Central Mindanao University Academic Paradise of the South
Former dean of the College of Human Ecology and a faculty of the Department of Food Science at Central Mindanao University (CMU), recently concluded her scholarly engagement as a Visiting Associate Professor at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, USA.
Dr. Mylene Anwar, who holds a doctoral degree in Food Science from the University of Otago, New Zealand, with a research focus on functional foods for gastrointestinal health, was one of four Filipinos and among twenty ASEAN researchers selected for the prestigious Fulbright U.S.-ASEAN Visiting Scholar program. This program, funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, facilitates advanced research studies and academic exchanges between ASEAN scholars and leading U.S. researchers.
During her time at Cornell University, Dr. Anwar joined the Tako Research Group under Dr. Elad Tako in the Department of Food Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Her research focused on the bioavailability and interaction of micronutrients and bioactive compounds, including prebiotics, in various food model systems and their impact on gastrointestinal health. This work involved both animal trials and clinical validation studies aimed at preventing and managing micronutrient deficiencies and chronic gastrointestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer.
In addition to her research, Dr. Anwar mentored graduate students within the Tako Research Group and explored Cornell University’s best practices in curriculum and instruction. Her engagement marks the first international collaboration between CMU’s Department of Food Science and a U.S.-based higher education institution.
Dr. Anwar expressed her intention to continue collaborations with Cornell University and other academic and research institutions both locally and internationally. She aims to enhance CMU’s internationalization efforts and create new opportunities for faculty and students in the College of Human Ecology, particularly within the Departments of Food Science and Nutrition and Dietetics. Such collaborations are expected to boost research activities and secure international funding in the fields of Food Science and Technology and Nutrition.
Her engagement as a visiting associate professor at Cornell University spanned from February 1 to May 31, 2024. [Iyren D. Neri with information from Dr. Mylene Anwar, faculty member, Department of Food Science-College of Human Ecology]
