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PEOPLE
Southeast Asian Urban Ecology team
Plants, soil and litter biodiversity and ecosystem functions
Joshua CHOO
Research assistant
Interested in human-wildlife coexistence, "uncharismatic" fauna, and molecular forensics work, I'm currently working on stable isotope analyses of leaf litter - and the invertebrate communities within - along a gradient of human disturbance. I graduated from Yale-NUS in 2024 with a Bachelor's of Science in Environmental Studies, a passion for environmental justice, and few hundred eel DNA barcodes. As a part-time wheelchair user, I'm also interested in disability studies and accessibility. My hobbies include building bad Magic: the Gathering decks and borrowing books on Libby!
Irsalina IKBAL
PhD Student
I am a tropical forest ecologist who is interested in studying the long-term responses of unique tropical forest ecosystems to environmental changes. My project focuses on addressing the knowledge gaps regarding the effects of disturbances on tree diversity, microbial communities, and nutrient dynamics in the tropical heath forests of Singapore and Brunei, aiming to shed light on their long-term resilience.
I earned my BSc in Biology and MSc in Biodiversity from Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) in 2021 and 2024, respectively. My academic journey has been inspired by the pristine tropical forests of my home country, Brunei, which offer unparalleled opportunities to study and explore undisturbed tropical ecosystems. Growing up in Brunei, I am deeply motivated to use ecology as a tool to protect tropical forest ecosystems, particularly rare and understudied habitats like heath forests to conserve their unique biodiversity.
Anne OLFATO-PAROJINOG
PhD student
Hi! I’m Anne, an urban ecologist and environmental impact assessment preparer from the Philippines. I believe that building sustainable cities starts with valuing and protecting our urban green spaces—not just as patches of nature, but as lifelines that support biodiversity, regulate climate, and improve human well-being. My previous work focused on remote sensing and plant functional ecology in Philippine urban forests, and I’m now exploring Southeast Asian urban forest ecosystems by studying plant functional traits, soil invertebrates, and abiotic factors to understand their interactions and nutrient dynamics. Beyond the lab and field, I love running, lifting at the gym, reading, hiking, and freediving—activities that remind me why protecting our natural spaces, even within cities, matters so much.
Madeleine KOENIGER
PhD Student
I’m a forest ecologist studying the effects of soil nutrients on different functional traits of trees in different forest types to understand the consequences of human impact on forest regeneration. In my project in Singapore’s forests, I’m researching leaf functional traits in different secondary forest, trying to explain how different tree communities persist after disturbance. For my project in the enigmatic peat swamp of Brunei I try to answer the question how nutrients impact performance of S. albida seedlings. I’ve received a BSc in Biology from the Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg in 2015 and a MSc in Biology from the University of Hamburg in 2018. In my spare time I like swimming and other types of water sports.
Weng Ngai LAM
Assistant Professor
I am a community ecologist who loves invertebrates, plants and invertebrate-eating plants. I joined ASE, NTU in 2021 as a research fellow, and was appointed as an assistant professor in 2024. I have worked on a wide variety of research projects and study systems over the years, and these all revolved around topics of resources/nutrients and their effects on ecosystem functions and species interactions (bottom-up processes).
I hope to use ecology to maximize beneficial and native biodiversity in modern cities.
Principal Investigator
Staff and PhDs
Cities of Tomorrow (Vertical 5) team
Litterfall nutrient cycling by invertebrates and microbes
Co-PI with A/P Eleanor Slade (TEE lab)
Tianyang XU
Research Fellow
I began my academic journey as a "tree hugger" during my undergraduate studies in the Pacific Northwest at the University of Washington. I then transitioned to studying alpine grassland biodiversity at the University of Zurich during my master's studies, followed by a PhD at the University of Manchester, where I focused on the impacts of climate change and defoliation on belowground plant-fungi interactions in British meadows. In 2024, I joined ASE, NTU, as a research fellow, aiming to expand my experience in plant-invertebrate ecology and tropical biodiversity. My journey has been driven by a passion for ecosystems of all kinds, and I am excited to continue exploring and contributing to the understanding of our planet's incredible biodiversity.
Nagichetty Poorvi ASHOK
Research assistant
Hola! I’m a research assistant in PIE Lab, currently working on a project comparing the litterfall nutrient cycling between forests and urban green spaces in Singapore. I’m interested in studying biogeochemical cycles, especially in tropical forests. I did my undergrad at Nanyang Technological University, majoring in Chemistry. After that, I completed my Master's in Ecology, Evolution & Conservation at Imperial College London. When I’m not doing science or exploring, you can find me playing squash, crocheting, reading books, or playing DnD with friends.
Yn Mae LEE
Research assistant
I am a research assistant with an interest in biodiversity and conservation. I am currently involved on litterfall nutrient cycling in Singapore, and I am very excited to learn more about our local small but mighty invertebrates! Prior to this, I majored in Environmental Biology at Macquarie University. In my free time, I enjoy thrifting, playing video games, and spending time with cats.
Jo Lyn LOO
Research assistant
Hi! I'm a research assistant currently engaged in a project comparing litterfall nutrient recycling between urban and natural forests in Singapore. I graduated with my Bachelors from the University of Melbourne (2020-2022), majoring in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. I've always had a keen interest in invertebrates and hope to understand the roles of these inconspicuous animals in the ecosystem. In my downtime, you might catch me out exploring the country, while rainy days call for books, art and music!
Undergraduates
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Bertram LIM
URECA Student
Hi! I am Bertram, a Year 2 undergraduate studying Environmental Earth Systems Science. For my URECA project, I am excited to learn more about the effects of urbanisation on the diversity of litter invertebrates, especially beetles, in different parts of Singapore. During my free time, I enjoy baking pastries and reading.
Izzul Adham Noor AMIDIN
URECA Student
Hello! I'm Izzul, a Year 2 undergraduate studying Environmental Earth Systems Science. My research focuses on invertebrates and their roles in ecosystem processes in peat swamp forests. Invertebrates and peat swamps are a whole new world to me, and I am excited to learn more about them! When I'm not admiring critters, I love writing fiction, looking at planes and reading about history.
Xavier YONG
FYP Student
Hello! I am a Year 4 Environmental Earth Systems Science undergraduate, doing a Final Year Project. Hooked on the complexities of tropical rainforests, I am looking into microbial communities in leaf litter from forests and urban parks, and their influence on ecosystem functions. To unwind, I love painting, exploring new activities and bringing my friends with me!
Muhammad NASRY
FYP Student
I'm a final year undergraduate in the Environmental Earth Systems Science programme specialising in ecology. I am interested in studying community assembly and successional dynamics across different gradients of abiotic pressures. Outside of school, I'm active in biodiversity policy advocacy, working with the Singapore Youth Voices for Biodiversity.
Jiayuan LIN
ES3008 Student
I am a year 3 bioengineering student, with a longstanding interest in fish and invertebrate taxonomy and ecology. My current research focuses on the molecular and morphological taxonomy of myriapods, as well as the influence they exert on soil nutrients, and I am eager to expand my knowledge of both soil ecology and myriapodology through this project! When not in the forests or out at sea, you may find me playing my guzheng or absorbed in Chinese novels.