DOrSU welcomes Czech University PhD student-researcher for internship
Davao Oriental State University (DOrSU) formally welcomed Czech doctoral researcher Ing. (Engr.) Miroslav Jozífek on January 12, 2026, during the University’s flag-raising ceremony and Monday convocation, marking the start of his research internship at DOrSU.
Jozífek, a third-year PhD student at the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, is in Davao Oriental for a study on mushroom farming in developing agrarian settings, with fieldwork to be conducted in the province and selected areas in Mindanao. His internship runs from January 10 to February 28, 2026, hosted by the DOrSU Institute for Natural Products Discovery and Development (iNatProd) under the supervision of Dr. Wilanfranco C. Tayone.
Following the convocation, Jozífek paid a courtesy visit and met with University President Dr. Roy G. Ponce and Dr. Lilibeth S. Galvez, Vice President for Planning, Quality Assurance, Global Affairs, and Resource Generation, to discuss his research activities and coordinate arrangements with concerned University offices for the duration of his stay.
Jozífek’s doctoral work focuses on Special Plant Production, particularly the cultivation of edible and medicinal mushrooms. His research includes sustainable production systems, substrate improvement, and the use of fungal biotechnology for agriculture and environmental applications.
In addition to his fieldwork, Jozífek is expected to contribute to DOrSU’s academic and extension initiatives through lectures and capacity-building activities on sustainable mushroom cultivation, supporting knowledge exchange with students, researchers, and local communities.
The engagement adds to DOrSU’s growing portfolio of international academic exchanges. In recent years, the University has hosted internships of student researchers and Erasmus Mundus scholars from Ghent University, reflecting its push to expand global partnerships and strengthen research and extension work anchored on national development priorities.
