by Allenn Lowaton
MSU-IIT USAID-STRIDE CARWIN and PURE research grantees: Dr. Lubguban, Dr. Malaluan, and Prof. Hora
COE&T professors and researchers namely Dr. Roberto M. Malaluan, Dr. Arnold A. Lubguban, and Prof. Jefferson A. Hora received recognitions at the 2017 United States Agency for International Development – Science, Technology, Research and Innovation for Development (USAID-STRIDE) Grants and Scholarships Awarding ceremonies held last March 17, 2017 at Gallardo Ballroom, Makati Diamond Residences, Makati City, Philippines.
Dr. Malaluan and Dr. Lubguban, both from the Department of Chemical Engineering & Technology are the principal investigators working on the “Development and Production of High Value Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifulius) Products” (worth 4.6 million pesos); and “Rigid Polyurethane Insulation Foams Made from Lignocellulosic Rice Straw” (worth 5.9 million pesos) , respectively.
Prof. Hora, Chair of the Electrical/Electronics/Computer Engineering Department, is the project leader of two USAID-STRIDE research grants (worth 7 million pesos) namely “Optimized Chip Implementation of Indoor Light Energy Harvesting for Sensor Network and Battery Recharging – Phase 1”; and “INLIGHT2 – Chip Fabrication and Testing of Indoor Light Energy Harvesting for Sensor Network and Battery Recharging – Phase 2”.
The ceremony was attended by respective industry partners of the grantees, the academe, government representatives, USAID-STRIDE officials and media. Ambassador Sung Y. Kim, the US Ambassador to the Philippines gave the keynote speech during the awarding ceremony. To quote him, “Our grantees represent the best scientific minds in the Philippines. We look forward to the results of their research projects that should upgrade industries, generate jobs and investments, and build skills and capacities in communities, academic institutions and companies”.
USAID-STRIDE is a USAID/Philippines project under the Partnership for Growth (PFG), a bilateral initiative through which the US and Philippine governments work together to improve economic growth and development in the Philippines. The five-year, USD 32 million project began in July 2013.
STRIDE focuses on disciplines that contribute to high-growth sectors such as electronics, chemical industries, alternative energy, translational medicine, agri-business, ICT and mobile computing, with cross-cutting themes of manufacturing and new product development.
Grantees with Amb. Sung Kim, the US Ambassador to the Philippines
Topics : USAID-STRIDE COE&T researchers Lubguban Malaluan Hora