r/scientistsPH

I posted here months ago about sa hindi pagpapasahod sa aming mga COS workers. Nagkaron ng ilang meetings noon para i-raise ang issues at sabihin na hindi makatarungan na hindi kami pasahurin dahil lang naka-wfh ang mga pipirma o hindi nila nagawa ang mga kontrata namin.

Pero p*t* inulit na naman nila, hindi na naman kami pinasahod. Ang mas malala, mas matagal kami walang sahod, tatlong linggo. Hindi delayed, as in zero, wala kaming sinahod. I cancelled my checkup para makabayad ng renta. Nagbawas ako ng pagkain para makabayad ng bills.

That’s my last straw. Nag-apply na ako last month sa mga private companies. After a series of interviews and exams, maha-hire na ako. May benefits – HMO with two dependents, 13th month pay, sick and vacation leaves. At ang masaya, 40% more ng current kong sahod at WFH pa.

Pero sa isang banda, malungkot akong iwan ang project ko. Masaya ako dito eh, mapapakinabangan yung project namin. Masaya ako sa research, masaya ako sa science work. Kaso hindi naman ako mapapakain ng saya. Hindi rin pwede ibayad sa renta. At higit sa lahat, nakakabastos sa sarili ang mag-stay sa isang agency na ang baba ng tingin sa COS, na parang hindi namin deserve ng respeto. Laging ang bagal gumalaw pag sahod naming COS ang nakasalalay. Nakakahiya naman sa kanila kahit kami ang gumagawa ng halos lahat ng outputs ng agency.

Bukod sa systemic na ang problema, problema rin mismo ang mga nakaupo sa admin. Kaya walang matinong science progress dito sa Pilipinas dahil sa inyong mga tamad na power tripper sa gobyerno! Igalang nyo naman mga COS science workers nyo!

Ito na ang huli kong science work na gagawin para gobyerno. Science for the people at the expense of COS’ basic living needs.

Goodbye, science work.

So I applied to PGC Min's call for interns a few weeks ago and I got so excited at the prospect of MAYBE getting accepted that I got it in my head that I WILL get accepted. The rejection email blindsided me ngl and I had to laugh because, of course, it's a prestigious program, what did I expect?

Anywho, I'm also waiting on PGC Diliman's email for this year's BTIP. I'm not gonna get my hopes up lol. Still, I recognize that you lose all the shots you don't take, and it's still good that i applied.

Any other programs y'all suggest I can get into? Would highly appreciate it!

I have been an RA for almost a decade.

Started with a low pay (relatively to what newbies get now) and switched institutes.

Yes, being an RA build your skills - in lab, procurement, project management, connections, written and verbal communications, other soft skills. Yes, it trains you to be a researcher locally because you understand how the system tinkers and how certain things matter more like connections, politics, and goal alignments.

But it easily dampens and ages you. Procurement takes ages. I mean I cant imagine how others have it worse as Im already in a place where procurement is “optimal” with MIS available online, and a procurement entity that is efficient and organized, and very active. Malinis din dito, walang lagay o pampadulas, or at least thats what I know.

Funny how the procurement law was created to optimize the gains of the government but truth be told that reagents and various equipment are 100-300% more in cost than abroad since suppliers need to inflate prices for customs, handling, and very delayed government payment. Consequently, experiments get delayed because you are waiting for things to arrive or cannot continue your experiments because the consumables cannot cover for your needed replicates.

Another confounding variable to science woes is funding. We get lots of funding but hell they are delayed. You spend well, manage well, pass your deliverables on time but your funding agency doesnt give a damn how late fund transfers affects experiments. Most importantly, how it affects salaries of people. People who are overworked but paid delayed and worse, not paid at all. No benefits. Oh yes, you get premiums but that doesnt count as benefit. Your work doesnt even count as government service despite working for the government- multiple government institutions at that.

And funding continuity? Got a great program now? Your next phase starts a year or two after the previous phase ends, if youre lucky. Sometimes its 3 years or never. Need funding? You apply 2 years in advance - conceptualize, build your LIB - sometimes you get shortlisted only, sometimes you dont, sometimes you get to the council-level but dont get approved. Lots of time and effort down the drain. In the spirit of continuity for people and experiments, you have no choice but to do these.

And after all those travails, you hear stories that there is a random university with 9-digit funding! No expertise, no proper project management, no anything, just pure political capital. Yes, we need to develop the regions but we are literally wasting money if equipment lots are unused, underutilized. Heck, even attached institutions suddenly have 9 to 10 digits of random allocation and to be spent in a small time period - buying spree of equipment, reagents, consumables, only to be left to collect dust once delivered. Yet a lot of worthy researchers are left to manage meager amounts of money just because they aren’t politically connected?

