Graduate and Undergraduate Students' Research
Ngee Peng Soon (M.Sc.)
Peng Soon works on feeding preference and response of subterranean to native and imported wood species. His research scope includes the laboratory and field evaluation of various timber species to subterranean termite attack and feeding preferences of subterranean termite species. The outcome of these studies were used to develop novel termite bait matrices. Peng Soon is supported under Ridsect-USM scholarship and has a B.App.Sc. (Entomology) from Universiti Sains Malaysia. Peng Soon is also the recepient for Pest Control Association of Malaysia Scholarship in 2001.
Lee Kong Meng (M.Sc.)
Kong Meng works on foraging population and baiting of subterranean termites, Coptotermes gestroi. His research involves evaluation of novel bait toxicants against this destructive structural pest species. Kong Meng received his first degree from Universiti Sains Malaysia.
Annie Eow Gaik Hooi (M.Sc.)
Annie graduated from National University of Malaysia in 2001 with a B.Med.Sc. (Hons). Shortly thereafter, she registered for her M.Sc. on comparative biology of three Monomorium spp. (pharaonis, floricola and destructor) which she characterizes the biological parameters, feeding behaviour as well as nutritional preference of the three ant species.
Nurmastini Sufina Bujang Nickman (M.Sc.)
Nurmastini researches on the biological parameters of smooth cockroach, Symploce pallens. Earlier, she graduated from Universiti Sains Malaysia with a B.App.Sc. (Parasitology).
Lim Say Piau (M.Sc.)
Say Piau who hails from Ipoh, Perak, spent all his schooling years at his Alma Mater, St. Michael's Instituition. He has been a student in USM since 1999 and majored in Applied Entomology since his second year. During his final year as an undergraduate, he studied several factors affecting nestmate recognition in the crazy ant, Paratrechina longicornis. The factors he studied included environmental factors (diet) and queen dominance. Intercolonial aggression was also assessed to determine its presence in this ant. Having graduated with a 2nd Class Upper Degree (Hons.) in Applied Entomology, Say Piau furthered his studies on caste differentiation in ants, particularly in the Monomorium sp. Juvenile hormones and its analogues will be tested on these ants to evaluate its effects in formation of workers and sexuals. The role of queen pheromones and the effects of her presence will also be determined.
Loke Pooi Yen (M.Sc.)
Pooi Yen entered Universiti Sains Malaysia in 1999 to pursue a degree in the
field of Applied Biology, majoring in Applied Entomology. She completed her
BSc. degree with honours by conducting a research in the Urban Entomology
Laboratory. Since her field of interest was ants, she studied the foraging
behaviour of the big-headed ants, Pheidole megacephala, a dominant pest
ant species, for her final year project. Having graduated recently, she is
now pursuing her MSc. also in the field of ants while assisting the current
research in the Urban Ento Lab. She mainly studies the foraging and feeding
behavior of thief ants, Solenopsis molesta, another important household
pest ant species that has not been thouroughly
explored to date.
Koay Kean Teik (M.Sc.)
A native Kedahan, Kean Teik graduated with his first degree from Universiti Sains Malaysia in Zoology. Currently, he is pursuing his M.Sc. on the use of lobster cockroach, Nauphoeta cinerea for as fish feed for Asian Arowana. This project has a big implication to the arowana industry, because cockroaches are amongst the most preferred live feed for arowana.
Edwin Teo Hong Hua (M.Sc.)
Hailed from Johor in Southern Peninsular Malaysia, Edwin studies the effects of
novel chitin synthesis inhibitors against German cockroaches. He has
numerous years of experience working with cockroaches since his undergraduate
days in USM. He received his B.Sc. from USM in 2001.
Undergraduate student's research
Goh Yik Pheng (B.Appl.Sc.) - Subterranean termites of Singapore, and bait feeding studies in Coptotermes gestroi.
Yeoh Boon Hoi (B.Appl.Sc.) - Invertebrates associated with baiting monitoring stations in Malaysia.
Quah Lay Tyng (B.Appl Sc.) - Coprophagal behavior and its implication in cockroaches.
Yu Chen Du (B.Appl.Sc.) - Bait feeding studies in the Pharaoh's ant, Monomorium pharaonis.
Gan Siew Chin (B.Appl.Sc.) - Evaluation of commercial residual insecticides and gel baits against German and American cockroaches.