A GRADUATE student from the Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) has completed an international research program in France through the Department of Science and Technology–Engineering Research and Development for Technology (DOST-ERDT) Sandwich Program.

Engr. Glenn Ruel Maujon spent seven months at the Institut Charles Gerhardt Montpellier, part of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique at the Université de Montpellier.

His research was conducted under the joint supervision of Dr. Gaulthier Rydzek of ICGM and Dr. Raymond Rivera-Virtudazo of MSU-IIT.

A Ceramic Engineering graduate, Maujon specializes in converting waste into high-value materials. For his program, he synthesized antiseptic hybrid mesostructured porous silicic materials from rice husk ash (RHA), a waste product of Philippine industries that use rice husks as biofuel.

Using the soft-templating sol-gel approach, he transformed RHA into a material with potential antiseptic applications and tested its effectiveness against various bacteria.

The project was also supported by Dr. Zuzaan Neščáková of Alexander Dubček University of Trenčín in Slovakia, reflecting the strong international collaboration behind the research.

“Engr. Maujon’s successful completion of this program is a testament to MSU-IIT’s commitment to academic excellence and its vision of shaping the future through research,” the university said.

“This achievement has not only advanced his own skills but also contributed to sustainability and material science, showcasing the university’s growing capacity in engineering and technology while strengthening its sustainable efforts,” it added.