A UP Manila faculty was recently bestowed a Diplomate title by the Philippine Academy of Microbiology (PAM). Associate Professor Marilen P. Balolong, of the Department of Biology, College of Arts & Sciences, was grantedthe title during the 45th Annual Convention and Scientific Meeting and 7th Asia Pacific Biotechnology Congress, July 20-24, 2016, at the Vigan Convention Center, Ilocos Sur.

Dr. Balolong was one of two UP faculty to receive the honor. The other was Dr. Jessica Simbahan of BIOTECH-UP Los Baños.

The PAM is the certification arm of the Philippine Society for Microbiology, Inc., (PSM). There are two categories of PAM members – Diplomate and Fellow. Membership is through nomination and to be accepted, nominees should have the following credentials: winning national or international awards in the field of microbiology; and, publication of peer-reviewed research articles in scientific journals.

Dr. Balolong is a Research Professor at the Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, Dankook University, Republic of Korea, where she is doing her post-doctorate training. Her career in Microbiology began as a University Research Associate (BIOTECH-UPLB, 1995-2003), then as a Laboratory Supervisor (Animal Disease Diagnostics Laboratory-LQCC, 2003-2004). Eventually her love for teaching prevailed and she joined the Department of Biology, UP Manila, in 2004 as an Assistant Professor.

Her career in microbiology research started in studying fungal taxonomy and fungal biotechnology, extending to studies involving environmental microbiology and bioremediation. By collaborating with other scientists in the field of food microbiology, lactic acid bacteria, and probiotics, it eventually led her to work with Korean experts in studying the microbiome, metagenomics, and proteomics. But her love for viruses and medical microbiology stays as she partners with local and international scientific groups to conduct research in medical microbiology, vaccine, and drug development.

Dr. Balolong is one of the recently listed top scientists of the University of the Philippines. Her well-cited works are published in international and local journals, including Biodiversity and Conservation, Mycological Research, Beneficial Microbes, Journal of Applied Microbiology, COGENT Environmental Science, Animal Feed Science and Technology, International Food Research Journal, Journal of Microbiology, Journal of General and Applied Microbiology, Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Science, and the Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology.

Dr. Balolong is a recipient of international awards in Thailand and Indonesia for her work on Probiotics and Functional Foods to Understand and Manage Obesity and Blood Glucose Levels. In addition, she and her collaborators received national awards in their work on metagenomics, diagnostics, and functional food.

She is currently affiliated with the American Society for Microbiology, Korean Society for Microbiology and Biotechnology, Philippine Society for Lactic Acid Bacteria; Philippine Association for the Advancement of Science; Philippine Society for Microbiology, Inc.; Philippine Academy of Microbiology; Mycological Society of the Philippines; Philippine Network of Microbial Culture Collections.

Prof. Arnold Hallare | Published in UP Manila Newsletter July – August 2016