I hail from Metro Manila, Philippines, where I originally trained as an analytical chemist. I obtained my Chemistry degree from the University of the Philippines (UP) DIliman. Chemistry proved to be a versatile field, leading me to work across various organizations in industry, government, and academia. After working in a large liquor manufacturing company and afterwards, aquaculture monitoring, I sought to pivot away from just doing chemistry and started working on my master's degree in Environmental Science at the Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology in UP.

My first foray into research was as a research associate in the Chemical Oceanography group at the UP Marine Science Institute. I later worked as a researcher at the Environment Monitoring Laboratory in the National Institute of Geological Sciences before beginning my PhD studies. During this time, I also worked on a couple of other projects with the World Bank and UNESCO Philippines [See Projects tab].

The breadth of my work experience informs how and why I do science. Coming from a Global South country, and now navigating academia in the Global North, I often reflect on equity and inclusion within the scientific space, particularly in terms of diversity and fairness. Along with many other scientists, I also think about how to better communicate science through talks and teaching engagements.