Welcome Estya & Calebe!

The TEE Lab is delighted to welcome two of our newest members - Estya and Calebe!

Nur Estya Binte Rahman

Estya is a research associate and is assisting with lab work for the Brunei peat swamp project and the TEE lab. Her research interests and expertise include plant molecular genetics, botany, tropical forest ecology and the ecophysiology of tropical forest tree species relative to changing climate and landscapes. Prior to joining the TEE lab, Estya was explored the socio-ecological interactions of peatland restoration in Sumatra, Indonesia. In this project, she studied the success and survivability of peat swamp forest tree species planted in tropical peatland restoration projects across Southeast Asia. She conducted burning 🔥 lab experiments in the dark to assess leaf flammability of tropical swamp forest tree species and its associations with decomposition processes using plant functional traits. Before her NTU days, Estya worked in NUS and was involved in a carbon stocks assessment project of the Nee Soon Swamp Forest. Since 2017, she also volunteered with NGOs on vegetation restoration and community involvement in conservation management.

Calebe P. Mendes

Calebe is a research fellow in vertebrate ecology with the TEE Lab. He is deeply interested in how vertebrate communities interact with other ecosystem elements, such as invertebrates, plants, and pathogens. He also has keen interests in animal behavior, spatial ecology, statistics, and equipment development for scientific research. Before joining us, Calebe has worked in tropical, subtropical, and temperate forests, in Brazil, the USA, Malaysia, and Singapore. Currently, his aim is to investigate the cascading effects of African swine fever on multiple levels of Southeast Asian ecosystems.

Once again, warmest welcome to the TEE Lab, Estya and Calebe!