The Pinoy Scientists Newsletter: June 2024
Happy Pride! ✊🏽🌈
Be bold, be brave, be gay ✨ We’re powering through this month fearlessly with takeovers from #PinoyScientists who bring pride to their communities, to the Philippines, and the rest of the world. Their work shines through as they stay true to who they are and what they are passionate about, celebrating a love for science in different forms.
This month, we also made sure to keep up the national pride by celebrating Independence Day, featuring two of our previous takeovers. You can read what they have to say about the pursuit of science in the Philippines here. We also highlighted the efforts of our scientists in protecting our oceans during World Ocean Day earlier this month.
Their stories are always available to inspire and empower us–simply visit our website to know more about our contributing scientists and upcoming initiatives. Shoot your shot through our Facebook and Instagram pages for any questions, comments, and suggestions! 💌
📱This month in @pinoyscientists
June is off to a fearlessly fabulous finish with physicist Rene Principe Jr. (@reneprincipejr), an instructor and PhD student 🥼 at the National Institute of Physics, University of the Philippines Diliman. Rene is a part of the Video and Image Processing Group 📸 and has also worked at the Philippine Space Agency, looking into post-disaster behavior using geospatial data analytics to analyze nighttime lights 🌃
🔙 In case you missed it
Who says musicians are the only rock stars? Geoscientist Dainty Clarice Rabang (@palawenageologist) proves otherwise 🪨 as she heads the Climate Resilient Development Section of the Palawan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. She analyzes geohazard maps 🗺 and implements projects to boost community resilience, all while doing her Master’s in Geology 👩🏻🏫
A man of many maps 🗺 With his work as a geography researcher with the Advocates for Science and Technology for the People (AGHAM) and a lecturer at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman and Philippine Normal University Manila 📚, Timothy James “TJ” Cipriano (@bigbrotherteej) has surely put his name on the map! He specializes in projects surrounding the political ecology of coasts and rivers, disaster science, and environmental change 🌊
Shining bright like a diamond in the sky 💎 Breakthrough Junior Challenge winner Hillary Diane Andales (@stellarydiane) is a science communicator and an incoming PhD student in Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Chicago 🌟 Hillary graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) last year with a major in Physics, minor in Astronomy and Science, Technology, and Society, and has worked on research projects focused on astrophysics and physics education 👩🏻🎓
🤔 Where are they now?
Space biology researcher Florence Basubas (@tigerheartstars) joined the Pinoy Scientists family while she was working at a stealth startup in Seoul, South Korea 😎 Using her background in biochemistry, economics, and government, she served as a Scientific Research and Business Development consultant 🧑🔬 She conducted scientific reviews and market research on the applications of the microbiome and emerging technologies to biomedicine 🦠
Florence is now taking her Master of Multidisciplinary Research in Experimental Sciences degree at the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST) Dolors Aleu Graduate Centre, Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, Spain 🇪🇸 There, she is studying the use of CRISPR screens to identify interactions between SARS-CoV-2 and host proteins 🧬 Recently, Florence made national headlines for conducting experiments in microgravity as part of the Aurelia Institute’s 2023 Horizon Zero Gravity Flight 🚀
📝 Research refresh
Sussing out sandfish genomes 🥒 Researchers from four Philippine institutions studied the sandfish sea cucumber Holothuria (Metriatyla) scabra, obtaining genomic data to determine their genetic structure, diversity, relatedness, population connectivity, and adaptations for use in conservation, mariculture, and fishery regulation.
Laser focused on silicon ⚡ Rafael Jumar Chu and May Angelu Madarang from Korea Institute of Science and Technology co-authored a paper on silicon photonics. Their team optimized the GaAs buffer thickness on a GaAs/Si template, on which they grew InAs (III-V) quantum dot lasers to form a monolithically integrated III-V quantum dot laser.
Thinking on matters of tumors 🧠 Ronnie Baticulon from the Philippine General Hospital worked with two other scientists to write an extensive narrative review about pediatric low-grade glioma, the most common brain tumor found in children and adolescents. They primarily focused their literature evaluation on surgical treatment and epilepsy outcomes.
Red for danger 🔴 Ma. Carmela P. dela Cruz and Voltaire G. Organo from the University of the Philippines Manila studied the use of an ammonium chloride - Congo red solution as a pH-based qualitative test for the presence of aldehydes. This solution can then be utilized in making filter paper-based and silica gel-based sensors for environmental monitoring.
Watching water quality in the bay 🌊 Pinoy Scientist contributor Paul Caesar Flores, with a team from the University of the Philippines and Philippine Space Agency, studied spatiotemporal changes in chlorophyll-a and total suspended matter concentrations along Manila Bay between 2002 to 2016 using MODIS to determine water quality in key zones. Using this data, they compared several variables that may have contributed to how these factors shift with time
🎓 Study opportunities
[SCHOLARSHIP] The Philippine Science Agency is offering the AD ASTRA scholarship program to graduate students looking to pursue MS or PhD degrees in fields related to Space Science, Technology, and Applications. The deadlines are as follows:
Local Scholarships
2nd Semester Intake: October 15
Foreign Scholarships
January - July Intake 2025: August 30
[SCHOLARSHIP] The ADB-Japan Scholarship Program offers graduate scholarships for master’s students seeking science and technology programs in Japanese universities. Deadline: Six (6) months before commencement of intake.
