Report

National Center for Genetic Engineering

and Biotechnology

The Human Resource Development Program in Biotechnology

As of March 2013 V is i t us: www.bio tec.or. th www.facebook.com/BIOTECHRD

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The Human Resource Development Program in

Biotechnology

CONTENT

2

3 5 9

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39

Introduction

Program in Brief

Program Performance

Success of the Program

Appendix 1: List of Alumni

Appendix 2: Success of Alumni

Appendix 3: Testimonials from Alumni

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Recognizing the need for human resource development in science and technology in neighboring

countries coupled with available resources of high-caliber Thai researchers and state-of-the-art infrastructure at laboratories in Thailand, BIOTEC initiated the Human Resource Development

program in Biotechnology for Neighboring Countries in 2001. This Program specifically addresses the underlying causes of the shortage of skilled manpower in the field of biotechnology in the region,

which are lack of facilities, equipment, technical know-how, limited research and development in

biotechnology and inadequate training facilities and equipment. The program

places importance on improving research skill, thus it is designed to be an on-the-

job and research-based training in BIOTEC’s laboratories in order to build up

R&D capability as well as fostering

research network among countries in this region.

The pilot program was launched in 2001

and 2002, allocating four 3-month training scholarships/year to young

researchers from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam. The program

received a two-year grant amounting USD 75,000 from the ASEAN Foundation for year 2003-2004, enabling BIOTEC to offer 24 scholarships over the 2-year period. For year 2005, in addition to

researchers from neighboring ASEAN countries, BIOTEC also accepted two trainees from the Pacific

Islands, under the sponsorship of the New Zealand National UNESCO Commission, and the advanced-training scheme was added to allow 6-month research training for researchers with solid scientific

background. Currently, 10-15 scholarships for fundamental and advanced courses are provided annually.

I N T R O D U C T I O N

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The training courses offer trainees the knowledge of

basic and advanced techniques, how to design and conduct scientific experiments, and also opportunity to

visit factories or project sites. All scientific activities are

conducted under the guidance of BIOTEC researchers. In addition, the program also includes cultural visit for the

trainees in order to provide social experience and understanding of Thai culture.

At the end of the training, trainees are responsible for

submitting report paper on their research works and give oral presentation to their research peers at BIOTEC.

Trainees will receive comment and evaluation from their supervisor for further development, and each will be

presented with a certificate.

Available Courses Each year, the program offers several courses

encompassing the broad spectrum of research fields at

BIOTEC which are agriculture and aquaculture, food biotechnology, environmental biotechnology, biodiversity

and medical biotechnology.

Eligibility Must be scientists currently being employed in either a public or private academic institute,

OR a governmental research organization in the list of eligible countries.

Must hold at least a Bachelor’s degree in sciences for application to a fundamental course or at least a Master’s degree in sciences for application to an advanced course. All applicants

must have finished course work in biology, microbiology or any related areas that will be required for particular training topics.

Must have good command in English. Must not be older than 32 years.

Sponsorship BIOTEC provides successful applicants with monthly allowance, accommodation and health insurance.

The international roundtrip airfare funding will only be available for the successful applicants from

Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia.

PROGRAM IN BR IEF

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List of Eligible Countries

Applicants from the following countries are eligible to apply for Human Resource Development Program in Biotechnology:

East Asia Southeast Asia Pacific Islands

China Mongolia

Cambodia Indonesia

Lao PDR

Malaysia Myanmar

Philippines Vietnam

American Samoa Fiji

Kiribati

Marshall Islands Micronesia

Northern Mariana Islands Palau

Papua New Guinea Samoa

Solomon Islands

Tonga Timor-Leste

Vanuatu

Program Calendar

Month

Detail Ja

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Announcement and call

for application

Applications Evaluation

Process

Notification of

successful applicants

Training period

- Fundamental Courses

(3 months)

- Advanced Courses

(6 months)

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Number of Applications and Fellowships

Every year, BIOTEC receives over 50 applicants for 10-15 available scholarships. As of 2013, 135 scholarships have been granted with over 650 applications received.

