TSU welcomes RD Leader for DOST-NRCP-TSU engagement  

Through the R&D Leadership Program (RD Lead) of the Department of Science and Technology-National Research Council of the Philippines (DOST-NRCP), Tarlac State University has been granted an RD Leader to enhance the university's research capabilities, especially in the areas of food science, food technology, and food engineering. 

According to NRCP executive director Dr. Marieta Sumagaysay, Dr. Dennis V. Cantre from the Institute of Food Science and Technology of the University of the Philippines Los Baños was selected by the NRCP Evaluation Committee (NEC) as the TSU RD Leader who shall provide guidance and assistance through various capacity building initiatives for one calendar year. 

One of the deliverables for the DOST-NRCP-TSU RD Lead engagement is Dr. Cantre’s visit to TSU on October 22-23, 2020 where he conducted an ocular inspection of the facilities at the Food Technology Research Center (FTRC) located at the Lucinda Extension Campus. 

During the two-day visit, Mr. Marfy H. Lita of the DOST-NRCP joined Dr. Cantre in meeting with the researchers on publication of manuscripts and utility model application. 

Dr. Cantre also administered a workshop on the development of R&D roadmap and presented an Institutional Research Readiness assessment. 

The one-year engagement commenced last September 14 and 21, 2020 through the conduct of webinars and online trainings for TSU faculty members and students which are focused on scientific writing for publication, research proposal writing, and training on experimental design. 

In particular, the engagement aims to offer activities and outputs anchored on the 6 Ps of DOST, namely, Publication, Patents, Products/Processes, People Services, Place and Partnerships, and Policy Development. 

It is a byproduct of steady meetings and endeavors for the responsive operation of the FTRC aimed to bridge the gap in food technology research and commercialization. 

Through this engagement, the university’s capacity in the development and packaging of project proposals will be strengthened and will merit external funding. 

It will also increase the possibility of making the TSU FTRC a leader in market-driven technology generation and commercialization in the field of food science in the region. [Jeanina Lorraine Calimlim, VPRES]