Department of Biology
Full-Time Faculty

Ronald Allan L. Cruz, PhD
Department Chairperson
Assistant Professor
PhD Biology, Ateneo de Manila University
Research interests:
illegal wildlife trade, marine biology, bioethics, bio-education, animal-assisted interventions
Research group:
Ateneo Wildlife Trade Research and Advocacy Group
Pia Clarisse G. Aguirre, MSc
Instructor
MSc Microbiology, University of Santo Tomas
Research interests:
Medical microbiology, general microbiology, mycology
Research group:
Ateneo Food Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology
Luigi E. Barroga, MSc.
Plant Biology Cluster Head
Instructor
MSc. Biology, Ateneo de Manila University
Research interests:
Parasitic plants, Plant systematics, Plant symbiosis, Food-borne Zoonotic Trematodes, Biodiversity
Research group:
Ateneo Aquatic and Fisheries Resources Laboratory, Ateneo Biodiversity Research Laboratory, Ateneo Parasitology Research Group
Maria Katrina C. Constantino, MS
Instructor
M.S. Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of the Philippines Diliman
Research interests:
Recombinant Protein Expression, Genetic Markers, Urban Biodiversity
Research group:
Ateneo Food Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology
Emmanuel D. Delocado, PhD
Head, Ateneo Biodiversity Research Laboratory
Assistant Professor
PhD Biology, Ateneo de Manila University
Research interests:
beetle taxonomy, molecular systematics, freshwater ecology, Philippine biodiversity and conservation, education for sustainable development
Research group:
ResearchGate | LinkedIn | Google Scholar | ORCID | Bepress
Rhea Abisado-Duque, PhD, RMicro
Assistant Professor
PhD Microbiology, University of Kansas
Research interests:
quorum sensing, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, antimicrobial resistance, bioremediation, quorum quenching
Research group:
Ivan Adrian L. De Guzman, MD
Instructor
Doctor of Medicine, University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center
Research interests:
Clinical Parasitology, Medical Diagnostics
Research group:
Ateneo Parasitology Research Group
Jhoana M. Garces, PhD
Research Coordinator
Assistant Professor
PhD Biology, Ateneo de Manila University
Research interests:
Biodiversity, Freshwater Entomology, Systematics
Research group:
Ateneo Biodiversity Research Laboratory
Maia Patricia Garcia, MSc (cand.)
Biology Representative, Natural Sciences Cluster
Instructor
M.Sc. Environmental Science (cand.), University of the Philippines Diliman
Research interests:
aquatic ecology, marine biology, fish and macrobenthos taxonomy, ridge-to-reef ecosystems ecology, environmental impact assessment
Research group:
Ateneo Biodiversity Research Laboratory
Pamela A. Gatchalian, MSc
Instructor
MSc Biology, Ateneo de Manila University
Research interests:
fungal endophytes, fungal biodiversity
Research group:
Marc P. Gellync, MD
Instructor
Doctor of Medicine, University of Santo Tomas
Research interests:
Biomedicine, Public Health, Infectious Disease
Research group:
Ateneo Food Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology
Ateneo Parasitology Research Group
Dr. rer. nat. Crisanto M. Lopez, RMicro
Associate Professor
Doctor rerum naturalium (Microbiology); Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Germany
Research interests:
Food Microbiology, Microbial Biotechnology, Infection Biology
Research group:
Ateneo Food Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology
Google Scholar | ResearchGate | ORCID | Academia | LinkedIn
Zomesh A. N. Maini, PhD
Graduate Program Coordinator
Assistant Professor V
PhD Biology, Ateneo de Manila University
Research interests:
Microbial metagenomics, Mycoremediation, Molecular Biology
Research group:
Ateneo Food Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology
Kharleezelle M. Mamades, PhD
Student Exchange Coordinator of the School of Science and Engineering
Assistant Professor
Doctor of Philosophy, National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, OIE Collaborating Center, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine
Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
Research interests:
Parasite diagnosis, population genetics, public health, epidemiology, neglected tropical diseases
Research group:
Ateneo Parasitology Research Group
Cell and Developmental Biology
Vivian A. Panes, PhD
Research Group Leader for the Plant DNA Barcoding and Functional Genomics Laboratory
Associate Professor
PhD Biology, University of the Philippines, Diliman
Research interests:
genetics, transcriptomics, cytogenetics, DNA barcoding, cell biology
Research group:
Ateneo Functional Genomics and Plant DNA Barcoding
Janice A. Ragaza, PhD
Associate Professor
PhD Fisheries Science, Kagoshima University
Research interests:
aquaculture, fish nutrition, aquaculture biotechnology, fish feeds, sustainable aquaculture
Research group:
Ateneo Aquatic and Fisheries Resources Laboratory
Ateneo Parasitology Research Group
Janlo M. Robil, PhD
MS Science Education Program Coordinator
Assistant Professor
PhD Biological Sciences (Plant Developmental Genetics), University of Missouri, Columbia, USA
Research interests:
Plant Developmental Genetics, genetic and molecular control of vein formation, image-based high-throughput phenotyping
Research group:
Cell and Developmental Biology
Irvin B. Rondolo, MSc
Instructor
MSc Genetics cognate in Zoology, University of the Philippines Los Baños
Research interests:
Population Genetics, Coral Reef Ecology, Molecular Docking
Research group:
Ateneo Biodiversity Research Laboratory
Cell and Developmental Biology

