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Lilibeth A. Salvador-Reyes, PhDPrincipal InvestigatorDr. Lilibeth A. Salvador-Reyes earned her Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences-Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Florida. She joined the University of the Philippines Diliman Marine Science Institute (UPMSI) in 2013, where she established the Marine Pharmacognosy Lab. Dr. Salvador-Reyes’ current research focuses on discovering natural products from marine organisms such as bacteria, cyanobacteria, sponges, and mollusks. She combines the time-tested traditional method of bioactivity-guided purification with advanced methodologies in genomics, metabolomics, and high-throughput screening for the discovery of bioactive natural products. Dr. Salvador-Reyes also bolstered the biobanking efforts of marine microorganisms and compounds. She is currently the curator of the Marine Natural Products Legacy Collection at UPMSI. She was awarded the 2023 Philippine Federation of Chemistry Societies Outstanding Achievement Award for Chemical Research.
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Current Lab Members
JACQUELYN PERANJacque is a microbiologist by training and is currently the University Research Associate in the lab after joining in 2020. Her master’s thesis focuses on the culture media optimization of T. turnerae for the production of potentially new compounds from this shipworm endosymbiont, which she presented and defended last August 2024 which earned her MS Degree. Her thesis allowed her to integrate traditional statistical modeling with multi-omics approach in understanding the influence of nutrition in chemotype regulation. She also once performed a field collection of shipworm-associated bacteria aboard UPMSI’s research vessel MY Panata. Aside from being a productive scientist, she’s also a talented baker and artist.
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MICHELLE MARIE OCHOAMia initially joined the lab as an undergraduate student for her thesis on cyanobacteria natural products and stayed for her master’s. However, she shifted her focus to sponge-associated actinomycetes, using modified microbial elicitation as a means of expressing cryptic biosynthetic gene clusters. She's also a research associate of the lab. She also enjoys photography and advocates biking to work.
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FRANCHES RIGEL JALOSRigel joined the lab in 2024 as a graduate student in MS Marine Science (Biotechnology). She is currently exploring potential projects for her master's thesis.
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SENFRED MATTHEW O. MERCAZenki completed his BS in Chemistry in 2023, where he conducted his undergraduate thesis in the lab on the antimicrobial properties of mindapyrroles. In 2025, he rejoined the lab as a University Research Associate focusing on shipworm microbiology. His current research interest is on incorporating computational methods to provide further insights on the structure-activity relationships on the compounds isolated in the lab. In his free time, he enjoys tinkering with tech.
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PRINCESS I. LACHICALach is an aspiring marine biotechnologist and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology last July 2024. She enrolled for graduate studies and joined the lab shortly after. She’s a resident extrovert with various organizations where she fuels her passion of meeting new people and exploring new horizons. She aims to connect scientific excellence and servantship to the common mass. She’s currently exploring her options for her research but leans on bioassay-guided natural product discovery.
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JEANNE LORRAINE P. AMPONINLorraine holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and is currently pursuing her Master’s in the same field. She joined the laboratory in 2024 and is presently focused on the semi-synthesis of analogues derived from shipworm metabolites.
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JOSHUA ALLEN C. CANLASJosh graduated with a BS Biology degree from Angeles University Foundation in July 2024. Now a graduate student at the Marine Science Institute under the biotechnology track, he joined the lab in August 2024. He’s currently exploring research ideas on harmful algal blooms and is excited to dive deeper into the field!
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IRENE PAMISANIrene has been a reliable lab technician since the lab’s inception. She is in charge of the cell culture laboratory’s upkeep and maintenance. She also prepares the culture media for some microbial isolates. Lab members cheerfully call her the “Queen of all Media.”
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MELFEB CHICOTEFeb is considered a shipworm whisperer because of his ability to determine which mangrove tree stump is infested with shipworms. He was part of the team that discovered the rock-boring shipworm in Bohol, Philippines. In the lab, he performs routine equipment maintenance and chemical extraction.
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MELJUNE CHICOTEMelj is the lab resident conesnail whisperer. At a single glance, he is able to identify the species and collect them with ease, rendering the deady predator powerless. In the lab, he performs routine equipment maintenance and is in charge of the animal facility and is the one breeding, feeding, and maintiaing them in general.
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Current undergraduate students
DANIELLE THERESE A. AMBAYECDani is an undergraduate Chemistry student and aspiring marine biochemist from UP Diliman. She is currently pursuing her thesis in the lab which focuses on different bioactive compounds present in shipworm-associated bacteria and their precursors. Outside of her studies, she is passionate in art, table-top games, music, and writing.
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LEEANNE E. DAYRITLee is an undergraduate student pursuing a Chemistry degree at UP Diliman. Her thesis explores the cytotoxicity of marine micro- and macroalgae in the Philippines, reflecting her interest in biochemistry in hopes of furthering her studies in the field of medicinal chemistry. Outside the lab, she enjoys reading novels, running, and creating art.
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