Tag: SDG 4

New paper out entitled “Antagonistic Endophytic Fungi against Blue Stain-associated Fungus from Benguet Pine (Pinus kesiya Royle ex Gordon) in Benguet, Philippines”

The Department of Biology is proud to share a recent publication by our MS CaRE alumna, Ms. Shirley Jaene S. Valdez, co-authored with Prof. Rosemary M. Gutierrez, a retired faculty member of the Department. The paper entitled “𝘈𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘌𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘍𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘪 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘉𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯-𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘍𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘉𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘵 𝘗𝘪𝘯𝘦 (𝘗𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘴 𝘬𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘺𝘢 𝘙𝘰𝘺𝘭𝘦 𝘦𝘹 𝘎𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘰𝘯) 𝘪𝘯 𝘉𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘵, 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴” is an output of Ms. Valdez’s MS thesis, completed under the guidance of her adviser, Prof. Rosemary M. Gutierrez. Congratulations to the authors! The full paper may be accessed through the following link: https://philjournalsci.dost.gov.ph/antagonistic-endophytic-fungi-against-blue-stain-associated-fungus-from-benguet-pine-pinus-kesiya-royle-ex-gordon-in-benguet-the-philippines/ We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-4 (Quality Education); SDG-15 (Life on Land)

Li Po Chun United World College of Hong Kong students visit the Department of Biology

The Department of Biology warmly welcomed students from Li Po Chun United World College of Hong Kong during their academic visit on March 4, 2026. The visit was coordinated by the Department’s Graduate Program Coordinator, Jeno Rey Pagaduan, who facilitated the engagement between the visiting students and members of the department with some MS CaRE students. The Department of Biology extends its appreciation to Li Po Chun United World College of Hong Kong for the opportunity for academic exchange and looks forward to strengthening collaboration in the future. We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-4 (Quality Education); SDG-17 (Partnership for Goals)

Department of Biology Scholars Receive DOST-NRCP Young Scientists Research Grant

The Department of Biology proudly celebrates another significant milestone achieved by our faculty and students. Asst. Prof. Kimberly Paglingayen, faculty member of the Department of Biology; Ms. Alhea Jei Cotelo, Teaching Associate; and Mr. Melvin Jake Manaog, MS Conservation and Restoration Ecology (MS CaRE) student, have been recipients of the Young Scientists Research Grant from the Department of Science and Technology – National Research Council of the Philippines (DOST-NRCP). As Young Scientists Research Grantees, they will undertake the following research projects: 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝘁. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳. 𝗞𝗶𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗻 (𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗿𝘆): “𝘜𝘯𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘋𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘗𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘕𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘴: 𝘈𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘈𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘰𝘪𝘭 𝘙𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯” 𝗠𝘀. 𝗔𝗹𝗵𝗲𝗮 𝗝𝗲𝗶 𝗖𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗼 (𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗿𝘆): “𝘔𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘴𝘤𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘰: 𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘰𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘈𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘗𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘌𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘏𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵 𝘘𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘚𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘜𝘳𝘣𝘢𝘯 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘚𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘉𝘢𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘰 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴” 𝗠𝗿. 𝗠𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗻 𝗝𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗼𝗴 (𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗿𝘆): “𝘚𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘌𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘚𝘢𝘯 𝘚𝘢𝘭𝘷𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘳 𝘐𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥, 𝘡𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘴” These young scientists are under the mentorship of Prof. Zenaida G. Baoanan, who will guide them in the implementation and advancement of their respective research initiatives. The Department of Biology looks forward to strengthening its collaboration with DOST-NRCP through these research partnerships. Through these linkages, we aim to further advance evidence-based management strategies that contribute to the conservation, restoration, and sustainable stewardship of our invaluable natural resources. We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-4 (Quality Education); SDG-8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)

New Paper out from MS CaRE Alumni entitled “Enhancing Coral Restoration in the Philippines through Governance and Policy Integration.”

