Associate Professor IV (College of Arts and Sciences)
Center-Head (Verde Island Passage Center for Oceanographic Research and Aquatic Life Sciences – Lobo)
Auxillary Lieutenant Commander (AUX LCDR) of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxillary Southern Tagalog District
Email: jayvee.saco@gmail.com
Dr. Saco specializes in ecophysiology (ecology and physiology), culture, cell biology, biodiversity, and the taxonomy of seaweeds. He is the Center Head of the marine research center of Batangas State University – the Verde Island Passage Center for Oceanographic Research and Aquatic Life Sciences (VIP CORALS) in Lobo Campus. He is an Associate Professor IV in the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Agriculture and Forestry of the same University. He is also an Auxiliary Lieutenant Commander (AUX LCDR) of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary Southern Tagalog District.
He was a recipient of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Balik Scientist Award (Returning Scientist) (2020-2021), the Japanese Society of Phycology Best Published Paper Award in 2019, and the DOST- Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) Publication Incentive Award in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
He obtained his Ph.D. in Cell Biology in 2017 from Kochi University in Kochi City, Japan; his Master of Science in Marine Science at Marine Science Institute, the University of the Philippines Diliman in 2014; and his Bachelor of Science in Biology in Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (University of the City of Manila) in 2005.
Within 6 years of the VIP CORALS establishment, Dr. Saco secured 5 externally funded projects from NAGAO Natural Environmental Foundation, Inc. Japan, DOST, and PCAARRD and 4 internally funded projects from Batangas State University.
He was the President of the Philippine Association of Marine Science (PAMS) (2022-2023), PAMS Vice President for Luzon (2020-2021), and one of the Board Members of the Philippine Phycological Society, Inc. (2020-2023). Currently, he is an Associate Member of the Philippine-American Academy of Science and Engineering; a Regular Member of the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP), and the Vice President of the Philippine-Japan Association for the Kuroshio Science Promotion, Inc.
He is also one of the technical experts for PCAARRD and the National Research Council of the Philippines. In addition, he is a Reviewer in both local and international peer-reviewed journals such as the International Research Journal for Innovations in Engineering, Science, and Technology; Our Palawan Journal; Philippine Journal of Natural Sciences, and Journal of Ecosystem Science and Eco-Governance; Bicol University R&D Journal; Kuroshio Science and international ISI/Scopus journals such as Philippine Journal of Science, Philippine Journal of Fisheries, The Palawan Scientist and Phycological Research.
Furthermore, he is also a marathoner, half-marathoner, duathlete, triathlete, long-distance runner, and cyclist.