Targeted Ecosystem

Organic and mineral soils’ interactions with plants.

Background

The Biodiversity Borneo Laboratory focuses on improving ecosystem quality using modern technology and new methods in agriculture and forestry which do not interfere with natural systems and do not cause harm with time. In addition, the existing health indicators will be thoroughly looked into to either improve them or come out with new ones. The indicators could be within the interactions among soil, plant, water, and environmental factors. Also, there will be a focus on monitoring and improving ecosystem quality of forestry and agricultural systems using for example, Internet of Things (IoT). This monitoring will enable us to improve or develop health indicators for effective and efficient management of forestry and agronomic quality.

Objectives

1. To determine how soil and plant interaction translate into social, economic, and environmental efficiency.
2. To improve indicators for efficient monitoring and management of forestry and agriculture ecosystem.
   
   

Expected outcomes

1. Achieving social, economic, and environmental efficiency through improvement of soil and plant productivity.
2. Establishment of sustainable agriculture, forestry and afforested ecosystems.

Staff

Research Associates Biodibersity Borneo Laboratory

Associate Professor Dr. Geoffery James Gerusu
Field of Specialization: Environmental Hydrology and Hydrogeology, Forest Management and Ecosystem Sciences
+6086 855454
geoffery@upm.edu.my

I completed my PhD degree from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in 2013 with a focus on agricultural hydrology. My current research interest is focused on forest hydrology, watershed management and runoff generation processes. Over the years there have been limited information in these related fields especially under diverse types of plants canopies such as natural tropical forest, planted forest and oil palm. Having an in-depth understanding of those fields helps to partially improve this situation by providing an updated and valuable finding that can assist relevant authorities to protect catchment areas towards creating a sustainable supply of clean and safe water for all living nature. The other research interest efforts are rainfall-runoff, sedimentation and hydrograph separation for urban catchments. For more information, please visit https://btu.upm.edu.my/visitus/official_website_dr_geoffery_james_gerusu-26470.

Dr. Omar Faruqi Bin Marzuki
Field of Specialization: Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Renewable Energy, Safety, Health & Environmental
+6086 855847
omar_faruqi@upm.edu.my

Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering with 6 years of experimental research experience. Specialized in wind energy, aerodynamics, renewable energy. My research efforts focus on novel sustainable and renewable energy applications. My research activities are centered around wind energy, more precisely, in the application of solar tower. Aerospace engineering has enabled me to relate biodiversity to several applications, such as monitoring biodiversity using drone technology.

Dr. Ellie Teo Yi Lih
Field of Specialization: Advanced Material, Electrochemistry, Carbon-based material, Energy Storage, Sensor
+6086 855742
ellie_teo@upm.edu.my

Ellie is a Ph.D graduate in Advanced Material from Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP). She is equipped with over six (6) years of experience in electrochemistry and energy storage acquired through industry projects and research academia. Currently, her research work is focused on carbon-based material especially graphene for the use in energy storage devices (redox flow battery, supercapacitors), sensors and corrosion study.

Dr. Latifah binti Omar
Field of Specialization: Soil Nitrogen Management, Compost Production and Agriculture Wastes Management.
+6086 8555830
latifahomar@upm.edu.my

Latifah binti Omar had completed her first degree (Bachelor Science in Bioindustry - 2009), Master of Science (Msc - 2011), and Doctoral Philosophy (Ph.D - 2016) at Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Sarawak Campus. Her recent researches are focused on the balance requirements of organic and chemical based fertilizers in rice production. Reutilization and fortification of agriculture wastes are prominent approaches in her research in line with the goals to reduce sole dependence on chemical based fertilizers and to achieve high rice yield under sustainable development agronomic practices. Use of balance organic and chemical fertilizers in rice production are most preferred in empowerment rice sector for food security in Malaysia. For more information, please visit google scholar latifahomar@upm.edu.my

