Sts

Biography

Julian A. Banzon, outstanding scientist, scholar, professor, and biophysical chemist, was born in Balanga,
Bataan on March 25, 1908. His parents were Manuel S. Banzon and Arcadia Arca.

Dr. Banzon studied chemistry at the University of the Philippines, earning his bachelor’s degree in 1930.
He pursued further education in the United States, obtaining a PhD in Biochemistry (minor in
Microbiology) from Iowa State University in 1937.

After obtaining the degree of Bachelor of Science in chemistry at the University of the Philippines in
1930, he was immediately hired as assistant instructor at the Up College of Agriculture. He served there
for one year before being promoted to instructor in agricultural chemistry in the same college in 1931.
As a UP pensionado, he began pursuing graduate studies at the Iowa State university in the United
States in 1937, and consequently obtained a doctor of philosophy degree in biochemistry (minor in
micro-biology), in 1940. His doctoral dissertation was about the “fermentative utilization of cassava.”

Upon his return to the Philippines, Dr. Banzon was named assistant professor in agricultural chemistry at
the UP College of Agriculture, teaching as such until 1951. From 1951 to 1955, he concurrently occupied
three positions: associate professor, associate chemist, and assistant head of the Department of
Agricultural Chemistry. In 1956, he received the ICA Type A grant for his study on the use of
radioisotopes in agriculture. Two years later, he accepted his appointment as chief scientist of the
Philippine Atomic Energy Commission. He marked a milestone in his career in 1960 when he became the
first director of the Philippine Atomic Research Center. At the end of his term in 1963, he was given a
plaque of appreciation for his exemplary leadership and service by the PAEC.