Inorganic Biogeochemistry and Biotechnology Research Laboratory

CONGRATULATIONS, Master Iris! 🎓🌊✨

Our very own Ms. Earth PH (Mabini, Batangas), Iris (), has successfully defended her MSc thesis on influence of SGD on geochemical composition of sediments from Mabini 🫧

Huge congratulations! Padayon, Iris! 🌻🌻🌻

THESIS OPPORTUNITY!!!

The Inorganic Biogeochemistry and Biotechnology Research Laboratory , in collaboration with the DOST-PCIEERD, is exploring the world of novel bioactive materials in different seaweed species under the project “Biorefinery Systems for Sustainable Production of Antioxidants and High Value Materials from Algae”.

This opportunity welcomes CS-UPD undergraduate students who want to work on the chemistry of macroalgae and their potential application to various fields.

If you are interested in improving your analytical and laboratory skills, you are very encouraged to join the laboratory.

If you want to apply, please submit a copy of your CV to Dr. Irene B. Rodriguez through this email address: [email protected].

For more information, kindly shoot an email at [email protected].

MALUGOD NA PAGBATI, DR. SANTIAÑEZ! 🎊

MALUGOD NA PAGBATI, DR. SANTIAÑEZ! 🥳

Join us in congratulating our laboratory head, Dr. Wilfred John E. Santiañez, for being chosen as an OUTSTANDING YOUNG SCIENTIST for Natural History Sciences by the National Academy of Science and Technology – Philippines. 🏆

Considered as the most prolific Filipino seaweed taxonomist of his generation, Dr. Santiañez has been making waves in seaweed biodiversity and systematics, having described and/or named one new brown seaweed tribe, eight new seaweed genera, four new seaweed species, and the reclassification of 31 seaweed taxa from the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. These discoveries early in his career are exceptional as very few Filipino botanists (even outside phycology) have described this many genera.

As a marine agronomist, Dr. Santiañez has years of experience working on the farming of carrageenan-producing seaweeds Eucheuma and Kappaphycus, and is leading the development and refinement of culture technologies for the red seaweeds Asparagopsis taxiformis, Halymenia durvillei, and Phycocalidia species (locally called gamét), as well as the green seaweeds Ulva, towards their conservation and sustainable utilization. As part of his efforts to understand and develop seaweeds of the Philippines, he also established the UP Marine Macroalgal Reference Culture Collection at his home institution, the Marine Science Institute of the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPMMARCC) in 2018.

As a leader in the marine and natural history sciences in the Philippines, Dr. Santiañez has been serving in various positions at the Executive Board of the Association of Systematic Biologists of the Philippines, Philippine Phycological Society Inc., and the Philippines Association of Marine Science.

In less than a decade, Dr. Santiañez has changed our current understanding on the taxonomy and classification of economically and ecologically important seaweed taxa across three major ocean basins. He provides foundational knowledge that supports new seaweed-based economies and the discovery of bioactive compounds for applied research, which could bolster future growth of what is already a multimillion peso industry. In connecting the wealth of Philippine seaweed biodiversity with the wealth of the Filipino nation, Dr. Santiañez is proof that natural (history) sciences are the key to unlocking new heights for our archipelagic nation rich with natural resources.

Dr. Wilfred John E. Santiañez is currently an Associate Professor at the Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines Diliman (UPMSI) and the Graduate Program Coordinator under the Office of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs of the College of Science, UP Diliman. As part of his extension services, he is also the Founding Curator of the UP Marine Macroalgal Culture Collection (UPMMARCC) and the Curator of the Gregorio T. Velasquez Phycological Herbarium—the largest phycological herbarium in Southeast Asia—at UPMSI.

Padayon, Dr. Santiañez! 🌊✊🏼🌻

From representing Mabini, Batangas at the Miss Earth stage to advancing its science—join Iris Mabanta's thesis defense tomorrow, April 28th, at 2 PM!

For those attending online, kindly request the Zoom Meeting Link from [email protected].

Sea you there! 🌏🌊

Hello Mandaragats! 🌊

Tomorrow at , the IBR Lab contributes two oral presentations and three posters highlighting research on marine ecosystems, environmental change, and biotechnology solutions.

Sea you there as we explore how science and collaboration help sustain the thriving blue planet 🌏🔬🤝

📍EDG Hall, AVR, 1st Floor, UP MSI

The Bolinao Marine Laboratory opens its doors to everyone!

Join us for our open house, April 20–24, 2026. See marine life up close and learn more about it here at BML! 🌊🔬

Save the best for last: games and activities on April 24, 2026 — fun for all ages! 🎉🐠

Come curious — leave inspired. See you there!

Applications to College of Science Graduate Programs for the 1st Semester of AY 2026-2027 are now open. Deadline for applications is on May 08, 2026.

HOW TO APPLY:

Via College of Science Online Document Portal (ODP) https://online.science.upd.edu.ph/CSCentralizedPortal/Main/application-to-graduate-programs.php
- Data Science Program
- Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology
- National Institute of Geological Sciences
- National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

Via Google Form - bit.ly/CSApplicationGradProgram-1st-26-27
- Institute of Biology
- Institute of Chemistry
- Institute of Mathematics
- Marine Science Institute
- Materials Science Engineering Program
- National Institute of Physics

𝐇𝐎𝐓 𝐎𝐅𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒! 🔬🌊

What if the air is quietly feeding harmful algal blooms?

Chard and Dr. Irene have just published their latest work exploring how agricultural aerosols influence a harmful algal bloom–forming phytoplankton, Alexandrium minutum. Their findings show that under natural seawater conditions, aerosols can enhance the growth of this toxic species—likely due to the nutrients and trace components they carry.

These results highlight a potentially overlooked pathway of nutrient input that may contribute to red tide events in the Philippines, offering new insights for coastal management and HAB monitoring.

This paper is part of a special issue featuring selected presenters from the 21st International Conference on Harmful Algae.

🔗 Read more here:
https://authors.elsevier.com/c/1mqQC5aloFq-Vy