The Department of Biology, College of Science, UP Baguio is proud to announce the appointment of Asst. Prof. Deign Frolley C. Soriano, MSc as the new chair of the department.
Asst. Prof. Soriano earned his BS Biology degree from the University of the Philippines Baguio in 2016, where he focused on an undergraduate research project examining the identification and distribution patterns of earthworms in selected sites in Abra and Ifugao, Cordillera Administrative Region, Philippines. In 2022, he obtained his MSc in Environmental Management from the University of Reading in the United Kingdom, supported by the Chevening Scholarship programme. Staying true to his roots, he conducted his master’s research dissertation on assessing the ecological quality of the Abra River watershed in Northern Luzon, Philippines, using the Remote Sensing Ecological Index (RSEI) Model.
During his time at UP Baguio, Asst. Prof. Soriano actively participated in numerous research projects, ranging from biodiversity assessments in urban forests and island ecosystems to aquatic ecosystems across Northern Luzon and the Cordillera Administrative Region.
In addition to his academic record and research endeavors, Asst. Prof. Soriano is involved in various organizations and public service initiatives, particularly focusing on environmental conservation and sustainable development. He was a Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Academic Fellow in the Global Environmental Issues and Natural Resource Management program at the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center, University of Montana. His dedication to research earned him the distinction of becoming a grand finalist for the EWC Earth Optimism Awards for Southeast Asia in 2020 in the Research and Discovery category. In 2021, he was selected as a NextGen Leadership Program Fellow by the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation – Transformative Leadership Institute.
Asst. Prof. Soriano has held various committee assignments at both the college and university levels and served as the Student Relations Officer at UP Baguio from 2023 to 2024. He also actively contributes to the welfare and well-being of the academic community as a member and officer of the All UP Academic Employees Union – Baguio Chapter.
We wish you a successful stint as the new chair of the department, Sir Deign! 
Agbiag, Department of Biology! Agbiag, College of Science!