Asst. Professor Soriano is the new Department Chair!
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 masterโs 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! We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-4 (Quality Education); SDG-8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)
Student secures 2nd Place in the 2024 PNHRS Research Poster Contest!
๐ Congratulations to Mr. Adrian Raizen Tolentino for securing 2nd Place in the 2024 PNHRS Research Poster Contest! ๐ His undergraduate thesis, together with Ms. Princess Rudelle Fajardo and Ms. Abe Gayle Santos, entitled: “Neuroprotective Potential of Lactobacillus plantarum against Acute Bisphenol A (BPA) Toxicity Affecting Dopamine and Serotonin-Regulated Locomotion of Caenorhabditis elegans,” earned them a certificate of recognition and a cash prize of 15,000 PhP. Immense gratitude is extended to Asst. Prof. Pablo V. Serrano from UP Baguioโs Department of Biology for his mentorship. ๐งฌ๐ฏ We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-3 (Good Health and Well-being); SDG-15 (Life on Land)
New paper out entitled “Bulbophyllum bokodense (section Polymeres, Orchidaceae), a new species from Benguet Province, Luzon Island, Philippines”
New Paper Out! Congratulations, Assoc. Prof. Liezel Magtoto, PhD and former faculty members of the department for their new paper entitled: Bulbophyllum bokodense (section Polymeres, Orchidaceae), a new species from Benguet Province, Luzon Island, Philippines. The newly discovered and characterized species of orchid is named after the Municipality of Bokod, Benguet Province, Philippines, where it was discovered. This paper was a collaboration among scientists from the Department of Biology, UP Baguio, Texas Christian University, and the Philippine Taxonomic Initiative, Inc. Access the paper here: 10.11646/phytotaxa.662.2.7 We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-15 (Life on Land)
Students’ undergraduate research work chosen as a Finalist for the 2024 PNHRS Research Poster Contest
The Department of Biology is proud to announce that the undergraduate research work of Ms. Princess Rudelle Fajardo, Ms. Abe Gayle Santos, and Mr. Adrian Raizen Tolentino has been chosen as a Finalist for the 2024 PNHRS Research Poster Contest organized by the DOST-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) and Caraga Health Research and Development Consortium (CHRDC). Mr. Tolentino will be presenting their undergraduate thesis entitled “Neuroprotective Potential of Lactobacillus plantarum against Acute Bisphenol A (BPA) Toxicity Affecting Dopamine and Serotonin-regulated Locomotion of Caenorhabditis elegans,” under the supervision of Asst. Prof. Pablo V. Serrano from the Department of Biology, UP Baguio. Congratulations and best of talent! We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-3 (Good Health and Well-being); SDG-15 (Life on Land)
First UP Baguio student receives the SHEStems Scholarship Award
Congratulations to Ms. Sophia Rhys Baรฑados! The Department of Biology proudly congratulates Ms. Sophia Rhys Baรฑados, 2nd Year Student of the BS Biology program for being the first UP Baguio student to receive the SHEStems Scholarship Award as part of the inaugural cohort for SY 2024-2025. Ms. Baรฑados is among the 10 scholars selected for this prestigious program nationwide. The SHEStems Scholarship Awards, a project of UN Women Philippines National Goodwill Ambassador Karen Davila, aims to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women. As a global champion for women and girls, UN Women strives to accelerate progress in meeting their needs worldwide. We are incredibly proud of you, Ms. Baรฑados! We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-4 (Quality Education); SDG-5 (Gender Equality); SDG-10 (Reduced Inequalities)
Students present their poster at International Symposium & 41st Annual Meeting of the ASBP
A heartfelt recognition to the dedicated team from the Department of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines Baguio for their exceptional contributions to the International Symposium & 41st Annual Meeting of the Association of Systematic Biologists of the Philippines (ASBP), held last May 29-31, 2024, at Northwestern University, Laoag City, Ilocos Norte. Congratulations to Mark P. Villarubia (presenter and graduating student of the BS Biology program (Area of Concentration: Ecology and Systematics), Sophia Reign M. Guerrero, Bianca Gail Y. Cura, and Arvin Jet B. Marcaida, PhD (Thesis Adviser and Assistant Professor of Biology, College of Science, UP Baguio) for their insightful poster presentation titled “A Preliminary Assessment of Species Account, Conservation Status, and Microhabitat Association of Anurans with New Locality Descriptions in Baguio City.” Congratulations as well to student presenters Chantal Margaret Liporada, Dominique Opel Orgas, Sofia Ysabel Dang-aoen, and Frances Randolf Logan, and their thesis adviser Assoc. Prof. Liezel M. Magtoto, PhD, for their poster presentation entitled “Macrofungi in Montane Pine Forests in Baguio City and La Trinidad, Benguet.” In addition, we are thrilled to recognize Ms. Chantal Margaret Liporada for being awarded the Best Illustration in the Botanical Illustration Workshop with Amorphophallus adamsensis (which is a species endemic to the Philippines and discovered and characterized by Assoc. Prof. Magtoto and department colleagues) as model specimen for the workshop. We are proud of your achievements and the significant impact of your research on the scientific community. We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-4 (Quality Education); SDG-13 (Climate Action); SDG-15 (Life on Land)
BS Biology student wins 1st place at the 12th CRHRDC Regional Health Conference!