[SCHOLARSHIP] Stanford University is offering the Knight-Hennessy Scholarship Program to students who have earned their bachelor’s degree in January 2018 or later for up to 3 years of funding for a graduate degree. Deadline: October 10, 2024, 4:00 am Philippine Standard Time (PST).
[YOUTH PROGRAM] Oceanus Conservation, Maison Bukana, and Forest Foundation Philippines are hosting the EmpowerED Siargao Youth Camp for youth in Siargao. This is a 5-day camp dedicated to conservation and environmental governance.
💼 Work opportunities
[FUNDING] DOST - Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development and the Japan Science and Technology Agency are looking for project proposals on topics in water security. Deadline: July 24.
[JOB] Department of Science and Technology - Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST - TAPI) is looking for the following. Deadline: June 30.
Project Administrative Aide V with a Bachelor’s degree of any related course and has at least one year experience in the Finance and Administration Division.
Project Technical Specialist I with a Bachelor’s degree relevant to the job.
[JOB] Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) is looking for the following:
Project Technical Assistant IV with a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture and Applied Economics, Development Communication, Human Ecology, Sociology, or other related fields. Deadline: July 1.
Senior Science Research Specialist with a Bachelor’s degree relevant to the job. Deadline: July 1.
[JOB] Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST - PCIEERD) is looking for the following:
Human Resources and Institution Development Division (HRIDD): Project Technical Assistant IV with a Bachelor’s degree in Science, Engineering, or other similar courses. Deadline: June 30.
Emerging Technology Development Division (ETDD): Science Research Specialist I with a Bachelor’s degree in Natural/Physical Science and Engineering courses. Deadline: July 1.
Industrial Technology Development Division (ITDD): Project Technical Assistant IV with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Materials Science, Material Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or other similar courses. Deadline: July 2.
[JOB] Philippine Institute for Development Studies is looking for a Computer Programmer with a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or any IT-related course, 8 hours relevant training, and 3 years experience. Deadline: July 2.
[JOB] Department of Science and Technology - Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST - ITDI) Materials Science Division is looking for a Chief Science Research Specialist with a Master’s degree or Certificate in Leadership and Management from the CSC. Deadline: July 11.
[JOB] Pilmico is looking for Chemical Engineering Professionals with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering.
[JOB] Republic Cement is looking for a licensed Chemist with experience working in a manufacturing/quality control laboratory for at least 2 years
[JOB] Royu Industrial Corporation is looking for a Senior Production Engineer with a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering and is an expert in Extruder Operations.
[JOB] Theoria Medical is looking for a Python Developer with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
*Amounts listed are based on the Salary Grade Table 2024. For exact figures, please contact the HR offices of the institutions listed.
🗓️ Upcoming events
[ONLINE] July 1: Diagnosis and Management of Emerging Respiratory Diseases Webinar by DOST - Philippine Council for Health Research and Development.
[ONSITE] Registration Deadline: June 28; Event: July 3 - 4: 50th DOST - Food and Nutrition Research Institute Seminar Series (Sheraton Manila Hotel, Pasay City).
[COMPETITION] Submission deadline: July 15: Philippine Space Agency Space Policy and Law Essay Writing Contest.
[ONSITE] Submission deadline: August 30; Event: November 7: Katipunan Conference: Philippine Strategic Outlook 2024 Onwards: National Security and Economic Resilience (Areté, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City).
[ONSITE] July 13 - 22: 2024 Annual PAASE Meeting and Symposium - Filipino Scientists Across Borders: Towards Developing Regional S&T Innovation Ecosystems (University of Rizal System, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Batangas State University, and Eastern Visayas State University, Philippines)
[ONSITE] July 22 - 24: 38th Philippine Chemistry Congress and 2024 International Conference on Chemistry hosted by the Kapisanang Kimika ng Pilipinas and Integrated Chemists of the Philippines, in partnership with the Philippine Federation of Chemistry Societies (SMX Convention Center, Davao City).
🌏 International events
[ONSITE] Application Deadline: July 3, 4 am PST; Event: December 8 - 12: 17th Asian Conference on Computer Vision 2024 (Hanoi, Vietnam)
[ONSITE] Submission Deadline: July 5; Event: November 4 - 5: 2024 IEEE International Conference on Power and Energy (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
[ONSITE] Application Deadline: July 8; Event: October 1 - 2: 5th International Seminar on Fundamental and Application of Chemical Engineering 2024 (Surabaya, Indonesia)
[HYBRID] Submission Deadline: July 31; Event: December 3 - 5: International Conference on Mathematical Sciences and Technology 2024 (Penang, Malaysia)
[ONSITE] August 15 - 16: TextGraphs - 17: Graph-based Methods for Natural Language Processing and 62nd Annual Meeting of the Association for Computational Linguistics 2024 (Bangkok, Thailand)
🫶 Support Pinoy Scientists
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PAASE PH Treasurer: Dr. Irene Villasenor - ivillase@yahoo.com
PS Finance Team: finance@pinoyscientists.com
WITH SUBJECT: For PAASE-Pinoy Scientists Donation Drive
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Thanks for reading,
The Pinoy Scientists Team