I am a Ph.D. candidate in Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology at the University of California, Riverside, with an expected graduation in Summer 2027. I am fascinated by sexual selection and the evolution of mating systems in birds, particularly hummingbirds.

My dissertation focuses on the mating system of Costa’s Hummingbird and integrates extensive fieldwork with molecular analyses. I explore how direct and indirect benefits shape female mate choice by collecting data on male territorial behavior, phenotypic traits, and genetic samples from both males and nestlings. Through this work, I aim to uncover the traits that drive male reproductive success.

In the long term, I aspire to lead an independent research program that combines field and molecular approaches to study avian behavior and mating systems.

In addition to my academic pursuits, I am passionate about bird-watching, technology, sustainability, diversity, climate change, biodiversity loss, and other environmental issues. I also enjoy writing, reading, and engaging in science communication. I grew up in an inland town in Malaysian Borneo, where my curiosity about nature and wildlife first began!