MARK CARASCAL

Scientist. Artist. Science Communicator. Poet

Achievements

Certifications

Registered Writer (Poetry) (6662)
National Book Development Board of the Philippines
December 2023- February 2025

Registered Microbiologist (RMicro) (RM 17-00276)
Philippine Academy for Microbiology
March 2017- present

Honor Graduate Civil Service Eligibility (100113161037)
Civil Service Commission, Philippines
August 2016- present

Certificate in Good Clinical Practice
National Institutes on Drug Abuse- Clinical Trials Network
November 2022- November 2025

Scholarships

Merit Scholarship, Department of Science and Technology- Science Education Institute, 2013-2016

Santo Tomas (Valedictorian) Scholarship, University of Santo Tomas, 2012-2016

Professional Awards

Finalist, Meritorious Award, 33rd Employee Annual Awards: Faces of Excellence, The Medical City, October 2021

Meritorious Award, 31st Annual Awards: Faces of Excellence, The Medical City; March 2018

Academic Awards

Excellence in Graduate Studies, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, July 2024

University Scholar, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, February 2020

College Scholar, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City; April 2019

Top 1, Certification Examination for Registered Microbiologist, Philippine Academy for Microbiology; March 2017

Award of Academic Excellence in Science, Department of Science and Technology- Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI); July 2016

Batch Valedictorian, Magna Cum Laude, College of Science, University of Santo Tomas; June 2016

Academic Excellence Award in Microbiology, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science; June 2016

Lulu dela Rosa Award for Communication, Department of Languages, College of Science; June 2016

Rector’s Academic Award, University of Santo Tomas; May 2016

Benavidez Outstanding Achievement Award, University of Santo Tomas; May 2016

Second Runner Up, National Biology Cup, Biology Majors Alliance of the Philippines, University of the Philippines, Diliman; March 2016

First Runner Up, Ateneo Biology Cup 2016, Ateneo de Manila University; February 2016

First Place, 9th Intercollegiate Social Science Quiz Bee, Department of History and Social Sciences, University of Santo Tomas; May 2015

First Place, Intercollegiate Essay Writing Contest, Department of Languages, University of Santo Tomas; March 2015

Champion, Ateneo Biology Cup 2015, Ateneo de Manila University; January 2015

Research Awards

First Place (Prosperity Category)- Swiss Innovation Prize
Embassy of Switzerland in the Philippines, Swiss Chamber of Commerce; 22-24 November 2023
Project Title: The PHageBank: Creation of the first industry-grade phage repository in the Philippines as a source of alternative therapeutics against antibiotic-resistant superbugs

International Publication Award- 2023
University of the Philippines Diliman, Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs
Publication Title: Utilization and management of an emergency department in a tertiary hospital in the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic

Third Place, Scientific Poster Presentation
52nd Philippine Society for Microbiology Annual Convention and Scientific Meeting
Hilton Manila, Philippines; 20-21 July 2023
Poster Title: Molecular genotyping reveals multiple carbapenemase genes and unique blaOXA-51-like (oxaAb) alleles among clinically isolated Acinetobacter baumannii from a Philippine tertiary hospital

International Publication Award- 2022 (B)
University of the Philippines Diliman, Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs
Publication Title: The Ibaloi fire mummies: The art and science of mummification in the Philippines

International Publication Award- 2022 (A)
University of the Philippines Diliman, Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs
Publication Title: Recent progress in recombinant influenza vaccine development toward heterosubtypic immune response

First Place, Scientific Poster Presentation
First Philippine Symposium on Freshwater Biodiversity and Ecosystems
University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines; 07-09 June 2016
Poster Title: Occurrence and butachlor biodegradation potential of freshwater fungi from submerged wood and surface water collected in Taal Lake, Batangas

Tricita H. Quimio Best Undergraduate Thesis Awardee (Multiple Authors)
18th Annual Scientific Meeting and Symposium, Mycological Society of the Philippines, Batangas State University, Batangas, Philippines; 14 April 2016
Thesis Title: Occurrence and butachlor biodegradation potential of freshwater fungi from submerged wood and surface water collected in Taal Lake, Batangas

First Place, Microbiology Thesis Poster Exhibit
College of Science Week, 2016
University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines; 03 March 2016
Poster Title: Occurrence and butachlor biodegradation potential of freshwater fungi from submerged wood and surface water collected in Taal Lake, Batangas

Best Scientific Poster Presentation Award
49th Biology Teachers Association Annual Convention and Scientific Sessions
University of Baguio, Baguio City, Philippines; 04-05 April 2014
Poster Title: A Look at the Species of Myxomycetes Associated with Philippine Grasslands

Membership in Organizations

Member, Phage Asia; 2024-present

Member, UP Institute of Biology Alumni Association in Diliman; 2024-present

Member, Phi Sigma Biological Sciences Honor Society – Alpha Chi Chapter; 2024-present

Associate Editor, SciEnggJ- The Official Journal of the Philippine-American Academy of Science & Engineering; 2024-present

Young Scientist Member, European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases; 2024-present

Member, Philippine Foundation for Health and Development; 2024-present

Regular Member, National Research Council of the Philippines; 2024-present

Associate Member, National Research Council of the Philippines; 2020-2024

Graduate Student, Pathogen-Host-Environment Interaction Research Laboratory; 2018-2024

Regular Member, Philippine Network of Microbial Culture Collections, Inc.; 2017-present

Life Member, Philippine Society for Microbiology (PSM); 2013- present

Research Associate, Fungal Biodiversity and Systematics Group; 2013-2016