Dr. Mugunthan A/L Perumal
Field of Specialization: Forest Ecology and Soil Science
Tel: +6086 855287
Email: mugunthan.perumal@upm.edu.my
B.Sc. (Hons) (Plant Resource Science & Management) Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS),
M.Sc. (Soil Science) UNIMAS, Ph.D. (Ecology) UNIMAS 

My PhD research focused on the ecological study of enrichment planting of one potential Bornean tropical indigenous species, Shorea macrophylla (de Vriese) P.S. Ashton or locally known as Engkabang jantong for restoration of tropical rainforest ecosystems in Sampadi Forest Reserve, Sarawak, Malaysia. Since year 2012, I have been actively involved in research and consultancy projects related to forestry and agriculture in Sarawak. As a member of the research team comprising experts from state government agency and international organisation, one of our significant output from the long-term field research work was on the establishment of effective reforestation techniques for restoration of degraded forest ecosystems in Sarawak. My current research interest is based on forest restoration and rehabilitation, soil fertility and management, plant and soil interactions as well as environmental science. For more information, please visit https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Eoa4ULYAAAAJ&hl=en

Dr. Keeren A/L Sundara Rajoo
Field of Specialization:Soil Science, Ecology, Forest Therapy
Tel: +6011-11812671
Email: keeren.rajoo@upm.edu.my

Keeren obtained his PhD in Ecology from the Department of Biology, Universiti Putra Malaysia and conducted his PhD research attachment at the Tokyo University of Agriculture. His current research interest is finding nature-based solutions to everyday problems. He is currently working on forest therapy, a nature-based approach to improve physical and mental well-being.  He is also interested in ethnobotany, or more specifically to document the traditional medicinal knowledge of indigenous communities and to determine the true potential of their herbal medicine. Moreover, he is actively working with forestry departments to develop sustainable forestry practices like determining effective buffer zones for forest conservation. bioremediation of degraded lands and conservation of endangered tropical trees.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Leong Sui Sien
Field of Specialization:Soil Science, Ecology, Forest Therapy
Tel: +6086-855822
Email: leongsuisien@upm.edu.my

She has completed tertiary education at Universiti Putra Malaysia (Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (Honours) in 2011 and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Ph.D in Molecular Biology (Microbiology) in 2015. She is currently working as an Associate Professor in Department of Animal Sciences and Fishery and as an associate researcher in Institute of Ecosystem Science Borneo, Universiti Putra Malaysia campus Bintulu since the year 2016. As a microbiology researcher, I work as a team in studying how microorganisms live and interact with their environments which can be used in human healthcare, agriculture and industry. My main research interest is in the field of microbial biotechnology in utilizing molecular biology techniques to explore bacteria. For more information at https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=4LPlKvIAAAAJ

Dr. Jessica Jeyanthi a/p James Antony
Sc. (Hons) Biotechnology (AIMST University), M. Sc (USM), Ph.D. (USM)
Field of specialization: Plant Biotechnology; Plant tissue culture; Plant cryopreservation
Tel: +086-855843/ 016-6291425
Email: jessica@upm.edu.my

Dr Jessica Jeyanthi had gained her BSc (Hons) Biotechnology from AIMST University, Kedah; MSc Biotechnology  - Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang and her PhD  - Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang. She is currently a senior lecturer at Department of Crop Science, UPMKB and an associate researcher in Institute of Ecosystem Science Borneo, Universiti Putra Malaysia campus Bintulu since the year 2022. One of her main research focus is to look into plant tissue culture system in plants such as orchids, eggplants, figs, bamboo, dragon fruits and banana. She also have involved in plant cryopreservation system in orchid using various techniques. Her current research interest is based on establishing tissue culture system in plants and studying the effecting of various plant growth regulators for plantlet multiplications. Her contributions includes scientific publications in international reputed journals, obtained local grants, teaching and continuous supervision of masters students. For more information, please visit https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=usxh2csAAAAJ&hl=en.

Updated:: 22/02/2023 [lanz]