Jovale Vincent Tongco

Featured on September 17, 2023

Next on our September Pinoy Scientists lineup is a PhD student and graduate research assistant from the University of Idaho, US! Jovale Vincent Tongco is a chemist who specializes in wood chemistry and forest biomaterials.

Jovale first graduated from the University of the Philippines Los Baños with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. He remained there as a research assistant before eventually moving to BambooPhil as a researcher. He returned to take up his Master’s degree in Forestry – Wood Science and Technology through a sandwich program with Jeonbuk National University in Korea. He used his expertise in chemistry to study wood and forest biomaterials, splitting his time between the two countries.

After receiving his second degree, he worked as a researcher in both the Philippines and Korea, spending six years in the latter working on a variety of projects exploring the processing and potential uses of lignocellulosic biomass. In his final year there, he joined the Department of Organic Materials and Fiber Engineering at Jeonbuk National University to develop a sponge from the material for use in oil absorption.

This year, he began working as a graduate research assistant at the University of Idaho, US, where he is also taking up his PhD degree under the Department of Forest, Rangeland, and Fire Sciences True to his roots, his research focus remains on wood and biomaterial chemistry.

Some fun facts about Jovale:

1. He’s been an avid PC builder since 2008 and has since built at least 5, including the one he is using now. While he does play some PC games, he finds the building process itself more enjoyable.
2. He is into notaphily and has collected numerous banknotes from around the world either through his foreign friends or personal travels.
3. He enjoys going out fishing in the summer or skiing in the winter with his friends.
4. He enjoys K-pop, J-rock, and K-dramas, influenced by his stay in Korea and Japan.