School/Institution
| Undergrad | Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology Chemical Engineering |
|---|---|
| Masters | Universidad Federico Santa Maria Montanuniversität Leoben University of Zagreb University of Oulu Sustainable Mineral and Metal Processing Engineering |
Featured on September 14, 2025
Joining us this week is Cristal Balaga, who is recently graduated with an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master in Sustainable Mineral and Metal Processing Engineering (EMJM PROMISE) across Chile, Austria, and Finland.
Cristal graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology in 2017, where her thesis involved determining the optimum calcium chloride concentration and carbon and nitrogen sources for maximum cell and spore density of Bacillus subtilis. After graduating, she worked as a quality assurance officer, Scandium junior supervisor in various pharmaceutical and metals companies in the Philippines, as well as a project coordinator with the Department of Science and Technology.
In 2024, she embarked on the EMJM PROMISE programme, a consortium involving four leading European universities in mineral processing and mining engineering: University of Oulu from Finland (UOULU), University of Zagreb from Croatia (UNIZG), Montanuniversität Leoben from Austria (MUL) and Universidad Federico Santa Maria from Chile (USM). The consortium’s aim is to train world-class mineral processing postgraduates and future leaders who can take the sector into a sustainable future.
Some fun facts about Cristal:
- She once solo-traveled across South America, exploring Chile, Peru, Brazil, and Bolivia on her own, and chasing history, landscapes, and adventure. From the sands of Ipanema Beach in Brazil to the ancient wonder of Machu Picchu in Peru, she loved the freedom of discovering each place at her own pace.
- One of her quirkiest activities is visiting the birthplaces and tombs of great scientists, writers, and public figures. She has stood before the resting places of Marie Curie, Voltaire, Napoleon I , Fibonacci, Victor Hugo, and visited the birthplaces of Mozart and Marie Antoinette.
- Lately, she’s been exploring balance through the things she loves: teaching herself to cook and bake (with plenty of trial and error), cycling for fresh air and freedom, and weightlifting to stay strong. Recently, she has also added meditation and yoga into the mix!
