I am collaborating with Prof. Norman Uphoff and Lucy Fisher from the Department of Global Development, Cornell University on various aspects of the system of rice intensification (SRI), particularly focusing on our current initiatives with the recently established Southeast Asia SRI Network. We are also exploring opportunities to advance the SRI Global Research Network. I am involved in drafting a comprehensive research agenda for the SRI community, aimed at identifying and prioritizing key topics for study and publication. My work extends to engaging with rice farmers in Hudson Valley, New York and collaborating with colleagues who share similar interests, such as Prof. Gary Harman, a leading researcher on the beneficial Trichoderma fungus, which aligns closely with my own research. I am also participating in exploratory meetings with faculty members from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, including Prof. Janice Thies and Prof. Erika Styger. I have been invited to deliver a lecture in the Harry ’51 and Joshua ’49 Tsujimoto Perspectives in Global Development Seminar Series, where I will discuss our initiatives related to Trichoderma innovations and our regional efforts in scaling up SRI in Southeast Asia.

As the Coordinator of the Southeast Asia SRI Regional Network (SeaSRI), I lead a collaborative regional network dedicated to promoting the system of rice intensification (SRI) practices across Southeast Asia (SEA). Our mission is to unite academics, researchers, and farmers in embracing SRI as an environmentally sustainable and economically viable approach to rice cultivation, with the ultimate goal of enhancing food security and improving farmer well-being in the region. We work closely with various stakeholders, including rice farmers and policymakers, to accelerate the widespread adoption of SRI. Together with our SRI national partners across SEA, we organize training sessions, farmer consultation workshops, and dialogues with policymakers.

I coordinate the day-to-day programs and activities of the SRI Global Research Network, including curating the research database, liaising with regional hubs, organizing webinars and workshops, seeking funding opportunities, and expanding the network's global outreach.

My lab primarily focuses on bioprospecting endophytic fungal species from the genus Trichoderma using multi-omics approaches, including genomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics. My ongoing projects involve investigating the potential of indigenous Trichoderma strains in controlling major rice diseases, such as blast and sheath blight, and assessing their effectiveness in managing the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda). Notably, one strain of Trichoderma has exhibited entomopathogenic properties, directly colonizing and mummifying S. frugiperda—a rare capability since most Trichoderma species control pests through indirect mechanisms like antifeedant properties and toxin production.Additionally, my latest research is centered on bacterial panicle blight in rice, focusing on the causative agents Burkholderia glumae and B. gladioli. Over the past few years, we have observed an alarming rise in the incidence and spread of this disease across major rice-producing areas in Indonesia, with potential yield losses of up to 100%. The absence of resistant rice varieties has made disease management particularly challenging. My lab has successfully isolated B. gladioli from infected rice plants in West Java and are currently conducting molecular characterization and in planta testing.I am also engaged in bioprospecting Trichoderma and Bacillus for biofuel production and bioremediation. My teaching areas include basic microbiology, mycology, microbial physiology, soil biology, phytopathology, and molecular plant symbiosis.

I lead IndoSRInet, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing food security in Indonesia through the adoption of the system of rice intensification (SRI). Our membership includes a diverse group of researchers, farmers, and colleagues from other NGOs.

I completed my postdoctoral training at the University of Malaya under the supervision of Dr. Muhamad Shakirin Mispan, where I continued my research on rice diseases, focusing on a bacterial leaf blight outbreak in Peninsular Malaysia. Unexpectedly, instead of isolating Xanthomonas oryzae, the well-known causative agent of bacterial leaf blight, we identified Pantoea species capable of infecting rice and causing blight symptoms. My research also extended to elucidating the mechanisms by which symbiotic fungi enhance the resistance of rice plants against Pantoea-induced leaf blight.Beyond research and publishing peer-reviewed articles, I was actively involved in several other areas: supervising postgraduate and undergraduate students, securing research grants, managing the Molecular Biology Laboratory, teaching a master's course on tropical plant diseases, and engaging with farmers to provide hands-on assistance in addressing the leaf blight outbreak in Peninsular Malaysia.

I was hired as a graduate research assistant (GRA) by Prof. Wan Mohtar Wan Yusoff in 2012 while pursuing my master’s degree at The National University of Malaysia, and I continued in this role until the completion of my Ph.D. My work primarily focused on elucidating Trichoderma-rice plant interactions. In addition to this, I conducted research on the microbial contributions to rice performance under the system of rice intensification (SRI), as well as on agricultural biosecurity and policies in Asia. I was also actively involved in promoting SRI and engaging with rice farmers across Southeast Asia.