Yogyakarta, June 25, 2025 — The Biotechnology Study Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) held a general lecture titled “Structural Insights into the Catalytic Mechanism of PHA Synthase (PhaC) in Biodegradable Plastic Synthesis” at the 3rd Floor Lecture Room, PAU Building, UGM.

The lecture featured Dr. Min Fey CHEK from the Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST), Japan, who presented his latest research on the structure of PHA synthase (PhaC), a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of eco-friendly polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). read more

A student team from the Study Program of Master in Biotechnology at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), consisting of Farras Alifia Rahman and Anwar Rovik, achieved an outstanding accomplishment by securing second place at the Genomics and Science Dojo 2.0 Cycle 3. This prestigious scientific research competition was held from May 19–22, 2025, at Novotel, Cikini, Jakarta.

Genomics and Science Dojo 2.0 Cycle 3 is an intensive training and competition program aimed at enhancing genomic research capabilities in Indonesia. Inspired by the “dojo” concept from martial arts, the event encourages participants to not only deepen their theoretical understanding but also to sharpen their skills in debate, presentation, and scientific argumentation. read more

Yogyakarta – Three students from the Master’s Program in Biotechnology at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) recently completed a prestigious research internship program at the Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST) in Japan. They are Anwar Rovik and Dhea Kirana Faiha, students of the 2023 Biotechnology Master’s cohort, and Sarwan Adi Kusumo, an alumnus from the 2022 Biotechnology Master’s cohort.

This 3-week program provided a golden opportunity for the students to directly engage in cutting-edge research at leading laboratories within the Division of Biological Science at NAIST. The three were placed in different laboratories: Microbial Interaction, Stem Cell, and Plant Immunity, according to their interests and research fields. read more

Yogyakarta, November 20, 2024 – Pipin Agnesia, a student of the Study Program of Master in Biotechnology at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), has won the Best Presenter award at the international conference titled Nature’s Blueprint: A Journey toward Sustainable Development through the BCG Economy Model. This prestigious event, held from November 14-16, 2024, at the Krungsri River Hotel in Ayutthaya, Thailand, was organized by King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang in collaboration with the Asian Federation of Biotechnology (AFOB) 2024. It featured leading researchers and academics in the field of biotechnology from various countries. read more

A student of the the Study Program of Master in Biotechnology Universitas Gadjah Mada has won the title of 1^st Winner Oral Presenter at the 6^th International Seminar of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology (ISPST) held by Universitas Padjadjaran (UNPAD) on October 30-31, 2024. The student is Yohanes Surya Jati from batch 2023 who is also a member of the Cancer and Chemoprevention Research Center (CCRC) research group under the Faculty of Pharmacy UGM.

The ISPST seminar was held in conjunction with the 15^th Indonesian Society of Cancer Chemoprevention (ISCC) Annual Conference which was attended by various universities in Indonesia such as UGM, UNPAD, ITB, UNAIR, UII, and others. This seminar brought in many keynote speakers who discussed the development of treatment and research developments related to cancer from various perspectives such as the fields of pharmacy, molecular biology, genetics, bioinformatics, to bring in the Ministry of Health and State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) PT.Biofarma and BPJS Health institutions. read more

Yogyakarta – The Research Center and Study Program of Biotechnology Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) successfully held the 10^th National Biotechnology Seminar with the theme “Fostering Interdisciplinary Solutions in Biotechnology for Sustainability.” The event, which took place at the Graduate School Unversitas Gadjah Mada on Saturday, October 26, 2024, gathered over 200 participants from 36 different institutions, including academics, researchers, and practitioners.

