Dr. Julius Andrew P. Nunez of the ChemBiochem Unit of the Department of Physical Sciences and Mathematics, received the France Excellence Séjours Scientifiques de Haut Niveau (SSHN) fellowship grant to perform his research at the Institut de Sciences des Matériaux de Mulhouse (IS2M) Université de Haute Alsace (UHA), Mulhouse, France. Dr. Nunez was in France as a visiting professor/researcher on November 9-29, 2025. During his three-week stay at IS2M-UHA, he performed different materials characterization analyses and cytotoxicity tests for his research team’s alginate-chitosan microsphere drug delivery system, with his laboratory host, Dr. Arnaud Ponche. Aside from doing experiments, he also gave a lecture to IS2M students and post-doctoral researchers on the different research projects being conducted by the Laboratory of Materials (LABMAT)-UP Manila.
This research mobility program was funded by the Embassy of France to the Philippines and Micronesia. Addressing academic and research staff wishing to perform research in universities or research institutions in France, the SSHN selected 12 faculty members this year from different Philippine higher education institutions, which aimed to strengthen international linkages between the two countries. The SSHN program provided roundtrip airfare, health insurance, free visa, stipends, and accommodation.
–JAP Nuñez