"In Pursuit of Innovation, Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Internationalization & Inclusive Development"

Master of Science in Microbiology​

 

Brief Description of the Major Field

Study of the basic fields of microbiology that include microbial physiology, ecology, genetics and molecular biology and of the applied fields of microbiology that include food, industrial and medical microbiology.

Official Acronym:  MCB

Unit/s offering the major field  : Institute of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences

 

Prospective Students

Any B.S. Degree (provided foundation courses are met)

 

Opportunities

Our graduates have occupied vital positions in the academe as faculty members or full-time researchers, in various national and multi-national corporations as quality control managers and consultants, and in medicine as highly competent doctors.

 

Requirements and mechanics to graduate

The Foundation courses are MCB 101 for MS and MCB 201 and MCB 220 for PhD.

The MS MCB program requires a minimum of 32 units, these are: 15 units of major courses including core courses MCB 130, MCB 201 and MCB 220; 2 units of seminar (MCB 299); 9 units of minor courses; and 6 units of thesis (MCB 300).

For MS and PhD students with MCB as minor/cognate field at least 9 units of course work in Microbiology is required.

 

Areas of Specialization

Name of Specialization

Brief Description

Food Microbiology

Microbiological aspects of food processing, preservation, spoilage and quality control: study of food-borne microorganisms of industrial and public health importance.

Microbial Genetics/Molecular Microbiology

The principles of heredity in microbial systems, their applications in microbiology and molecular biology.

Industrial Microbiology

Microorganisms, principles and processes involved in industrial fermentation.

Medical Microbiology

The role and control of medically important microorganisms in human disease development.

Microbial Ecology

Principles of microbial ecology; inter-relationships of bacteria, fungi, algae and protozoa in natural systems.

Microbial Physiology

Physiological processes in microorganisms including a study of structure, energy production, macromolecular biosynthesis, nutrition and growth.

Virology

The physical, chemical and biological properties of plant, animal and bacterial viruses.

 

Graduate Courses

MCB 201. Advances in Microbiology (3). Current research and development in microbiology. 3 hrs (class). PR. COI. (1) 

MCB 220. Physiology of Bacteria (3). Physiological processes in bacteria including study of bacterial variation and population dynamics. 5 hrs (2 class, 3 lab). PR. MCB 101 and MCB 120. (2)

MCB 221. Physiology and Molecular Biology of Extremophiles (3). Life processes, molecular basis of adaptation to harsh environments, and biotechnological and industrial applications of the extremophiles. 3 hrs (class). PR. MCB 120 and BIO 101, or COI. (1)

MCB 230. Advanced Microbial Genetics (3). Molecular genetics of microbial systems. 3 hrs (class). PR. MCB 130 or COI. (1)

MCB 240. Determinative Bacteriology (3). Bacterial identification, cultivation of representative groups of bacteria from their natural habitats. 7 hrs (1 class, 6 lab). PR. MCB 101. (1)

MCB 241. Polyphasic Approach in Microbial Taxonomy (3). Phenotyphic and genotypic methods in microbial classification, nomenclature and identification. 5 hrs (2 class, 3 lab). PR. MCB 101 and BIO 101, or COI. (2)

MCB 260. Advanced Industrial Microbiology (3). Microbiological and physiological aspects of fermentation processes. 3 hrs (class). PR. MCB 160. (2)

MCB 270. Microbial Toxins (3). Nature, activity, and toxigenicity of bacterial and fungal toxins affecting man and other animals; methods of isolation, detection, and quantification. 5 hrs (2 class, 3 lab). PR. MCB 101 and CHEM 160.1 or COI. (2)

MCB 285. Predictive Microbiology and Modeling Applications in Food Safety (4). Assessment and control of microbiological risks in foods, process calculations on growth, survival, and inactivation of microorganisms in foods. 8 hrs (2 class, 6 lab). PR. MCB 180 and Math 26 or COI. (1)

MCB 290. Special Problems (1-3). May be taken twice provided that the total number of units to be credited to the student’s program will not exceed 4 units. (1,2)

MCB 291. Special Topics (1-3). May be taken twice provided that the total number of units to be credited to the student’s program will not exceed 4 units. (1)

MCB 299. Graduate Seminar (1). May be taken twice. (1,2)

MCB 300. Master’s Thesis (6). (1,2)

MCB 400. Doctoral Dissertation (12). (1,2)

 

Faculty Information

Name

Specialization

Highest Educ. Attained

Tel. No.

