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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
ERNEST GUILLER S. PINEDAErnest recently completed his Marine Science degree (Biotechnology track) at the Marine Science Institute (MSI) in 2025. Known for his reliability and expertise, Ernest is an integral part of the Marine Pharmacognosy laboratory, where he is affectionately dubbed the "face of the lab." His engaging content about his research has a significant social media presence and has helped popularize the lab's work. Currently, he is a participant in the Department of Science and Technology's (DOST) The Career Incentive Program (CIP), which has brought him back to the lab to continue his research.
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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 earned her Bachelor's degree in Biology in 2023, where she developed an interest in bacteria and viruses. After joining the lab as a graduate student in the MS Marine Science (Biotechnology) Program, her focus shifted to the discovery of bioactive compounds from marine organisms. She is currently in charge of conducting the Mouse DRG (Dorsal Root Ganglion) Bioassay and also helps maintain the animal facility. For her thesis, Rigel is exploring Philippine macroalgae species as promising sources of neuroactive natural products. She enjoys crocheting, journaling, and playing music during her free time.
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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 focusing on chemistry-based guided purification and elucidation of shipworm -symbionts produced natural products.
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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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IAN NICHOL A. ROJOIan completed his Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from the University of Santo Tomas last June 2025 and has recently joined the lab as a University Research Associate. He has worked with oleaginous yeasts from Philippine mangrove leaves for his undergraduate thesis and is now studying shipworm-associated microorganisms. When not in the lab, he usually spends his free time strolling around parks and green spaces.
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GIAN CARLO S. GAETOSGian holds both a BS and MS in Biology. Before joining the lab as a PhD student co-advised by Dr. Lilibeth Salvador-Reyes, he served as a Research Fellow in the HABs Watch Project under the Microbial Oceanography Laboratory led by his adviser, Dr. Deo Florence Onda. His PhD dissertation focuses on the ecology and toxinology of Pseudo-nitzschia. As part of this work, he is developing an AI-assisted classifier to identify Pseudo-nitzschia and potentially distinguish their morphotypes from selected bays across the Philippines. When traveling abroad for conferences or leisure, he enjoys collecting postcards and sending them to himself and friends as meaningful keepsakes.
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MICKEL KINOMESMickel is a freshman MS Marine Science student, who recently graduated with a BS Biology degree. He is largely interested in pharmacognosy as a whole, including the principles and techniques involved in drug discovery and development. With marine organisms as a starting point, Mickel is eager to learn more about the promising natural products found in the Philippines.
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MIKEE ANGELA P. MONGASMikee is a freshman MS Marine Science (Biotechnology) student who earned her BS in
Marine Biology from Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology in 2025. During her undergraduate studies, she developed a strong interest in the ocean and the various studies and applications of different marine organisms. Her research interests focus on the biotechnological applications of different macroalgal species, especially their potential as sources of natural products. In her free time, she enjoys reading, listening to music, and watching variety shows. |
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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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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MELJUNE CHICOTEMelj is the lab's resident cone snail whisperer. At a single glance, he is able to identify the species and collect them with ease, rendering the deadly 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 maintaining them in general.
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Current undergraduate students
SAMANTHA Q. OPEÑASam is an undergraduate BS Chemistry student from UP Diliman. She is currently pursuing her thesis, which focuses on comparing the antimicrobial activity and metabolite profiles of shipworm-associated bacteria across different species. Outside of the lab, she enjoys reading, listening to music, and watching sitcoms.
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