Kent Elson Sorgon, MSc
Instructor
MSc Zoology, University of the Philippines Los Baños
Research interests:
coral reef fishes, systematic ichthyology, ecomorphology, geometric morphometrics
Research group:
Ateneo Biodiversity Research Laboratory
Google Scholar | ORCID
Part-Time Faculty

Rhoderick M Casis, M.D.
Faculty
Doctor of Medicine, UERMMMC College of Medicine
Research interests:
Neurosurgery, Neuroregeneration
Lorraine Joyce M. Del Rosario, MSc (cand.)
Lecturer
MSc Biology (Genetics), University of the Philippines
Research areas:
DNA Barcoding, Environmental DNA Metabarcoding, Molecular Phylogenetics, Wildlife Forensics, Biodiversity Conservation
Antonio Rafael N. Elicaño, MA (cand.)
Lecturer
MA Creative Writing (cand.), University of the Philippines Diliman
Research interests:Science fiction, creative writing, media studies
Ma. Hanna SC. Halcon, MSc
Lecturer
MSc Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of the Philippines Los Baños
Research interests:
Molecular Biology, Diagnostics
ORCID | ResearchGate
Albert Matthew C. Lazatin, MSc (cand.)
Lecturer
MSc Biology (cand.), Ateneo de Manila University
Research interests:
Entomology, systematics
Joseph Conrad M. Libunao
Instructor
BS Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of the Philippines Diliman
Research interests:
Entomology, systematics
Research groups:
Ateneo Functional Genomics and Plant DNA Barcoding
Ateneo Food Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology
Ateneo Parasitology Research Group
Cell and Developmental Biology
Jason T. Liwag, MS (cand.)
Lecturer
MS (cand.) in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of the Philippines Diliman
Research interests:
Molecular endocrinology, cancer, epigenetics, science communication, queering science
Camille Sophia L. Nacion, DVM
Lecturer
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of the Philippines Los Banos
Research interests:
Veterinary Medicine
David Justin R. Ples, MSc
Lecturer
MSc Plant and Fungal Taxonomy, Diversity and Conservation - Queen Mary University of London x Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
Research interests:
biodiversity, Clerodendrum, plant ecology, plant taxonomy, conservation
John Moises G. Relles, MSc
Lecturer
MSc Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, UP Los Baños
Research interests:
Synthetic biology, genomics, agricultural biotechnology
Vernie G. Sagun, PhD
Lecturer
PhD Plant Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Research interests:
Plant systematics, molecular phylogenetics, palynology, biogeography of the Malay Archipelago
Manuel Victor B. San Pedro, MSc
Lecturer
MSc Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of the Philippines Diliman
Research interests:
Molecular Biology, Biophysics, Biotechnology, Structural Biology
Research group:
BAYAN Biotechnology Research Group
Jenica Clarisse Y. Sy, MSc
Lecturer
MSc Biology, Ateneo de Manila University
Research interests:
neurodevelopment, autism spectrum disorder, genetics, molecular biology, public health
ORCID

Justin Vincent G. Tan, MSc
Lecturer
MS Vaccinology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona,
Universiteit Antwerpen, Université Jean Monnet Saint-Etienne, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1
MS Cell and Molecular Biology, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1
Research interests:
immunology, vaccinology, public health

Liane Denise B. Tan, MD
Instructor
Doctor of Medicine, University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center
Rommel M. Taniegra, MSc
Instructor
MSc Zoology, University of the Philipines Los Banos
Research interests:
Freshwater Biology, Environmental Science, Wildlife biology
Jonathan Patrick H. Yan, MSc
Lecturer
M.Sc. Marine Science, University of the Philippines, The Marine Science Institute
Research interests:
Ichthyology, Evolution, Phylogenetics
Staff
Noelyn B. Quintero
Department Secretary VI
BS Environmental Management, Ateneo de Manila University
Earl Kevin F. Fatallo, MSc
LS LUERT Building Beat Head
Laboratory Technician
MSc Biology, Ateneo de Manila University
Research interests:
Molecular genetics, molecular biology, microbiology, cell biology, DNA barcoding
Research group:
Ateneo Functional Genomics and Plant DNA Barcoding
John Rolan C. Salinas
Laboratory Technician
BS Biology, Polytechnic University of the Philippines