Congratulations to Adrian Raizen S. Tolentino, graduating student of the BS Biology program (Area of Concentration: Microbiology) from the Department of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines Baguio, for his achievement at the 12th CRHRDC (Cordillera Regional Health Research and Development Consortium) Regional Health Conference! Adrian’s poster presentation in the Student Category, titled “Neuroprotective Potential of Lactobacillus plantarum against Acute Bisphenol A (BPA) Toxicity Affecting Dopamine and Serotonin-regulated Locomotion of Caenorhabditis elegans,” was awarded 1st place! We are incredibly proud of your accomplishments and your significant contribution to the field, Adrian! We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-4 (Quality Education); SDG-15 (Life on Land)
Assistant Professor wins 1st place during the 12th CRHRDC Regional Health Conference
Congratulations to Asst. Prof. Pablo V. Serrano, MSc, from the Department of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines Baguio for his achievement at the 12th CRHRDC (Cordillera Regional Health Research and Development Consortium) Regional Health Conference! ๐ Asst. Prof. Serrano’s podium presentation in the Professional Category on “Serotonin Mediates the Effects of Areca Catechu (Betelnut) Extract on Caenorhabditis elegans‘ General Movement” earned 1st place. ๐งฌ๐ We are incredibly proud of your accomplishments and your valuable contributions to the field, Asst. Prof. Serrano! ๐โจ We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-3 (Health and Well-being); SDG-4 (Quality Education); SDG-15 (Life on Land)
DB Faculty earns an International Publication Award for his collaborative research work entitled “Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) Assessment within the Batanes Protected Landscapes and Seascapes”
Asst. Prof. Deign Frolley C. Soriano, of the Department of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines Baguio has earned an International Publication Award (IPA) for his collaborative research work entitled “Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) Assessment within the Batanes Protected Landscapes and Seascapes”! This research article highlights the importance of monitoring critical landscapes and seascapes in the country such as the Batanes Protected Landscapes and Seascapes. The study uses remote sensing technology to evaluate the environmental quality of these areas, which are vital biodiversity hotspots in the Philippines. It emphasizes the need for rapid and cost-effective assessment methods to gather crucial information for the conservation, protection, and management of ecosystems in the country. The paper was a collaboration with N. Doyog, R.I. Lumbres, and L. Talkasen of Benguet State University and has been published in the Philippine Journal of Science, Volume 152, Issue 5, pages 1753โ1767. Check out the paper here: https://doi.org/10.56899/152.05.18 Congratulations, Asst. Prof. Soriano! We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-4 (Quality Education); SDG-13 (Climate Action); SDG-15 (Life on Land)
Gallery Walk of Biology 160 Students
๐ฏ…๐ฎ…๐ญ๐ฒ๐ฌ! After a series of field works conducted throughout the semester, BS Biology students enrolled in ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐น๐ผ๐ด๐ ๐ญ๐ฒ๐ฌ (๐๐ฐ๐ผ๐น๐ผ๐ด๐) conclude their journey through the course by organizing a ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ง๐ฎ ๐๐๐ก๐ . Each group creatively presented the data that they have gathered during their field work at Paraoir, La Union last 18th of May, 2024. Biology 160 is a required course under the BS Biology program in which students are introduced to basic ecological concepts and techniques used in the conservation and resource management of different environments. Through this course, we hope to inspire in students an understanding and appreciation for the environment, all the important interactions taking place in it, and finally, what we can do to address real-life environmental issues affecting human populations both locally and globally. We would also like to thank Avong Nen Romy Mountain Resort (Wangal, La Trinidad), Sir Idelfonso Adais (Sabkil, Itogon), Taba-ao Barangay and Kapangan Municipal Office (Amburayan river), and DMMMSU-Fisheries Research Training Institute (FRTI), North Luzon Campus (Paraoir, La Union) for continuously accommodating and allowing us to conduct these educational field work activities in their areas. Learn more about the UP Baguio BS Biology program and its different areas of concentration (Microbiology, Ecology & Systematics, and General Biology) here: biology.upb.edu.ph We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-4 (Quality Education); SDG-14 (Life on Water); SDG-15 (Life on Land)