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Three distinguished researchers from Southern Luzon State University (SLSU) have been elected as Regular Members of the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) on February 5.
Prof. Nicanor L. Guinto, PhD, Prof. Renato R. Maaliw III, DIT, and Asst. Prof. Zoren P. Mabunga have successfully met the stringent membership criteria of NRCP, the country’s premier scientific, consultative, and policy-making body committed to advancing research across various fields.
Prof. Guinto, who serves as the Director of the Office of Researchers and is a faculty member of the College of Arts and Sciences, has played a pivotal role in fostering research initiatives within the university. Meanwhile, Prof. Maaliw and Asst. Prof. Mabunga, both esteemed faculty members of the College of Engineering, have consistently been recognized for their research excellence. Prof. Maaliw, in particular, has been awarded SLSU’s Outstanding Researcher title for three consecutive years.
Last year, Assoc. Prof. Katherine E. Gutierrez from the College of Agriculture was also elected as a Regular Member of NRCP, bringing the total number of SLSU researchers in the council to four.
Becoming an NRCP Regular Member requires meeting rigorous qualifications. Candidates must have been active associate members in good standing for at least a year and must demonstrate a strong track record of research, original design, or creative work over the past three years, as certified by their respective institutions. They must also have an H-index of at least 4 or an equivalent metric for the Arts and Humanities.
Membership requirements vary depending on the discipline. In the Physical and Natural Sciences, candidates must be the principal author of at least two or the co-author of four ISI- or Scopus-indexed scientific papers, the author of two agency-approved service manuals, or have two patented inventions or utility models. In Engineering, similar requirements apply, including published research, patented inventions, or agency-approved service manuals.
For the Arts and Humanities, candidates must have at least three critical studies published in refereed journals, a monograph, or a book of critical studies/creative works, with certification for performances, designs, or exhibitions. Meanwhile, in the Social Sciences, candidates must be the principal author of two or the co-author of four refereed publications, or the author of two copyrighted textbooks with ISBN.
Candidates who receive prestigious national or international awards may be granted exceptions, subject to the approval of the NRCP Governing Board.
SLSU researchers interested in becoming members of NRCP may reach out to the Office of Research Services for guidance or visit the NRCP website at www.nrcp.dost.gov.ph for more details.
Article & layout by: April Arianne A. de Leon