PROGRAM PERFORMANCE

Number of Applications by Countries

Number of Applications by Year

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Activities

Opening Ceremony Researchers arrive in Thailand in the beginning of July every year. They are welcomed by BIOTEC

executives at the annual opening ceremony of the program, with attendance of the BIOTEC

specialists, senior researchers and other distinguished guests.

Distribution of Fellowships by Countries

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Classroom Lecture & Training Program

Following the opening ceremony is a classroom lecture to introduce the subjects to trainees and to provide them with an opportunity to learn basic knowledge in biotechnology related to their training

courses and useful information in working at BIOTEC.

The training courses consist of learning basic and advanced techniques, designing and conducting research experiments. Two types of training offering are fundamental courses (3 months) and

advanced courses (6 months) for researchers with solid scientific background.

Site Visits

During the training course, site visits are organized for trainees to obtain hands – on experiences in research work as well as Thai culture.

Visit to Hortigenetics Research

(S. E. Asia) Limited: The

research company of East West

Seed Company Ltd. is a member

of a rapidly expanding group of

vegetable seed companies

operating in Southeast Asia.

Researchers from Vietnam and Indonesia learned about Genetics and Molecular Biology in Fungi.

Researcher from Malaysia was trained in Plant Molecular Biology.

Ms. Phatsalakone and Ms. Phouvong from Laos were trained on blast, bacterial blight and brown planthopper screening.

Tin Zaw Latt from Myanmar was trained in collection and identification of fungal samples.

Researchers from Philippines learned about Ultrasensitive Detection of DNA Hybridization Based on Nanoparticle-assisted Signal Amplication.

Mr. Yi Bunhak from Cambodia learned about Starter Culture Development.

Researchers from Vietnam and Indonesia learned about Genetics and Molecular Biology in Fungi.

Researcher from Malaysia was trained in Plant Molecular Biology.

Ms. Phatsalakone and Ms. Phouvong from Laos were trained on blast, bacterial blight and brown planthopper screening.

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Research Seminar and Certificate Presentation Trainees are responsible for submitting report paper on their researches and present their research

works to research peers at BIOTEC. Subsequently, each trainee is presented with a certificate.

Visit to Suwan Wajokkasikit Field Crop Research Station(Suwan Research Farm), Kasetsart University: Suwan Research Farm was established in 1965 in order to consolidate agriculture research, render services and facilities for researchers who work on corn and sorghum and other related crops. The research station also carries out specific research project urgently needed of the country.

Cultural visit to the Grand Palace and Vimanmek Mansion

Visit to Rice Gene Discovery Unit (RGDU): RGDU was established in 2001 through the close collaboration between BIOTEC and Kasetsart University's Kamphaengsaen Campus. This unit focuses on the use of genomic technologies to develop genomic tools to discover genes that reveal important characteristic of rice, as well as making use of genes in molecular breeding program.

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Through this program, trainees not only make an

improvement in their research skill, but also gain confidence to work in an international scientific

environment. As a result, this training program serves as a stepping stone for young researchers from

neighboring countries to engage in a more in-depth research and further education.

At the recent survey conducted in 2012, out of 135 alumni, 39 of them went on to win scholarships for

graduate studies in foreign countries such as SIDA scholarships to study at the Asian Institute of

Technology, EurAsia Erasmus Mundus External

Cooperation Window Project to study at BOKU University in Austria, scholarships to study in Germany,

USA and Canada. Most alumni return to work in academic and research institutes and have kept close contact with BIOTEC research staff. Some courses have resulted in joint publications between

BIOTEC researchers and alumni, for instance in the areas of plant science and taxonomy study. Moreover, they also received opportunities to present their works in both national and international

conferences. Based on the research work conducted at BIOTEC, an alumnus received a poster award

at the First National Graduate Research Summit held in the Philippines in 2011.

