BioCamp is a pioneering biotechnology seminar organized by research-based Swiss healthcare company Novartis for entrepreneurial, postgraduate students in the natural sciences who are interested in pursuing a career in biotechnology. Participants to the International BioCamp are selected through Local BioCamps organized in the over 140 countries where Novartis operates.
Admission to the International BioCamp is highly competitive. The selection process starts with the stringent screening of the required documents, which include the candidate’s resumé, motivation letter and application form. Local BioCamp participants who pass the initial screening then undergo an initial interview conducted by a panel of judges. Based on the interviews, the judges select five shortlisted candidates who must each prepare for a final case presentation. The criteria for selection include academic credentials, professional focus, presentation/communication skills, leadership potential, and innovation.
From the almost 120 participants of the Local BioCamp held on July 12, 2010 at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) in Makati City , judges shortlisted (Top 5) the following:
- Mr. CHITHO FELICIANO, Candidate, Master of Science in Microbiology & Biotechnology, University of the Philippines , Diliman Campus (UP-Diliman), PNRI, ARD, Biomedical Unit;
- Ms. KRISTINE JEANNE YAP , Candidate, Master of Science in Medical Microbiology, (UP-Manila);
- Mr. JORDAN TUN, Candidate, Master of Science in Molecular Medicine, St. Luke’s College of Medicine (SLCM);
- Mr. CARLO CASTILLO, Candidate, Master of Science in Molecular Medicine (SLCM) and
- Ms. KAREN ROSAL, Master in Molecular Biology at Okayama University in Japan.
Novartis Philippines works with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in organizing the Local BioCamp. Other Local BioCamp partners are Intellectual Property Philippines and Hybridigm Consulting, the country’s first biotechnology consulting firm.
For this year’s Local BioCamp, the panel of judges consisted of Dr. Jaime Montoya, Executive Director of the DOST’s Philippine Council for Health Research and Development; Dr. Francis Domingo, Novartis Philippines Chief Scientific Officer (CSO); Ms. Rose Katalbas, Novartis Philippines Human Resources Director; and Dr. Epifanio Evasco, Bureau of Patents Director. Ms. Christine Liwanag, Novartis Philippines corporate affairs & market access Director, heads the Local BioCamp program.
“Through BioCamp, we hope to enhance the knowledge and skills of Filipino scientists which we believe is important in improving the quality of Philippine healthcare,” according to Mr. Eric van Oppens, President & CEO of Novartis Healthcare Philippines.
