Ong Xin Rui

I am a PhD candidate at NTU ASE. I was introduced to the fascinating world of dung beetles during my undergraduate years in NUS. For my PhD, I am studying the interaction network between dung beetle and mammal communities in the rainforest canopy, which will be constructed using a novel method of DNA metabarcoding of dung beetle gut contents for mammal DNA.

I will also assemble a database of distribution, traits and molecular barcodes of Southeast Asian dung beetles, which would help in overcoming the current taxonomic impediments of dung beetle research in the region.

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In my spare time, I enjoy travelling, exploring places of nature, and jamming songs on the guitar. My favourite tea is bubble tea.