Born and raised into a Kapampangan family in the Philippines, Dr Pierangeli G. Vital or Dr Pie, has more than 10 years of experience performing research and teaching in the field of environmental microbiology. She is currently a University Researcher and Head of the Biological Research and Services Laboratory at the Natural Sciences Research Institute in the University of the Philippines Diliman. She is conferred as the youngest Diplomate by the Philippine Academy of Microbiology, through merit and stringent screening process. She has published several papers in her area of expertise and is serving a number of different professional organizations in various capacities as a Young Ambassador of the prestigious International Society for Microbial Ecology, Treasurer of the Philippine Phycological Society, Inc., Business Manager of the Philippine Society for Microbiology, Inc., and Corresponding Secretary of the Phi Sigma Biological Sciences Honor Society, Alpha Chi Chapter.
As an ASEAN S&T Fellow, she is analysing and developing recommendations on policies and standards related to food safety using microorganisms. Her work addresses the current challenges and issues of the society to contribute to sustainable development and benefit the next generation, which include her newborn daughter. Dr Pie is working with Industrial Technology Development Division under the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
Dr Pie has a B.S. Biology degree, cum laude, from the University of the Philippines Los Banos (2003), M.S. Microbiology from University of the Philippines Diliman (2008), and sandwich program for her Ph.D. in Biology from UP Diliman and International Environmental Research Institute in Korea (2013). She also finished a senior postdoctoral fellowship funded by the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Agricultural Research in 2017.