF Biodiversity Survey of Hawaiian Mesophotic Algae , and NSF PurSUiT: Discovery and characterization of mesophotic seaweeds in Hawaiʻi: genomic adaptations to low light environments
2024
Data analyst (PI: Mark Burgman)
conduct International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) assessments of several species using various risk analysis methods following IUCN rules, assessing threats to species, and using argument maps to make decisions for conservation
2022 – 2023
Smithsonian Institution
Research Fellow (PI: Sonia Rowley and Andrea Quattrini)
design and execute NGS genomic workflow for the specific enrichment of genomic regions of interest across over 250 gorgonians as part of NSF: Novel target-enriched genomic approaches to assess the diversity of Gorgonian Octocorals on Indo-Pacific Mesophotic Coral Reefs
2017 – 2018
University of San Carlos, Department of Biology
Research assistant (PI: Paul Geraldino)
conducted fieldwork for sample collection and use analytical chemistry (GC-MS and HPLC) to profile and isolate secondary metabolites particularly polyunsaturated fatty acids in local red seaweeds Halymenia
2015 – 2017
Philippine Local Government agencies
Field scientist
conducted and designed field experiments on the following government projects as needed. As part of these projects, I regularly conduct presentations to policymakers and tourists to raise awareness of environmental science and conservation issues among the broader public.
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4+ years of teaching, advising and mentoring experience
Teaching Assistant
BOT 480: Algal Diversity and Evolution
(UHM, Spring 2019–2022)
Guest Lecture
BIOE109: Evolution
(UCSC, Fall 2025)
HWST 155: Nā Limu Hawaiʻi
(Windward Community College, Fall 2019)
BOT 480: Algal Diversity and Evolution
(UHM, Spring 2019–2022)
BOT 480: Algal Diversity and Evolution
(UHM, Spring 2019–2022)
Guest Lecture
BIOE109: Evolution
(UCSC, Fall 2025)
HWST 155: Nā Limu Hawaiʻi
(Windward Community College, Fall 2019)
BOT 480: Algal Diversity and Evolution
(UHM, Spring 2019–2022)
BOT 201: Plant Evolutionary Diversity
(UHM, Fall 2019)
(UHM, Fall 2019)
Additional Training
Fall 2025
UC Santa Cruz Postdocs Association (USPA) Future Faculty Workshop Series
California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) Community Outreach and Patient Advocacy
Academic Excellence Program (ACE) Secret Society of Mentors (SSM) Workshop
FUTURE in BIOLOGY Field-based Teaching Training Certification
Fall 2025
UC Santa Cruz Postdocs Association (USPA) Future Faculty Workshop Series
California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) Community Outreach and Patient Advocacy
Academic Excellence Program (ACE) Secret Society of Mentors (SSM) Workshop
FUTURE in BIOLOGY Field-based Teaching Training Certification