Dr. Alyssa M. Peleo-Alampay is a geologist, paleontologist, professor, author, research collaborator of the National Museum of the Philippines, and a proud mother of three. She is also the Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs (Quality Assurance) of the University of the Philippines system.
For over two decades, she has mentored and supervised many of this generation’s geologists and paleontologists at UP.
She earned her B.S. and M.S. in Geology at the University of the Philippines, and her Ph.D. in Earth Science at the Scripps University of California’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego, USA.
While at Scripps, she discovered nanofossils Catinaster calyculus rectus and Catinaster coalitus extensus.
In 1998, she started the Nanoworks Laboratory at the National Institute of Geological Sciences, paving the way for further research in paleontology and paleoceanography in the Philippines.
That same year she co-founded the Paleontological Society of the Philippines, which was instrumental in the establishment of the Stratigraphic Code of the Philippines.
Dr. Peleo-Alampay has also received several accolades, including The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (TOWNS) in Science award in 2007, the DOST Balik Scientist Award in 2008, the PRC Outstanding Professional of the Year in Geology Award in 2020, and the Philippine Federation of Professional Associations (PFPA) Distinction and Excellence Award for Academe and Research Development in 2024.
The nanofossil Discoaster alyssae was also named after Dr. Peleo-Alampay in honor of her contributions to micropaleontology.
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