Wilma T. Cruz

Genetics/Molecular Microbiology

PhD

536-3368

Ida F. Dalmacio

Food Microbiology

PhD

-do-

Jaymee R. Encabo

Virology

M.S.

-do-

Gem D. Encarnacion

Microbial Ecology

M.S.

-do-

Nacita B. Lantican

Industrial Microbiology

PhD

-do-

Bernadette C. Mendoza

Medical Microbiology

Dr. PH

-do-

Rina B. Opulencia

Genetics/Molecular Microbiology

PhD

-do-

Asuncion K. Raymundo

Genetics/Molecular Microbiology

PhD

-do-

Noel G. Sabino

Microbial Ecology

M.S.

-do-

Lucille C. Villegas

Virology

PhD

-do-

 

Contact Information

Key Person/s:             Dr. Rina B. Opulencia

Phone Number/s:        049-536-3368

Email Address/es:       [email protected]

e-FORMS


GS IN ACTION

 Source: UPLB website

The UPLB Graduate School marked milestones with the launching of two new masters-level degree programs and the celebration of its 42nd founding anniversary on December 1.

At the Thanksgiving Dinner-Fellowship held at the Graduate School multi-purpose hall, UPLB Chancellor Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr. led the launching of the Master of Science in Entomology, an off-campus program implemented in partnership with ANFLO Management and Investment Corporation (ANFLOCOR) in Panabo City, Davao del Norte. He also relaunched the Professional Masters in Tropical Marine Ecosystem Management (PM-TMEM), a joint program with the UP Marine Science Institute (MSI) of UP Diliman and UP Visayas.

read more

Article by Mark Jayson E. Gloria, UPLB website

UP President Alfredo E. Pascual enjoined the UPLB graduate education faculty to intensify the internationalization of graduate programs during the Graduate Faculty Conference on Feb. 15 at the Tagaytay International Convention Center. Pascual, who gave the keynote speech during the Conference, said that UP’s mandate as a research, graduate, and regional/global university are intertwined and interrelated. He also commended UPLB’s tradition of excellence as a graduate and research university, especially in agriculture, forestry, veterinary medicine, and biotechnology.

read more

Posted on March 4, 2015 by upweb_wordpress in In the News, Article by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc, photos by Abraham Arboleda


Responding to the mandates officially spelled out in Republic Act 9500 or the new UP System Charter of 2008, which elects UP to be a research and graduate university, among other roles, the UP Los Baños Graduate School convened a faculty conference to plot the path of the school to the future. The conference titled “Responding to the Challenges of a Research and Graduate University” was held on February 15 and 16, 2015 at the Tagaytay International Convention Center. It was attended by around 260 participants consisting of junior and senior graduate faculty members, committee chairs of degree-granting units, college deans, institute directors, department chairs, and heads of UP campuses.

read more

What was once a silent and unoccupied area at the back of the Graduate School (GS) Building will soon become the site of a modern hub for graduate and international students of UPLB.

It will be called the Graduate School International Student and Cultural Center Building, as officially announced during the groundbreaking ceremony on Dec. 2.

UP System, UPLB, and Nagoya University bigwigs were present during the occasion, which served as one of the highlights of the School’s 43rd founding anniversary.

               UP President Alfredo E. Pascual and Vice-President for Legal Affairs Hector Danny D. Uy joined UPLB Chancellor Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr., Graduate School Dean Jose V. Camacho, Jr., and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Portia G. Lapitan in the traditional groundbreaking ceremonies. read more

UP and Nagoya University (NU), through President Alfredo E. Pascual and UPLB Chancellor Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr. and NU President Seiichi Matsuo, respectively, have inked an agreement for UPLB to host the Nagoya University Asian Satellite Campus (NUASC) through the UPLB Graduate School.

