No.40 Joy M. Sorrosa, Ph.D. （Joy M. Sorrosa）: President, Davao del Norte State College (DNSC), Republic of the Philippines

PhD in Science (2005)
Doctoral Program in Biological Sciences

I finished my Ph.D. last March 2005 at the Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences of the University of Tsukuba under the supervision of Prof.Yoshihiro Shiraiwa, Ph.D. , who equipped me with learning and training particularly in the conduct of research. Thus, prepared and enabled me to become more effective and efficient in the performance of my function as a faculty-researcher of my home institution, the Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology (DOSCST) . DOSCST is a public non-sectarian, non-profit institution of higher learning offering academic programs in sciences, technology and other related fields.

I was privileged to return to the Laboratory of Dr. Shiraiwa last May-August 2009 when I became one of the recipients of the Research Fellow ship grant of the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO). During that period, I did a study on the antimicrobial activity of the compound extracted from the egg string of sea hare (Dolabella auricularia) against E. coli.

I do believe that obtaining my Ph.D. in one of the prestigious universities in Japan had paved the way in making me a Fulbright Scholar last October 2011-March 2012. I did my 5-month research study at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA with Dr.Dustin Brisson as my host professor.

At present, still connected with the Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology with a rank of Professor II and involved in several researches of the institution. One of which is being the study leader of the Mangrove Rehabilitation and Enhancement Project funded by the Philippine government through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). This project aimed to rehabilitate the damaged mangrove areas within Davao Oriental, Philippines with the hope of sustaining the marine products which are the main source of income for the coastal
constituents of the Province. At the same time, it was also intended to strengthen the buffer zones of the coastlines against the onslaught of natural calamities like typhoon of which recently, the province has become a new path of typhoons that enter the country.

Another research which I lead is the Nutrient Mapping of Pujada Bay Project funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) through the Department of Natural Resources (DENR) Region XI. Pujada Bay is one of the declared protected marine areas in the Philippines. Thus, the project aimed to provide a complete picture on the true health status of the entire Pujada Bay and the possible threats to it and its biota. This is done by mapping the nutrient load as well as the oceanographic processes that may influence nutrient residence time and movement. The assessment will also determine whether the targeted areas for MPA (Marine Protected Area) establishments are the best locations considering their nutrient profiles.

Indeed, I am very much grateful to the University of Tsukuba and most especially to Dr. Yoshihiro Shiraiwa who nurtured me as an educator and as a researcher. I am always thankful for the opportunity and hope to visit once again, in the future my beloved alma mater.

Taken during my stint as a Fulbright scholar at the
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Meeting with the Nutrient Mapping of Pujada Bay Project
research team after a day of sampling.