DLSU Chemistry

UNIVERSITY: DLSU improved its overall ranking in the Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings, rising to the 601-800 bracket from its 601+ ranking last year. The University is tied with UP, UST, and Mapúa University as the second-ranked Philippine university.

Balik Scientist, Balik Puso, Balik PAMANA!

Registration is FREE!

In celebration of the 2026 National Heritage Month this May, the Chemistry Department of De La Salle University, Manila and the DOST Balik Scientist Program is pleased to invite you to a lecture-workshop presented by DOST PCIEERD Balik Scientist, Dr. Jan-Michael C. Cayme, titled "Workshop on Chemistry Instrumental Techniques for Cultural Heritage: Introduction to Organic Residue Analysis: Sampling and Interpreting Lipid Residues in Archaeological Pottery Using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry"

Join us on May 6, 2026 (Wednesday) at 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, as Dr. Cayme discusses how Organic Residue Analysis (ORA) from archaeological pottery are conducted and interpreted utilizing gas chromatography-mass spectrometry data (GC-MS).

The workshop is divided into two session:

Morning session:

Hybrid: In-person, limited to 25 slots (Room: M403 Audio Visual Room, DLSU Manila) ǀ online via Zoom platform have unlimited slots

General topics to be discussed:

• Fundamentals of organic residue analysis on archaeological pottery
• Basic GC-MS experimental design

Afternoon session:

In-person ONLY, limited to 25 slots (Room: SJ 511/512 Chemistry Instrument Room, DLSU Manila)

Hands-on activities:
• Practical experimental set-up and obtaining samples from a heritage material
• Basic interpretation and analysis of GC-MS

Register now to secure your slots through the QR code below or click the link: https://tinyurl.com/ORA-GCMS

A recent study published in Carbohydrate Polymers and led by researchers from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and De La Salle University (DLSU) offers new insight into this question. Using machine learning tools, researchers examined 384 whole grain rice varieties to understand what truly determines how quickly rice raises blood sugar. The findings show that glycemic response is governed by multiple structural and compositional features of the grain, such as amylose content, amylopectin chain length distribution, starch crystallinity, resistant starch formation, and interactions between starch, proteins, and lipids. The present study shows that specific starch chain-length patterns are particularly predictive of glycemic response across diverse rice varieties.

Source:

Not all whole-grain rice is low glycemic: What new research reveals – Rice Today Rice Today is an international magazine dedicated to the world of rice. Find the latest news and information International Rice Research Institute.

Dear ICP Members,

Kind reminder to submit your nomination to the ICP BOD Elections by May 15, 2026.

Here are the link and QR code for the ICP Board
Election 2026: Call for Nominations :

https://www.icp.org.ph/2026/04/icp-board-election-2026-call-for-nominations/

Looking forward to receiving your nominations!

For inquiries do not hesitate to contact us.

Congratulations to Mr. Guiller Sarmenta (MS Chemistry student), Dr. Aldrin Bonto, Dr. Nese Sreenivasulu (Adjunct Professor), and collaborators for their new paper, Impact of Iron Salt Addition on the Viscoelastic Properties of Rice Flours, published in Food Biophysics (IF = 3.2).

They investigated the impact of iron salt on the viscoelastic properties of rice flours with varying amylose content, specifically waxy IR65, low-amylose IR24, and high-amylose IR36. Moreover, dynamic oscillatory rheology, including temperature ramp, frequency sweep, and stress sweep tests, was employed to evaluate gel formation, elasticity, and deformation behavior.

Read their work here: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11483-026-10143-7

Dr. Aldrin P. Bonto presented a paper on ultrasound-enhanced nixtamalization and its impact on maize physicochemical and thermal properties at the 23rd European Young Cereal Scientists and Technologists Workshop, held from April 8–10, 2026, at the BME Department of Applied Biotechnology and Food Science, Budapest University of Technology and Economics in Budapest, Hungary.

This work was carried out in collaboration with the University of the Philippines, Los Baños, and the Synchrotron Light Research Institute (Thailand).

It was a great day of learning and collaboration at Animo Nexus: A Lasallian-Benildean Research Exchange Series (Theme: Bridging Traceability, Sustainability, and Innovation in Science & Hospitality, Culinary & Tourism Industry) held at HDR-A, AKIC Campus, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, where ideas on traceability, sustainability, and innovation came together across the sciences and hospitality, culinary, and tourism fields,

Together with speakers from DLS-CSB and industry entrepreneurs, Dr. Eric Camilo R. Punzalan shared valuable insights during the Sustainability session, highlighting how chemistry can address real-world challenges. At the same time, Dr. Fe Navarro-Calingacion led the Innovation session, demonstrating how research can translate into practical applications.

A key highlight of the event was the mapping of De La Salle University and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde research collaborations, paving the way for stronger partnerships and future joint initiatives within the Lasallian community.

Photo credit: Dr. Emmanuel Garcia