This agreement makes the Philippines the eighth country to host the NUASC through which the Transnational Doctoral Programs for Leading Professionals in Asian Countries will be implemented. This will enable Filipino doctoral candidates to enroll in NU doctoral programs without having to be physically present in Nagoya for the whole duration of the course.

The agreement was formalized at the Executive Conference Room in BM Gonzalez Hall, UPLB on Dec. 2. Dr. Jose V. Camacho, Jr., dean, Graduate School and Dr. Fumio Isoda, director, Nagoya University Asian Satellite Campuses Institute, served as witnesses of the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA). read more

UPLB and Nagoya University (NU) formally opened the NU satellite campus in the Philippines and held the International Symposium on the Internationalization of Graduate Education at Acacia Hotel in Alabang, Muntinlupa City on March 8.

UPLB Chancellor Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr.  said in his message during the opening program that to be a globally competitive research and graduate university, UPLB must pursue joint programs and collaborative activities with international academic and research institutions. He cited as an example the Philippines Transnational Ph.D. Program for Leading Professionals in Asian Countries being implemented by UPLB and NU.  

UP President Alfredo E. Pascual added that the program takes the University to a higher level and a step closer to being a globalized institution in terms of research and graduate education.  It will also allow experts to build lifelong partnerships with NU without leaving the country. He issued a challenge for UPLB to become a leader in global intellectual conversations of tomorrow. read more

The Graduate School (GS) and the College of Public Affairs and Development (CPAf), together with UP Mindanao, launched the Mindanao Development Studies Seminars (MDSS) on May 13-14 at UP Mindanao, Davao City. 


The MDSS aims to stimulate critical discussion about contemporary issues and challenges affecting the development of Mindanao. 


Dr. Portia G. Lapitan, vice chancellor for academic affairs who delivered a speech on behalf of Chancellor Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr. reiterated the importance of Mindanao in the development of the country. She expressed her hopes that through the MDSS, participants would gain a more thorough insight of the issues affecting Mindanao.

“It is also my hope that this seminar would pave the way for scholars to engage in further discourse about Mindanao’s key concerns and strive to influence national policies that would benefit the people of Mindanao,” she added. read more

 

The Graduate School will hold its Hooding and Recognition Ceremony on June 24 at the DL Umali Freedom Park. During this occasion, the students who will have finished their doctoral program will be conferred their degrees through a ceremony in which their academic regalia (hoods) would be put on them by their advisers and University officials led by Chancellor Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr and Dr. Jose V. Camacho, Jr., dean of the Graduate School.

The guest of honor and keynote speaker for this year’s ceremonies is Dr. Chamnian Yosraj, president of Maejo University in Thailand. Dr. Yosraj is a UPLB alumnus, having earned both his MS and Ph.D. degrees in Animal Science in 1983 and 1990, respectively. read more

The UPLB Graduate School (GS) held its 2016 Hooding and Recognition Ceremonies on June 24 at the DL Umali Freedom Park. Of the 279 graduates, 229 obtained master’s degrees and 50 earned doctorate degrees.

In his opening remarks, Chancellor Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr. expressed confidence that the graduates will exceed expectations around them. “UPLB has prepared you to become leaders who have the intellectual capacity and the heart to contribute to your respective communities,” he said.  He also encouraged the graduates to use the knowledge they gained from the University not only in pursuing academic and intellectual endeavors, but also in addressing social concerns. read more

“How do you thank your benefactors? How do you thank the Filipino taxpayers? How do you thank the Filipino people as a whole?” asked UP President Alfredo E. Pascual to the 2,245-strong UPLB Class of 2016 on June 25 at the DL Umali Freedom Park.

President Pascual was the keynote speaker during the 44th Commencement Exercises of UPLB that started at six o’clock in the morning, a deviation from the usual afternoon-to-evening ceremonies in the University. He was introduced by Chancellor Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr. read more

UPLB and Kobe University (KU) in Japan have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to jointly develop academic programs and projects that will benefit both in their instruction, research and training programs.