I am also already bogged down by the culture of “scientific communication”. A lot of times, feature articles are so self-centered. There’s this student. There is this researcher. This university did that. It becomes showbiz and we rarely get to know the nitty gritty of the science. Yes, scientist visibility is important but it shouldnt come first over your science. I hate clout chasing.

And due to this clout chasing atmosphere, students are left to idealize a life accepted in prestigious schools, doing various internships, startups, for the sake of clout. But when you see their writting or hear them talk about their science, you would ask - is this really the quality we are producing?

I iust want to do research. Answer questions out of curiosity. Be the first to know the answer to something. Plain, naive curiosity. And at the same time, pay the bills on time, have a healthy life, be happy in a nice environment.

Will we ever have a permissive research environment locally?

I am tired. In fact, I have tried ******* myself multiple times. The ideations are back. Sadly, it feels like science is the only thing that I know how to do and enjoy to do (despite these things).

So you can bash me all you want with your counter arguments but I am just writing here to vent. This is my reality.

Happy mothers’ day everyone.

I’m sorry for being anxious this early as im just an incoming freshman pa lang. I am contemplating about which program should I choose since I got accepted in this univ with BS Chem while also waitlisted in the same univ with BS Bio (prio course btw). I just wanna know what are the job oppurtunities ng dalawa here sa Philippines? Ano rin po yung easy path to go abroad too hahaha

PS: would prefer a job with the highest income hahaha

I would want somebody to clarify if I have misunderstood something. Dito lang ako nakakapagtanong kasi hindi pamilyar 'yung mga kakilala ko sa ganitong usapan.

Gusto ko maging Medical Scientist. Gusto ko mag-research about sa mga sakit and sa mga possible alternative solutions. Nakaka-curious po kasi yung mga proseso and I really want to discover something in this world. Napakalaki ng mundo po diba? I would like to meet different people. I love helping people and I hate it kapag may mga nakikita akong bata at matatanda na nagkakaroon ng cancer or nagsusuffer.

Mataas ang pangarap ko pero parang ang hirap niyang abutin sa bansang tinitirahan ko.

I am not yet sure sa tatahakin kong landas because I am afraid na mawawala 'yung spark ko since incoming college pa lang po ako.

If mayroon po sainyo na nagwowork related sa tinutukoy ko or if meron po kayong knowledge about this, please enlighten me po. Paano makarating sa ganoong trabaho?

will graduate soon and had an offer to work in a university for SG12. work is in materials science and characterization mostly. it's COS. is it worth it? would it be possible to be granted temporary plantilla in the long run? especially after passing the board exam?

Good day po everyone!

I would like to inquire po to our senior professionals where to get silver nitrate. Nag-inquire na po kasi kami sa ibang companies and yung cost po is about 20k per 25g of AgNO3. Around 1.00g lang din po kasi yung gagamitin namin and hindi lang din po yung chemical na plano namin bilhin.

Thank you po!

Hi mga katusok!

May case lang sana akong gustong i-discuss:

Initial test (using RightSign kit):

• Dengue IgM: Positive
• Dengue IgG: Negative
• NS1 Antigen: Negative

Since kine-question yung result, nag-send out ng serum sample. Pero pagbalik ng results, negative lahat (NS1, IgM, IgG)

Any insights kung ano possible reason behind this discrepancy? Expiry naman ng kit is 2027 so okay pa. Possible kaya false positive IgM? Or may pre-analytical/analytical factors?

Thank you!

Hello po, I recently passed MTLE this march 2026 lang. I want to be a microbiologist po. I know na I can search this easily on the net, but I'd rather have someone who experienced it than to rely on net. May I ask po paano po ang ginawa nyo and any advice po na maibibigay ninyo. Tyia po!

Hi everybody! I am a graduating microbiology major and I would like to ask, based on your experience, what are the advantages and disadvantages in choosing these review centers. Badly need advice cuz I want to take the exam next year and I want to be as ready as possible. Thank you!

Hello po! Saan po kaya mayroong nagreresearch ng bioluminescent microorganisms? I want to do research on that.

Or please educate me. Tayo po ba ang mag-aapply sa mga lab na aligns with our research interests, or no choice kung saan man maassign?

Currently taking master's. I have no idea ano pinasok kong field, hoping for your kind guidance. Salamat po!

hi guys, I’m 24M and a registered chemist. I am currently working in quality assurance and I don’t like how it feels like a labor job. I want to bee in research. I don’t have any good experience about it, my thesis was a failure, I’m not confident about it, and I’m not sure I’m smart enough for it. Nonetheless, I want to be good at it and I feel like it will be a job I will be interested enough to put effort for it. Can you recommend research-related job opportunities?

