Umilaela is a passionate researcher for biodiversity and conservation, particularly those occurring in Indonesia. She envision to use multidisciplinary approaches (with amphibians&reptiles as focal taxa) to understand biodiversity as an integrated unit, which could fundamentally serve as negligible resource to design effective and efficient conservation efforts. She has been leading various projects on the topics across Indonesian archipelago and collaborate with both national and international researchers and stakeholders.

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In addition to her research pursuits, Umilaela is deeply committed to building the capacity of local people through education (workshops/training) and outreach activities. She firmly believes that knowledge transfer is as crucial as conducting research, striving to bridge gaps between scientific findings and community awareness.

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Her impactful work has not only recognized within scientific communities (e.g., awarded as #ChampionsOfTheEndangered 2022 by the IUCN Amphibian Specialist Group), but also garnered attention in prestigious media outlets, including Forbes, Discovery Channel Canada, and 1mwis, where her research and career achievements have been highlighted in multiple languages (e.g., English, German, and Indonesian).

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Umilaela is also the founder and co-leader of the Global Women in Herpetology Project, which aims to elevate the visibility of women working with amphibians and reptiles across various disciplines, regions, and cultural contexts. The initiative also seeks to establish scholarship programs for students from underrepresented backgrounds, reinforcing her commitment to diversity and inclusion in the scientific community.