Two Thomasian faculty researchers have been elected to the Chemical Sciences Division of the National Research Council of the Philippines. Department of Chemistry faculty researcher Jolleen Natalie I. Balitaan, RCh, LPT, PhD was elected Secretary for the period of 2024-2026, while Department of Biochemistry faculty researcher Oliver B. Villaflores, PhD was elected Chair of the Organic and Biological Chemistry section of the Division.
In an interview with the Communications Bureau, Balitaan disclosed that the Division of Chemical Sciences includes as its main thrusts empowering members “who are globally and highly respected researchers” and continuing “strong linkages with local and international scientific organizations for enhanced cooperation in the development and sharing of scientific information, responsible community leaders in ensuring environment protection, food safety and public health.”
Balitaan’s recent studies have focused “on the development of bio-inspired and biomimetic materials for anticorrosion, antibacterial, antibiofilm, wound healing and sensor applications.”
Both Balitaan and Villaflores are affiliated with the Research Center for the Natural and Applied Sciences.