From this critical mass of well-trained young researchers now working in their home countries, BIOTEC embarks on building up research collaboration with our neighbors. An MOU was reached

with the Science, Technology and Environment Agency (STEA) in Lao PDR in 2004 and both the

Institute of Biotechnology (IBT) and the Institute of Tropical Biology (ITB) in Vietnam in 2005. IBT and BIOTEC are engaged in research collaboration entitled “A/H5N1 influenza virus, including

Molecular Epidemiology, Diagnosis and Vaccines” (March 2009 - December 2010) and “Vietnam-Thailand Collaboration Project on Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs ) sequencing, EST database

construction and application for black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) genome sequencing Project”

(October 2011- September 2013). Under the MOU with Vinh University in 2006 and Nong Lam University in 2011, BIOTEC established collaboration on biodiversity and bioresource utilization with

Vinh University as well as Nong Lam University on bio-control and rice biotechnology.

With BIOTEC’s relentless effort in building up research capability for the region, the strategic

location of Thailand in central ASEAN and the

strong government’s commitment to work closely and assist neighboring countries,

international agencies such as UNESCO, FAO and Rockefeller Foundation, have relied on

BIOTEC’s expertise to cater the training for the

region making BIOTEC a “Regional Training Center in Biotechnology”.

Mr. Ouk Puthea, Cambodia (2007)

SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM

Mr. Nguon Samnang, Cambodia

(2007), received a scholarship from

European Commission (EC) through

Erasmus Mundus Partnerships

Action 2 Programme (EURASIA 2

Project) to study Ph.D. in Czech

Republic

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Ms. Thi Thi Aung, Myanmar

(2004), received a scholarship

from Australian Centre for

International Agricultural

Research (ACIAR) to study

Ph.D. at Suranaree University of

Technology in Thailand.

The National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) was selected as the base for a

project on “Strengthening Capacity and Regional Cooperation in Advanced Agricultural Science and Technology in the Greater Mekong Subregion” which was funded by the Asian Development Bank

(ADB) from 2005-2007. In that project, BIOTEC labs and a specialized unit were commissioned to design and organize courses for advanced laboratory training in food and agricultural biotechnology.

The Molecular Rice Breeding Program for the Mekong Region was launched in 2004 with an aim to

promote the implementation of marker aided selection (MAS) into the current rice breeding program in the Mekong region, particularly Thailand, Laos,

Cambodia and Myanmar through a comprehensive

hands-on training program and sharing of genomic

information (genetic data for several traits and the

molecular markers for several genes) and research

facilities. The Program obtained financial support

from the Rockefeller Foundation (2004-2006) and

Generation Challenge Programme (2007-present).

In 2011, BIOTEC organized a Short-Course in Biotechnology and Application for 20 undergraduate

students from Korean Soonchunhyang University and a Training Course on Bioresources Utilization

Study of Marine Resources for researchers from the Institute of Marine Biotechnology, Universiti

Malaysia Terengganu.

Ms. Kongchay Phimmakong, Lao PDR (2003), received New Zealand scholarship to study master degree in New Zealand.

Ms. Watumesa Agustina Tan, Indonesia (2009), received a scholarship from Fulbright - Indonesian Presidential Scholarship to study Ph.D. at University of California, Davis in US.

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Year 2012

Name: Mr. Zay Yar Min

•Name of Organization: Department of Biotechnology, Mandalay Technological University, Ministry of Science and Technology

•Course Name: Screening for new sources of brown planthopper resistance in rice germplasm

•Research Lab: Rice Gene Discovery Unit

Name: Mr. Mohamad Rusdi Hidayat

•Name of Organization: Institute for Industrial Research and Standardization Pontianak, Ministry of Industry

•Course Name: Characterization of genes in the fungus Beauveria bassiana on their roles in insect pathogenesis

•Research Lab: Mycology Laboratory

Name: Mr. Nguyen Van Khoi

•Name of Organization: Plant Biotechnology Department, Field Crops Research Institute

•Course Name: Marker-assisted selection in rice breeding program

•Research Lab: Rice Gene Discovery Unit

Name: Ms. Moe Moe Myint

•Name of Organization: Department of Biotechnology, Mandalay Technological University, Ministry of Science and Technology

