The Department of Biology warmly welcomes our alumni and distinguished DOST Balik Scientist Program (BSP) Awardee, Dr. Arun Decano.
Dr. Decano is currently a Senior Research Fellow and Postdoctoral Bioinformatician at City St George’s, University of London. She holds a PhD in Genetics and specializes in infection genomics, genome sequencing, phylodynamics, and antimicrobial resistance research. Her work integrates genomics and machine learning to strengthen antimicrobial resistance surveillance and improve evidence-based public health strategies. She previously held senior bioinformatics roles at the University of Oxford and the University of St. Andrews and has actively contributed to global capacity-building initiatives through Wellcome Connecting Science.
Under the Balik Scientist Program, Dr. Decano will be on a short-term engagement hosted by the Department of Biology and the Science Research Center, University of the Philippines Baguio. During her stay, she aims to strengthen genomics and bioinformatics capacity in the Philippines, particularly in the Cordillera region.
As part of her engagement with UP Baguio, the community can look forward to a series of seminar lectures, workshops, mentoring activities, curriculum enhancement initiatives, and collaborative research opportunities focused on genomics, bioinformatics, microbial ecology, and antimicrobial resistance surveillance. Collaborative networks and linkages are also expected to further strengthen regional research and training capacities.
This engagement was made possible through the efforts of Dr. Roland Hipol, current coordinator of the Science Research Center (SRC), who initiated the request during his previous term as Chair of the Department of Biology.
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