Name:

Ann Clarisse S.V. Siababa

Home Institution:

University of the Philippines Los Baños

Host Institution:

Iowa State University 

Award Name:

Fulbright Foreign Student Program (FFSP)

Award Year:

2024

Bio / Write-up:

Ann Clarisse S.V. Siababa is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB). She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Biology degree (major in Microbiology), cum laude; and Master of Science in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology degree (minor in Microbiology) from UPLB through the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) scholarship. 

She began her lake research during an interdisciplinary program at UPLB, focusing on microbiomes in polluted lake ecosystems. Currently, she contributes to a DOST-UK project related to Philippine Mining, studying microbial resources for mine restoration. She has authored scientific reports, journal articles, policy briefs, and reference books.

As a Fulbright scholar, Clarisse will pursue her PhD in Microbiology at Iowa State University. Her research plans will focus on the integration of environmental microbiology, molecular biology, microbial genomics, and bioinformatics approaches on harnessing the unique capabilities of microbial communities towards remediating polluted environments. She hopes to aid stakeholders and policymakers in crafting frameworks related to the use of sustainable biotechnologies in addressing environmental concerns in the Philippines and worldwide.

Clarisse or “Cla”, is fond of singing, binge-watching Korean dramas and American series namely Grey’s Anatomy and FRIENDS, listening to music, baking pastries, and she is an avid fan of the K-pop group BTS. She loves to travel to different places, meet new people, and spend quality time with her family, loved ones, and pet shih tzu, Saichi.