•Course Name: Physiological and anatomical responses to salinity in rice culture

•Research Lab: Plant Physiology and Biochemistry Laboratory

Name: Ms. Van Thi Tran

•Name of Organization: Research Institute of Biotechnology and Environment, Nong Lam University

•Course Name: Characterization of genes in the fungus Beauveria bassiana on their roles in insect pathogenesis

•Research Lab: Mycology Laboratory

Name: Mr. Long Ngoc Pham

•Name of Organization: Institute of Biotechnology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology

•Course Name: Crustacean histology and pathology

•Research Lab: Center of Excellence for Shrimp Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

Fundamental Course

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Year 2012

Name: Mr. Mitra Slipranata

•Name of Organization: Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicines, Gadjah Mada University

•Course Name: Ultrasensitive and simultaneous detection of DNA hybridization or protein based on nanoparticle-assisted signal amplification

•Research Lab: Biochemical Engineering and Pilot Plant Research and Development Unit

Name: Ms. Rhea Palma Castillo Alura

•Name of Organization: Eastern Samar State University, Maydolong Campus

•Course Name: Toxicity improvement of a mosquito-larvicidal toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis

•Research Lab: Microbial Engineering Laboratory

Name: Ms. Deomila Auguis Basnig

•Name of Organization: Caraga State University

•Course Name: Ultrasensitive and simultaneous detection of DNA hybridization or protein based on nanoparticle-assisted signal amplification

•Research Lab: Biochemical Engineering and Pilot Plant Research and Development Unit

Name: Dr. Khin Cho Thet

•Name of Organization: Department of Biotechnology, Technological University (Kyaukse), Ministry of Science and Technology

•Course Name: Effects of organic fertilizers on rice growth

•Research Lab: Plant Molecular Genetics Laboratory

Name: Dr. Aung Kyaw San Hlaing

•Name of Organization: Department of Biotechnology, Technological University (Kyaukse), Ministry of Science and Technology

•Course Name: Identification and validation of drug target in Plasmodium parasites

•Research Lab: Protein-Ligand Engineering and Molecular Biology Laboratory

Advance Course

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No. Trainees Year Status

1. Ms. Daw Nyein

Htay, Myanmar

2001 Ph.D. Program at Yangon Technological University in

Myanmar

2. Mr. Boualy

Vongvisith, Laos

2002 Master Degree Program at Asian Institute of Technology in

Thailand under a scholarship from Swedish International

Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)

3. Mr. Kosonh

Xayphakatsa, Laos

2002 Ph.D. Program in Japan

4. Ms. Thuy Thanh

Tran, Vietnam

2003 Received BIOTEC research funding on Screening for unusual

fatty acid from marine yeast at BIOTEC, Thailand

5.

Mr. Souliya

Souvandouane,

Laos

2003 Received a grant for a training program under UNESCO

International Post Graduate Course in Biotechnology by the Japanese Government in 2004-2005

Master Degree Program in Korea under International AID

and Development Agency Scholarship

6.

Ms. Kongchay

Phimmakong, Laos

2003 Received grant for a training program under UNESCO International Post Graduate Course in Biotechnology by

the Japanese Government in 2004-2005 Master Degree Program in New Zealand under scholarship

from New Zealand Government

7. Mr. Chanhom

Loinheuang, Laos

2003 Master Degree Program in Germany

8. Mr. Tuan Minh

Nguyen, Vietnam

2003 Master Degree Program in USA

9.