The Department of Biology is once again thrilled to share a co-authored publication by our alumna, Ms. Ethel Ruth A. Baquiran, entitled “Enhancing Coral Restoration in the Philippines through Governance and Policy Integration.” The study may be accessed through the following link: https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.70334 Ms. Ethel is an alumna of the MS Conservation and Restoration Ecology (MS CaRE) Program with a specialization in coral conservation and restoration. We extend our warmest congratulations to Ms. Ethel and her co-authors on this significant contribution to coral restoration science and policy in the Philippines. We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-4 (Quality Education); SDG-15 (Life on Land)

New paper out entitled “Discovery of Novel Red Algal Inhibitors Targeting African Swine Fever Virus dUTPase through Integrated Computational Screening”

The Department of Biology congratulates our alumni, Razel F. Melendez and Christelle Jane C. Muyano, together with their mentors, Dr. Mark Andrian B. Macalalad and Dr. Fredmoore L. Orosco, on the publication of their study entitled “𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘕𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭 𝘙𝘦𝘥 𝘈𝘭𝘨𝘢𝘭 𝘐𝘯𝘩𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘛𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘈𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘚𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘍𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘝𝘪𝘳𝘶𝘴 𝘥𝘜𝘛𝘗𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘶𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨.” This work stemmed from their undergraduate thesis and was made possible through collaborations with Asst. Prof. Easter Joy Sajo, Asst Prof. Pablo Serrano, and Asst. Prof. Jeno Rey Pagaduan. Their study can be accessed through the following link: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/0115701638415372251124101006 We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-3 (Good Health and Well-Being); SDG-4 (Quality Education)

Department of Biology alumnus named as a “The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM)” 2025 Honoree

The Department of Biology proudly congratulates its alumnus, Prof. Deo Florence L. Onda, PhD, for being awarded The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) 2025. Prof. Deo is currently a professor at the Marine Science Institute of UP Diliman, specializing in marine plastic pollution and microbial ecology. His continuing valuable contributions to microbial oceanography are creating ripples across the nation and leaving a lasting impact that raises environmental awareness among fellow Filipinos. From your colleagues, advisees, and mentees, congratulations! You serve as an inspiration to all of us. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘖𝘠𝘔 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘍𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘥𝘴. We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-4 (Quality Education); SDG-8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)

Call for Student Assistants for 2nd Semester AY 25-26

ANNOUNCEMENT The Department of Biology is in need of student assistants to assist in the Department of Biology Faculty Room and Biology Instruments Room. Interested applicants may submit their applications with complete requirements through this Google Form: 🔗https://forms.gle/XAzkJZP9bEcnWPTw8 See poster for more details.

Research Dissemination of MS CaRE Student at the 52nd PSBMB Annual Convention

UPB BS Biology (Ecology AoC) alumnus and current MS CaRE student, Von Eric Tagarino, participated in the 52nd Philippine Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PSBMB) Annual Convention held on December 2–5, 2025, at the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, Philippines. During the conference, he presented a poster based on their undergraduate thesis entitled “Diversity Assessment and Toxicity Effects of Microplastic Contamination in Selected Earthworm Species from a Strawberry Farm in La Trinidad, Benguet.” The study was co-authored with Eira Faye Bulatao and Celina Pauline Castañeda, under the advisorship of Assistant Professor Deign Soriano and Edyzza Gestadia. We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-4 (Quality Education); SDG-15 (Life of Land)

DB Faculty earns One UP Professorial Chair Award for 2025-2027

The Department proudly congratulates Prof Liezel M. Magtoto for being conferred the prestigious One UP Professorial Chair Award for the 2025–2027! This distinguished recognition is awarded to faculty members who have demonstrated outstanding performance across the University of the Philippines System. The One UP Professorial Chair not only honors past accomplishments but also encourages continued excellence and meaningful contributions to the academy and the nation. Congratulations and Padayon Prof Liezel! We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-4 (Quality Education); SDG-8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)

Faculty members receive the Service and Loyalty Awards and the Gawad Tsanselor at the University of the Philippines Baguio at the Araw ng Parangal 2025

The Department congratulates and proudly shares the recognition received by our faculty during the recent UPB Community Celebration. This year’s Gawad Tsanselor para sa Pinakamahusay na Senior Fakulti was conferred upon our Department Chair, Associate Professor Liezel M. Magtoto, in recognition of her excellence and dedicated service in teaching, research, and extension. In her acceptance speech, she shared that the award serves not only as a recognition of her work, but more importantly as a reminder to continue serving the nation with purpose—as a teacher, researcher, and public servant. Additionally, Associate Professor Ronnie Calugay was recognized for his continued public service to the University. He received both the Loyalty Award and the Service Award in recognition of his 10 years of dedicated service. To our hardworking faculty, congratulations and thank you for your continued service and commitment to excellence! We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-4 (Quality Education); SDG-8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)