Hello! The institution I'm working with are currently running my samples through FTIR, but they can not do the identification for me. I'm running out of time and would rather have someone identify the composition for me. With that said, can anyone with FTIR experience id the compounds from the graph? Ideally someone who has experience with FTIR compound identification.

I am willing to pay, if that helps

Good day! Upcoming freshman po ako and I am planning to pursue BS Environmental Biology, as I was waitlisted in the program. However, nagddoubt yung parents ko whether I should pursue it or not since they believe baka mahirapan daw po ako makapaghanap ng trabaho in the future with the degree. I would love to pursue this program because it's my dream to work in the science field, however practicality comes in talaga.

So, I would like to ask whether they accept it as a pre-med course?

and other than that, ano po usually binibigay na opportunity po lalo na here sa Philippines?

I appreciate every help and advice thank you po...

I'm curious about humans regenerating and I wanna make a medicine that prevent scaring and faster healing:3 I'm studying biology and botany also microbiology and chemistry. I need some advice where to start and some tips how to study and experiment them.

For context, I’m a senior high school graduate from a province, and I passed the following programs:

AdMU: BS Chemistry
DLSU: BS Biochemistry
UP Manila: BS Biochemistry
UST BS Biochemistry (planning to submit recon for BS Pharmacy)

I’m currently deciding between Biochemistry and Pharmacy. I’m interested in research and potentially pursuing a PhD, but I’m also considering a more structured healthcare path with clearer job opportunities in the Philippines.

At first, I was certain that I would pursue BS Biochem in college because I had done well in biology and chemistry in high school, and I’m interested in research. I have first-hand experience in life science research in JHS, including microbiology and computational biology, although I am not proficient in highly technical methodologies. I’m drawn to the idea of working in a lab, publishing research papers, presenting them at conferences, and contributing to research; hence, I want to pursue a PhD in bioinformatics to advance my research career. But I’m not yet sure what the day-to-day reality is like. I’ve also considered medicine for its demand and long-term stability. Along with that, I find fulfillment doing volunteer work through community service in our local organization. However, I’m still unsure whether I see myself in a patient-facing role.

I’m also considering Pharmacy as a practical option with a clear career path in the Philippines. While most pharmacists work in clinical or community settings, I'm also exploring research-related roles in the pharmaceutical or clinical field in the long term. However, I’m not sure how realistic it is to pursue research (e.g., pharmaceutical) from a Pharmacy background, so I’d appreciate insights on this.

To be fair, I think it’s too early to conclude that my vision is fixed on a research career, because a lot can change over four years in college. I’ve come across posts saying that research careers in the Philippines can be underfunded or limited, and I’m not sure how accurate or universal that is. Another thing is that I’m unsure about the available opportunities for bioinformaticians locally compared to abroad.

For students and graduates in biochemistry and pharmacy, I want to ask for your insights on my questions:

• What do most graduates from your program end up doing (with and without grad school), and do you feel the degree is practical in the PH job market?
• How well does your program prepare students for med or PhD, and how easy is it to pivot between paths?
• What GWA or achievements are usually needed to achieve a stable career in Med or PhD?
• What was the most difficult or lowest point in your program, and did it ever make you consider shifting?
• For Pharmacy graduates, how flexible is the degree if you later decide to pursue research or graduate studies?
• What are the less talked-about downsides of working as a pharmacist in the Philippines?
• How repetitive or varied is the day-to-day work in Pharmacy?

For the ones who are serious about their research career, I also have the following questions:

• How early do students get involved in actual research, and how do they usually get started?
• What does a typical day in research look like, and how does its stress compare to regular coursework?
• Do undergraduates get meaningful roles in research (e.g., publishing or assisting in studies), or mostly assist with routine work?
• What happens to students who realize they don’t want to do research anymore?
• If you don’t pursue a PhD or a med degree, what realistic jobs are available in the Philippines?
• What skills do you wish you had before starting research?

I know plans can change during college, so I really want to understand what each path looks like in reality, not just in theory.

TL;DR: I’m a SHS graduate choosing between Biochemistry (UP Manila / DLSU / UST) and possibly Pharmacy (UST recon). I’m interested in research and pursuing a PhD (bioinformatics), but I’m unsure about the practicality of a research career in the Philippines vs the stability of Pharmacy.

I’m looking for honest insights on:

• Career outcomes (local + abroad)
• Research opportunities and difficulty
• Flexibility if I change paths (med ↔ research ↔ industry)
• Whether Biochem is worth it without going abroad

pls help me and suggest laboratory suppliers and equipment!! it would be better if may FB page so I can message it. kapag kasi nag order online I’m not sure if its legit and baka pumalpak pa research namin😅 thanksss