Ms. Thi Thi Aung,

Myanmar

2004 Ph.D. Program at Suranaree University of Technology in

Thailand under a scholarship from Australian Centre for

International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)

10. Mr. Vanhxay

Phiomanyvone,

Laos

2004 Master Degree Program at Asian Institute of Technology in

Thailand under a scholarship from Swedish International

Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)

11. Mr. Vu Dang

Khanh, Vietnam

2004 Ph.D. Program in Canada under a Canadian INRS Fellowship

12. Ms. Nouansy

Thiphaxay, Laos

2004 Master Degree Program at Asian Institute of Technology in

Thailand

Appendix 2: Success of Alumni

Alumni obtaining scholarships to further their education

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No. Trainees Year Status

13. Ms. Aye Aye Khai,

Myanmar

2004 Ph.D. Program at Yangon Technological University under a scholarship from Department of Biotechnology, Ministry

of Science and Technology, Myanmar

Received a Post Doctoral Fellowship from the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS/CSIR) to

conduct research on Isolation and characterization of some beneficial bacteria from medicinal and aromatic

plants by using molecular tools at Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAPs), India

14. Ms. May Sandar

Kyaing, Myanmar

2005 Ph.D. Program at Graduate School of Chinese Academy of

Agricultural Science (GSCAAS), Biotechnology Research

Institute in China under a scholarship from Third World

Organization for Women in Science (TWOWS) and

Biotechnology Research Institute (BRI), Chinese Academy of

Agricultural Science (CAAS)

15. Ms. Thazin Nwe

Aung, Myanmar

2005 Ph.D. Program in Myanmar under a governmental scholarship

from Ministry of Science and Technology, Myanmar

16. Mr. Duy Nguyen

Long, Vietnam

2005 Master Degree Program at Hallym University in Korea under a

scholarship from Ilsong Institute of Life Science – Hallym

University

17. Mr. Le Tan Hung,

Vietnam

2005 Master Degree Program at Kasetsart University in Thailand

under a scholarship from BIOTEC and Institute of Tropical

Biology (ITB), Vietnam

18. Mr. Nguyen Hoang

Nam Kha, Vietnam

2005 Ph.D. Program at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology

University (RMIT) in Australia under a scholarship from

Vietnam Ministry of Education and Training and RMIT,

Australia

19. Mr. Ritesh Raju,

Fiji

2005 Ph.D. Program at the University of Queensland in Australia

under a scholarship from the Australian Postgraduate Awards

(APA)

20. Mr. Duy Nguyen,

Vietnam

2006 Master Degree Program at Wageningen University in the

Netherlands under Anne Van Den Ban Scholarship Fund

21. Mr. Duong Hoang

Nguyen, Vietnam

2006 Ph.D. Program at the University of Würzburg in Germany

22. Mr. Pao Srean,

Cambodia

2006 Ph.D. Program at the University of Girona, Spain

23. Ms. Dung Thi Thu

Do, Vietnam

2007 Ph.D. Program at the University of Adelaide in Australia

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No. Trainees Year Status

24. Mr. Nguon

Samnang,

Cambodia

2007 Ph.D. Program at Institute of Tropics and Subtropics (ITS),

Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague (CULS), Czech

Republic under a scholarship from Erasmus Mundus

Partnerships Action 2 Program (EURASIA 2 Project) of the

European Commission

25. Ms. Swe Zin Yu,

Myanmar

2007 Ph.D. Program at Mandalay Technological University in

Myanmar under a governmental scholarship from Ministry of

Science and Technology, Myanmar

26. Ms. Tserennyam

Lundaa, Mongolia

2007 Ph.D. Program at BOKU University in Austria under a

scholarship from Erasmus Mundus External Cooperation

Window of European Commission

27. Ms. Bolortuya

Ulziibat, Mongolia

2007 Ph.D. Program at Tohoku University in Japan

28.

Ms. Ly Thi Phuong

Loan, Vietnam

2008 Master Degree Program at Wageningen University in the

Netherland under the Netherlands Fellowship Programmes

(NFP) from the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs

29. Mr. Myo Myint

Han, Myanmar

2008 Ph.D. Program in Myanmar

30. Ms. Watumesa

Agustina Tan,

Indonesia

2009 Ph.D. Program at the University of California, Davis in USA

under Fulbright - Indonesian Presidential Scholarship

31. Mr. Ernest

Suryadjaja,

Indonesia

2009 Ph.D. Program at James Cook University in Australia under

Australia Development Scholarship (ADS) from the Australian

Agency for International Development (AusAID)

