Rona Jean S. Muñoz is bordering on a research stint in Canada upon receipt of the acceptance letter from Dr. Tanya Handa of Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) on March 14—just two days before the application deadline—making the environmental science student the first CTU undergraduate to secure such an endorsement, since its partnership with UQAM was established and later renewed.
The acceptance letter from a host supervisor is a primary requirement for the Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development (SEED) Phase 2 program, as it ensures that the student’s proposed research can be carried out under expert guidance.
Muñoz’ proposed study focuses on soil mesofauna and will provide her with hands-on training in field sampling and laboratory techniques, while exposing her to key areas such as urban ecology, restoration ecology, and biodiversity conservation. CTU Argao Internationalization and ASEAN Integration (IAI) chair Prof. Dr. Rosalyn Alburo helped curate her research motif.
If successful (with results expected in June), she will join a team in the Department of Biological Sciences for laboratory work, field activities, and seminars.
The university’s IAI leadership, in a statement, noted that the development highlights the potential for more undergraduate participation in future cycles. /IAI
