The UP Diliman (UPD) Research, Extension, and Professional Staff (REPS) Welfare Council and the UPD Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Development (OVCRD) conducted the Scientific Career System (SCS) Orientation for UPD REPS, with the theme Usaping Galing at Talino, UP Diliman REPS Hindi Patatalo.

The event, with close to 60 attendees, aimed to familiarize REPS with the SCS.

The SCS is a merit system program of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Department of Science and Technology-National Academy of Science and Technology (DOST-NAST).

Pierangeli G. Vital, PhD discussed the guidelines, application requirement, and the legal basis for the creation of the SCS.

Vital said “[The] SCS is a system of recruitment, career progression, and recognition that rewards scientist rank in the government service as a means of developing a pool of highly qualified and productive scientific personnel and scientists approved and conferred by [the] CSC and DOST-NAST.”

Vital is head of the Biological Research and Service Laboratory of the UPD Natural Sciences Research Institute (NSRI) and a career scientist under the SCS.

Vital added that the SCS “applies to all scientific personnel with a master’s degree and/or PhD and is actively engaged in research and development activities for at least 10 years preceding the date of application in the following fields: natural science, engineering and technology, health and medical science, agricultural science, and social science.”

Meanwhile, Dulce Amor B. Verdolaga, talked about the steps that SCS applications go through in UPD and the key offices involved in the evaluation and endorsement of the application. Verdolaga is a university researcher at the OVCRD.

Meanwhile, Jazelyn M. Salvador, a university researcher of the DNA Analysis Laboratory and recently conferred career scientist from the NSRI, shared her experiences in preparing the documents needed for the application to the SCS.

Salvador said it is important that pertinent documents must be prepared in advance. She also urged the attendees to develop a comprehensive portfolio for a successful application to the SCS or any recognition or award they wish to achieve.

“Even if we are just starting our career as a researcher/scientist, we should start building our portfolio and update it regularly,” said Salvador. The event was held on April 5 at the NSRI Conference Room.