32. Ms. Le Hong Thuy

Tien, Vietnam

2009 Master Degree Program at the Graduate School of Agricultural

Science, Kobe University in Japan under a governmental

scholarship from Ministry of Agriculture and Rural

Development, Vietnam

33. Ms. Phatsalakone

Manyvong, Laos

2009 Master Degree Program at Faculty of Agricultural Science,

Kasetsart University in Thailand under a scholarship from

BIOTEC and Generation Challenge Programme (GCP)

34. Ms. Soe Myat

Thandar,

Myanmar

2010 Ph.D. Program at Mandalay Technological University in

Myanmar under a governmental scholarship from Ministry of

Science and Technology, Myanmar

35. Mr. Pet Roey

Lasquites Pascual,

2010 Ph.D. Program in Crop Science at Cebu Technological

University (CTU) in the Philippines

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No. Trainees Year Status

Phillippines

36. Mr. Ida Bagus

Made Artadana,

Indonesia

2010 Master Degree Program in Biotechnology at Mahidol

University under financial support from Surabaya University,

Indonesia

37. Mr. Rey Yonson

Capangpangan,

Indonesia

2010 Ph.D. Program in Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan

38. Mrs. Orlavanh

Xayyavong, Laos

PDR

2010 Master Degree Program at National University of Laos, Faculty

of Science, Department of Biology

39. Mr. Nguyen Vu

Linh, Vietnam

2011 Master Degree Program at Gachon University under a

scholarship from Gachon University at Korea

Joint publications between BIOTEC researchers and alumni

Ms. Hien Thi Thanh Nguyen,

Vietnam (2005)

Mr. Pao Srean,

Cambodia (2006)

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Mr. Souvanh Tadavong, Laos PDR (2007)

Mr. Ouk Puthea,

Cambodia (2007)

Ms. Bolortuya Ulziibat,

Mongolia, (2007)

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Poster Presentation in the International Conference

Mr. Charlie Bumanglag Batin (Philippines, 2009) presented the poster which conducted at BIOTEC

entitled “Effect of Sodium Chloride on Proline Accumulation, Photosynthetic Abilities and Growth

Characteristics of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and Jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis)” at the First

National Graduate Research Summit held at Manila, the Philippines in 2011. The poster was selected

as one of the best posters of the conference.

Ms. Tserennyam Lundaa,

Mongolia, (2007)

The First National Graduate Research Summit, Manila, the Philippines on 10-11 December 2011

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Appendix 3: Testimonials from Alumni

Ms. Maria Elam Daquipil Quiao, The Philippines

“This program is excellent because it provides the opportunity to the researchers from agencies and institutes all over Southeast Asia to train various skills in the field of biotechnology. Personally, the knowledge and skills that I gained are valuable as a biotechnology lecturer and researcher. It provided me the confidence to do a prospective research that would be relevant to my home region. It also encouraged me to pursue advanced study in the field of my training project.

Mr. Kong Sothea, Cambodia

“I think this program is really important to provide good and suitable skill and build their capacity in order to get higher knowledge for trainees. For example, in the past, I learned only method in theory but got a few experience for hand-on practice. When I joined this program, I got a lot of things, especially new knowledge to update my skill.”

Ms. Watumesa A. Tan, Indonesia

“This program has been a wonderful and beneficial experience for me. Thank you for accepting my application.”

Mr. Nguyen Van Hien, Vietnam

“ASEAN Foundation is a good organization. They had chosen a good place for training course. They have created a good relationship among ASEAN countries”

Ms. Kavita Ragini, Fiji Island “I have been very lucky and consider myself blessed to be trained in a lab like BIOTEC, which is well established and has all the facilities and equipments required to conduct research and training. Given an opportunity i would be very much interested to work here again. Apart from the research side of things the people are very kind and hospitality as well. I humbly thank BIOTEC HRD program, my supervsiors and everyone involved in the management and administration for great opportunity.”

Mr. Myo Myint Han, Myanmar “From this training, I can get valuable laboratory experiences, and I can see and use modern laboratory facilities of BIOTEC. Moreover I had a chance to do so many laboratory experiments that I have never tried before in my country. I believe that this training program is essential for the students of developing countries.”

