The Faculty of Engineering sent six faculty members on Study Leave this First Term of AY 2017-2018, four of whom are attending Universities abroad, and three out of six are pursuing doctoral studies. Five faculty members received prestigious scholarship grants from various scholarship-giving institutions, while one received assistance from Engineering Alumni. They are the latest addition to an unprecedented total of 45 Engineering faculty members who have gone on Study Leave since AY 2012-2013. This is the result of the general directive from the Rector of the University, heeded by the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Philipina A. Marcelo, PhD, with the guidance and support of Prof. Clarita D. Carillo, PhD, former Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs (VRAA), and the new VRAA, Prof. Cheryl R. Peralta, DrPH.
The new batch of faculty members to go on Study Leave was led by the former Supervisor of the Electronics Engineering (ECE) Laboratory, Engr. Josyl Mariela Rocamora (ECE 2011, magna cum laude), who is now working on her PhD degree at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (#29 in Asia per QS ranking, 2016). She received scholarship grant from HK Polytechnic for the duration of her Program to work on wireless technologies. Engr. Rocamora was recipient of the prestigious BPI-DOST Science Award in 2011 and obtained her Master’s degree at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.
Another ECE faculty member, Engr. Seigfred V. Prado, goes on Study Leave as a PhD student at the Centre for Doctoral Training in Neurotechnology for life and health at the Imperial College London (#8 in the World per latest QS ranking; #6 in Top Universities in Engineering and Technology per QS, 2016). Engr. Prado received EPSRC Studentship. He was on one-year Study Leave previously for his Master’s degree in Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (#4 in Asia per QS ranking, 2016), where he graduated with academic distinction.
The Department of Chemical Engineering (ChemE) sends Asst. Prof. George Y. Chao, Jr. on Study Leave as well. He is the 8th faculty member to pursue doctoral studies in the Department since AY 2013-2014. This is projected to increase the number of faculty members with PhD degrees to at least 10 by the end of AY 2019-2020, which is close to 50% of ChemE faculty members. Asst. Prof. Chao received scholarship Grant from the DOST Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) under its Accelerated Science and Technology Human Resource Development Program (ASTHRDP) to pursue PhD in Environmental Science at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. Asst. Prof. Chao is the first to receive ASTHRDP doctoral scholarship grant in the Faculty of Engineering.
Engr. Hyson Peter David (EE 2013, magna cum laude) received Australia Awards (AA) scholarship grant to pursue Master’s studies in Curtin University in Western Australia. He is the second faculty member in the EE Department, and one among a total of eight in the Faculty of Engineering, to receive the same prestigious scholarship grant since 2016. Engr. David has been the coach of the Electrical Engineering Quiz Team, which won the national championship last year – for the first time in about two decades. He now works on Smart Grid as specialization in his Master’s Program.
The Civil Engineering (CE) Department’s Engr. Rocel A. Pioquinto (CE 2011, summa cum laude) received the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)-Australia Awards scholarship grant to study for her Master’s degree in Structural Engineering at the University of Sydney (#41 in Top Universities in Engineering and Technology per QS, 2016). She is the first in the Faculty of Engineering, and in the University, to receive said scholarship grant.
The past immediate Chairperson of the ChemE Department, Engr. Mark Emile H. Punzalan, received invitation as a non-degree student to the Department of Food Science of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences of Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, USA. Engr. Punzalan will work on his thesis in Cornell for his Master’s degree at the UST Graduate School. Cornell University is one of the eight Ivy League universities in the USA. It is ranked #14 in the world per latest QS world ranking, and #3 in Agriculture and Forestry. Engr. Punzalan received financial assistance from the UST Engineering Alumni Association, Inc. and other alumni donors who support the Faculty Development Program if the Faculty of Engineering.
