I still have both sets of textbooks on the bookshelf in my home office. Dr. Raul Fabella: A tenacious economist, policy advocate, and National Environmental scientist. This proved to be annoying, standing over a hot plate holding each tube for like 10 minutes, four times, she said, but it worked. When I was about five years old, my father showed me the fossil of an extinct animal called a trilobite: ancient organisms that lived within even older oceans. What made you pursue a career in science? The first step in finding your career purpose is pursuing a job you really care about instead of just finding a way to make an income. As you read this, scientists the world over are rushing to find out more about the COVID-19 Omicron variant. Her undergraduate thesis explored trypsin inhibitors, a protein that controls enzymes involved in digestion. Dr. Lourdes J. Cruz: The Pinay biochemist who studied a deadly snail Here are the eight Filipino scientists on the 2021 Asian Scientist 100 list, in alphabetical order: Gatchalian, who was an assistant director at the RITM and president of the Philippine Pediatric Society, succumbed to COVID-19 in March 2020. I knew from then on that I would be a scientist. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. Over the course of the school year I could see that she was gaining a lot more confidence both in her own scientific intuition but also in the troubleshooting abilities that she had, Stanford chemistry graduate studentKatie Liusaid of Rivera, who joined FAST at the same time Liu became a mentor. Cauayan is known for its sandy beaches and pristine waters. Dr. Cruzs research brought her much acclaim and recognition. However, due to the financial circumstances Alcala did not accept the offer. Employers may respond positively to candidates who feel confident about their ability to succeed. Through 2018, all graduating seniors who participated in FAST went to college, and those graduating this year plan to as well. Juan Salcedo Jr. is a Filipino scientist who studied and wrote about nutrition and public health. As one scientist put it: I love puzzles and to me, science is the ultimate puzzle., 1615 L St. NW, Suite 800Washington, DC 20036USA As kids, these scientists were inquisitive and curious explorers of the world around them, and these inquisitiveness and curiosity prepared them for their career in science.