Mr. Nguon Samnang, Cambodia “I do have acquired and improved my lab knowledge, experience and lesson-learn from such a reasonable methods and believe many of these lesson-learn will guide and help me in many ways along with my colleagues working on hazard analyses and risk assessments”

Mr. Nguyen Tai Toan, Vietnam “This training course was very excellent. My supervisor gave me a lot of valuable knowledge on insect pathogenic fungi. I learnt now technique here and this is very useful for me when I go back to my home country to continue my research”

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Nam Kha, Vietnam “In the future, I’m happy if we keep contact and collaborate in other projects. Thank you all that you’ve done for us”

Ms. Phanny So Ly, Cambodia “For this year, I am very happy that I have chance to be trained in BIOTEC. It is very good and improve my knowledge which will apply to my job when I back to my home country”

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Appendix 3: Testimonials from Alumni

Viliamu Iese, Samoa

I am attending a three months training in Thailand sponsored by the UNESCO and National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC) Thailand. I am based in the Plant Physiology and Biochemistry Laboratory in the BIOTEC, Thailand Science Park, Pathum Thani, Thailand. This is the first time Pacific Islanders join this research-training program in BIOTEC. I am screening the rice population here in Thailand for salt tolerant genes. The population includes parents, salt tolerant rice var. Hom Chan (HJ) and the high yield salt sensitive Pathum Thani rice (PT1), the selected F2 salt tolerant and salt sensitive rice offspring. Overall there will be 90 plants. There will be 52 SSR primers (from 12 chromosomes) to screen rice population for the Quantitative trait loci (QTL) for salt tolerance. The outcome of this research will provide baseline information to map the salt tolerant QTL in Thai rice and also useful to select parents for next cycle of breeding. For the long run, this will produce new salt tolerant high yield rice varieties that can grow in saline areas.

This training will be very useful for me personally and also for the Pacific Islands. The technique I am learning here especially the using of molecular markers to identify parents for breeding programs will be very useful. Currently, there are many breeding programs in the Pacific Islands like the taro breeding program in Samoa, the main selection method used in these breeding are morphologically based, which takes a lot of time, costly, and very vulnerable to disasters and other lethal factors. Selection using molecular markers will solve those problems.

Not only that, this technique is the baseline step to locate useful genes in plants, for example, genes that are responsible for salt tolerance. There are many crop problems in the Pacific Islands. For example, the taro leaf blight in Samoa and other PICs, the new rice blast outbreak in Fiji, and most interestingly the vulnerable of food plants in Atoll Islands to salt spray and sea level rise. Employing this technique to help eradicate or reduce the effects of diseases, pests and natural hazards on crops will be a major step forward for Pacific Island people. Many of the genetic researches using PIC resources are carried out by non-Pacific Island people, which cost a lot of money, but as a Pacific Islander, it will be very easy to access and use the resources.

We also have field trips to observe how the Agricultural industries here in Thailand operate, for example, the CP factory. It was very interesting to observe how they operate and carry out researches using ornamentals and other essential plants that can be used in the Pacific Islands. Since this is one of the leading nations in the world with Agricultural products it is a blessing to be here to witness and learn from them.

As a young Researcher, I am learning very important practical skills here in BIOTEC, it also helps me to interact with other researchers, and develop the confidence to work with experts in the field. I am also a member of the Pacific Plant Genetic Resource Network (PAPGREN) and we always share new learning experiences through emails and meetings, this ensures that the knowledge I am learning here will be shared to my other Pacific Island colleagues.

Lastly but not the least, this opportunity also gives me the chance to share the Pacific Culture to Thailand and other Asians here in BIOTEC, they never heard of Samoa and other PIC. At the same time, learning some new products and recipes using bananas and taro that can be used in the Pacific Islands as an alternative product. I am proud to be a researcher in BIOTEC, and also an ambassador for Samoa, Fiji and the rest of the Pacific Islands and the University of the South Pacific. I hope this collaboration continues.