Research, Extension, and Professional Staff
University Researcher I
Lylee de Jesus is a licensed chemist with seven (7) years experience in a pharmaceutical firm as Quality Assurance Analyst and one (1) year in an environmental service laboratory. She has knowledge in analytical methods and knows the basic operation of HPLC, GC, AAS, FTIR and UV-Vis. She is also trained with basic microbiological techniques and environmental testing. She specialized in water quality assessment and air quality assessment. Her research interests include environmental chemistry, toxicology, environmental health, epidemiology and disaster risk reduction and management.
Contact Details
Office Telefax No. +63 (049) 536-2251
Office Room: SESAM Environmental Lab
Email: [email protected]
University Research Associate II
Cathy Gigantone is a University Research Associate II involved in water-related researches such as water security in agriculture and environmental pollution in aquatic resources. She is one of the core staffs of Interdisciplinary Studies Center for Water (Water Center) which envisions to be a center of excellence in research, development and extension towards water security for all.
Email: [email protected]
University Researcher I
Cherry’s research interests include impact assessments, carrying capacity assessments, and environment codes. She is an editorial assistant of the Journal of Environmental Science and Management (JESAM) responsible for the journal’s communication, database management and website maintenance.
Email: [email protected]
University Researcher I
Dante Vergara is a geographer with research interests in modelling space, scale, and landscape fragmentation. A specialist in Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing (GIS/RS), he has dealt with Land-Use and Land-Cover Change (LULCC) and urbanization models. He is continually improving a single-valued landscape index for forest fragmentation, and is currently developing an Agent-Based Model for the deforestation behaviour of colonist farmers who produce the fishbone pattern of forest fragmentation in the Amazon. He was recently Director of the Information Technology Center of the University of the Philippines Los Baños, is currently a member of the Core Technical Committee of the eUP Project, and is Project Manager of the UPLB Fiber Optic Expansion and Rehabilitation Project. He plays drums, blues harps, and fronts for a home-grown group of musician friends.
University Researcher I
Evangeline L. Alcantara is a University Researcher I and she is currently the head of SESAM library. She also serves as the secretariat of the Philippine Network of Educators on Environment (PNEE), formerly the Environmental Education Network of the Philippines.
Email: [email protected]
University Researcher II
Sofia Aggangan-Alaira is a forester with research interests in forestry, biodiversity, carrying capacity assessment, environmental impact assessment, environmental codes, and climate change programs. Currently, she is the head of the Continuing Education and Training Division of SESAM. She is also a UPLB Graduate School Affiliate Professor.
Email: [email protected]
University Researcher I
Jessa is an Environmental Planner and a University Researcher and engaged with several water-related researches. She is also an Affiliate Assistant Professor at the UPLB College of Human Ecology. Her research interests are water-related studies, urban and human settlements planning and qualitative and social research.
University Research Associate II
Patrick is a University Research Associate II and was involved in projects on agricultural crop production, management and breeding. He is now engaged in crop monitoring and forecasting and is currently working for the National Program for Integrated Crop Monitoring and Forecasting System.
University Research Associate II
RM is a development communication practitioner with a specialty in community broadcasting. Her research interests are environmental education and communication, climate-smart agriculture, disaster risk reduction and management, and qualitative and social research. Her expertise involves science popularization, crafting of communication plans, capacity and knowledge building, and development and conceptualization of creative works in the production of Information, Education & Communication (IEC) materials in print & in the broadcast. She is also SESAM’s multimedia specialist skilled in photography and videography.
University Extension Specialist II
Thad Lawas is a science communicator with researches related to disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM). His projects are focused in early warning systems and information, education and communication (IEC). He is the Production Editor of the Journal of Environmental Science and Management (JESAM) and Editor of the SESAM bi-monthly newsletter, SESAM Updates and the SESAM Website. He is also a UPLB Graduate School Affiliate Assistant Professor.
Email: [email protected]
University Researcher II
Yusuf is the University Coordinator of the UPLB Climate and Disaster Risks Studies Center (UPLB-CDRSC) and UPLB-GS-SESAM Affiliate Assistant Professor. His research undertakings are on climate change adaptation in agriculture, vulnerability and risk assessments, environment and veterinary public health, and food safety. He is actively engaged in mainstreaming CCA and DRRM into extension education, capacity building, and integrated community and local government planning.
Contact Details
Office Telefax No. +63 (049) 536-2251
Office Room: UPLB-CDRSC Room/Climate Change Lab
Email: [email protected]