This seminar highlighted the urgency of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing increasingly complex global challenges, such as climate change, food security, and environmental degradation. “Through an integrated biotechnology approach, we hope to find innovative solutions to ensure sustainability across various sectors, including agriculture, health, industry, and the environment,” said Agung Dian Kharisma, S.Pd.Si., M.Biotech, Ph.D., the seminar’s committee chairperson. read more

Yogyakarta — The Research Center and Study Program of Biotechnology Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) held the 10^th National Biotechnology Seminar with the theme “Fostering Interdisciplinary Solutions in Biotechnology for Sustainability.” The event took place at the Auditorium of Graduate School Universitas Gadjah Mada on Saturday (November 26, 2024). The seminar attracted over 200 participants from 36 different institutions, including academics, researchers, and practitioners from various fields. read more

Yogyakarta – The Research Center and Study Program of Biotechnology Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), in collaboration with PT Widya Teknologi Hayati, successfully conducted a workshop titled “Producing Crude Polymerase from Escherichia coli” on Friday (October 25, 2024). The workshop was attended by 35 participants from various backgrounds, including representatives from universities, research centers, and industry.

The Head of the Research Center for Biotechnology UGM, explained in her opening remarks that the workshop aims to encourage the development of domestic products, particularly in the biotechnology field. “One of the main focuses is the production of DNA polymerase enzyme from Escherichia coli bacteria,” said Dr. Yekti Asih Purwestri, S.Si., M.Si. This enzyme plays a crucial role in various modern biotechnology applications, such as the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), which is widely used in medical research and drug development. read more

Gifu, 23 October 2024 – Alumni of the Master of Biotechnology Study Program, Graduate School, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Galuh Rizal Prayoga, M.Biotech. (Class of 2021) has officially started his advanced studies at Gifu University, Japan on October 7. Galuh is taking a 3-year Doctor’s Degree Course at the Science of Biological Production Study Program, Faculty of United Graduate School of Agricultural Science (UGSAS), Gifu University.

Galuh continued his studies through the scholarship program of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Monbukagakusho/MEXT) 2024, and will take a double degree scheme at the Study Program of Doctor in Biotechnology UGM the following year. The first step Galuh went through to be able to continue his studies was to contact a professor at Gifu University who was mediated by Prof. Ir. Siti Subandiyah who was a lecturer in the Biotechnology Study Program as well as Galuh’s research supervisor during his Masters. After receiving approval from the professor at Gifu University, Galuh immediately underwent a preliminary screening application process in December 2023. Two months later Galuh passed and proceeded to the second stage, which was an examination in the form of an interview in March 2024. During the selection, Galuh presented the results of his thesis research along with the research plan that will be carried out during his doctoral studies in Gifu. After undergoing the interview process and passed on April 19, 2024, Galuh was recommended to get a MEXT scholarship with the U to U scheme by the Gifu University campus. In August 2024, Galuh was officially declared by MEXT as the recipient of the scholarship. read more

Chiba, October 13, 2024 – Shofa Khamdanatuz Zufairo’, M.Biotech., an alumnus of the Study Program of Master in Biotechnology at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), has officially commenced her doctoral studies at Chiba University. She is enrolled in a four-year doctoral program at the Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Science, specializing in Advanced Medical Pharmacy, with classes starting on October 1, 2024.

Shofa is continuing her doctoral education at Chiba University through the e-ASIA project, a joint research initiative involving the Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute (CCCRI), the Children’s Cancer Institute in Australia, and Universitas Gadjah Mada (Cancer Chemopreventive Research Center, UGM). The first step in her journey was an interview with her prospective supervisor from CCCRI, facilitated by a recommendation from her master’s advisor who is involved in the e-ASIA project. After successfully completing the interview, the prospective supervisor referred Shofa to the e-ASIA project organizers (AMED e-ASIA JRP) as a PhD candidate to work on the e-ASIA project at CCCRI under the ‘2024 University Recommendation for National-Funded Foreign Students [e-ASIA Joint Research Frame]’ scheme. Once approved, AMED e-ASIA JRP issued a recommendation letter to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology of Japan (MEXT). The prospective supervisor at CCCRI also referred Shofa to Chiba University, which subsequently submitted documents to MEXT for her scholarship application. After being officially accepted as a MEXT scholarship awardee through the university recommendation route on July 22, 2024, Shofa registered at Chiba University and was confirmed as a student on September 17, 2024. read more