Biography

Dr. Marilou P. Lucas is an agricultural economist holding the rank of Professor IV at the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU). She teaches major undergraduate courses in Economics at the College of Business, Economics and Accountancy (CBEA) for the past 25 years. She also teaches Statistics in the Graduate School of MMSU.  She is actively involved in research activities focused on socioeconomics.  She obtained her Doctorate Degree at the University of the Philippines at Los Baños in 2008, Masteral in North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA in 1991, and Bachelor’s Degree in Bukidnon State University in 1983 (Magna cum laude).  She obtained her PhD and MS degrees under the SEARCA and UNDP-FAO scholarship/fellowship, respectively. She was also awarded a Research Fellowship at the Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center (AVRDC) from July 1998-January 1999.

Dr. Lucas started as a Research Assistant before joining the academic group in 1992. She has also served various administrative functions which include: College Dean from June 2011 to May 2013; Director, CHED-Zonal Research Center for Region 1 and CAR, February 2010 to December 2011 and Director for Extension, June 2014 to January 2015. At present, she is the Director of Research. 

Her significant research involvement includes an on-going program on the Sustainable Production, Marketing and Utilization of True-to-Type Bolinao Chicken in Ilocos Region funded by PCAARRD (PhP 19.365M). For the past years, she also led external funded projects: (1) Garlic Commodity System in Region I funded by DA-BAR (PhP500,000); (2) Supply Chain Improvement of Bamboo Industry in Regions I and III (Phase I and Phase II) by DOST-PCAARRD (PhP2M); (3) Site Characterization and Economic Analysis of Intensive Cropping Systems in Rainfed Lowlands of Ilocos Norte funded by IRRI.

She has authored six (6) and co-authored 15 studies/papers/publications, two (2) of which are refereed, ISI/SCOPUS Indexed journals. Research-related awards received include: (1) DA SECRETARY’S AWARD for R&D Paper Published in an Institute of Science Information-Current Content Journal awarded by the Bureau of Agricultural Research; (2) BEST Ph.D. DISSERTATION AWARD from the College of Economics and Management, University of the Philippines at Los Banos, College, Laguna; (3) 2016 AFMA Gold R&D Paper Award by the DA-BAR.

Dr. Lucas is also being tapped as technical expert during commodity research reviews, regional symposia and referee of journal articles.  She has also shared her expertise in some training workshops along her fields of specialization.