The MOU, which covers a 5-year period, was signed by KU President Hiroshi Takeda on March 23 in KU while UPLB chancellor, Dr. Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr. signed it on April 21 at the BM Gonzalez Hall in UPLB. read more

UPLB, through the Graduate School (GS) and the College of Economics and Management (CEM) has launched the off-campus Master of Management program for employees of the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) at the DBM headquarters in Paco, Manila on Nov. 26.

PS-DBM has provided partial scholarships to its deserving employees who will be on the MMgt program that is being implemented by UPLB for continuing organizational development in the former. According to Atty. Tomas C. Syquia, executive director of PS-DBM, “to be the best, we must be taught by the best,” referring to the choice of UPLB as the partner institution. read me

In celebration of its 37th anniversary, the International Students Association (ISA), in cooperation with the International Student Services of the Office of Student Affairs (OSA), staged its annual cultural night at the DL Umali Hall on Oct. 14.

According to Dr. Nina Cadiz, OSA director, the event was “meant to promote the welfare and cooperation of foreign students in UPLB and to promote the benefits of internationalization in a University” such as UPLB.

With the theme “Unifying Force for Global Community,” the event featured song and dance performances of students from the Philippines, Indonesia, Timor Leste, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Nigeria. read more

In order to modernize pedagogy and equip faculty members with technology-mediated teaching strategies, the Interactive Learning Center (ILC) and Graduate School (GS) co-sponsored the workshop on Graduate Program Innovations: Hands-On Training on Blended Learning for faculty members on July 27-28, at the ILC Computer Laboratory, CAS Annex I Bldg.   

Dr. Jose V. Camacho, Jr., GS dean, lauded the participants for attending the workshop despite the fact that they were on teacher’s leave. He said that since faculty members are in the forefront of the internalization efforts of the University and UPLB-GS has already embarked on off-campus offering, there is a need to conduct training programs on technology-mediated approaches that would help enhance the graduate programs of the University. read more

The UPLB Graduate School (GS) conducted its 2015 Hooding and Recognition Ceremonies on July 3 at the DL Umali Hall, conferring degrees on 48 Ph.D. and 212 masters candidates. It also gave recognition to its top five Ph.D. and masters candidates, and two recipients of special awards.

In his opening remarks, Chancellor Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr. advised the graduate students to actively participate in collaborative research activities that promote knowledge building and policy making, to publish their work, and serve the people. He further explained that as the ASEAN integration promotes mobility among faculty and students, it also presents UPLB an opportunity to pursue research and development policies in the region. read more

The Graduate School welcomes new staff officials to improve and strengthen its graduate services. On 15 November 2017, Dr. Mark Dondi M. Arboleda, former School Secretary since 2015, was officially appointed as Associate Dean; Dr. Aimee Lynn A. Barrion-Dupo as School Secretary; and Ms. Nanette A. Aquino as Assistant Secretary. Read more

Dr. Aimee Lynn Barrion-Dupo, Graduate School Secretary, was one of the 68 awardees of the UP Scientific Productivity System for CY 2017. 

The UP Scientific Productivity System (SPS) aims to support the development of science and technology; and encourage and reward scientific productivity. 

The nominees are evaluated according to the following: Scientific Productivity as measured by scientific publications, significant technological output and discoveries; Scientific Standing; and professional Standing

Visit http://ovpaa.up.edu.ph/up-scientific-productivity-system-2/ for more details on the UP Scientific Productivity System.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Official Graduate School page is https://www.facebook.com/UPLBGradSch/ . Information for the general public are usually posted there.

The Official UPLB Graduate Student's Group is https://www.facebook.com/groups/UPLBGradStudents/, a closed group for bonafide UPLB-GS Students only. Announcements and other useful information aimed for students are posted there. All GS students are encouraged to join the group.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

POSTINGS

Dr. Mark Dondi M. Arboleda takes-over as secretary of UPLB Graduate School effective March 4, 2015.

He succeeds Dr. Willie P. Abasolo who was appointed by the UP Board of Regents as the new dean of the College of Forestry and Natural Resources on March 3, 2015.

Read More

 

The 43rd Commencement Exercises of UPLB will be held on Saturday, July 4, 2015 at the D.L. Umali Freedom Park in front of the D.L. Umali HAll (UPLB Auditorium).

Click here to download the instructions

 

 

 

 

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