Biocamp signup ends today
OUTSTANDING Filipino graduate and postgraduate students in the natural sciences are invited to participate in the Novartis Biotechnology Leadership Camp (BioCamp) on July 30 at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Conference Center in Makati City.
This year’s theme is “Staying Competitive in the Knowledge Economy.”
Deadline for registration and application is July 16.
Two outstanding Local BioCamp participants will be selected to represent the country in the prestigious International BioCamp on Aug. 26-29 at the Novartis International Headquarters in Basel, Switzerland. Novartis will cover the delegates’ travel and accommodation expenses.
Students who register for the event will receive a copy of the case study. If they qualify, they must furnish organizers their curriculum vitae and complete the application process to be considered for the International BioCamp.
Only complete applications will be considered.
Thomas Weigold, country president and managing director, Novartis Healthcare Philippines, said the company conducted the annual Local BioCamp to develop young Filipino scientists and help improve the quality of Philippine healthcare.
He said improving the country’s competitiveness in science and technology was crucial to economic growth and national progress.
Novartis Healthcare Philippines has been organizing the Local BioCamp since 2006, as part of its Kaagapay Program. Conducted with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), it is the country’s biggest annual biotech workshop, bringing together promising young Filipino scientists and respected Filipino biotech experts and entrepreneurs.
Other partners are the DOST’s Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, Intellectual Property Philippines, and the country’s first biotech consulting firm, Hybridigm Consulting Inc.
This year’s speakers include Sen. Edgardo Angara, Science Secretary Mario Montejo, IPP deputy director general Andrew Ong, National Institutes of Health president Dr. Vicente Belizario, NIH Institute of Human Genetics executive director Dr. Carmencita Padilla, and Hybridigm consulting founder and chief executive officer Maoi Arroyo.
The International BioCamp will be attended by delegates from 140 countries. Participants get the chance to learn from industry leaders the basic steps of starting a biotech company and career-enhancing opportunities, among others.
Filipino Karen Katrina Man- alastas was one of 59 students from leading universities in 23 countries and territories who participated in the 2011 International BioCamp in Basel, Switzerland.
Manalastas, who has a MS in Computer Science from the University of the Philippines Diliman, is currently a research associate at the Protein Structure and Immunology Laboratory of UP Diliman’s National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology.
Visit www.novartis.com.ph or www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph. To register and apply, call Joy Caoile at 0917-8158017 or email arlyn_joy.caoile@novartis. com.