Molecular biologist-priest leaves Rhode Island’s Providence College to teach at UST in Manila

Former students joined Rev. Nicanor Austriaco (extreme left, front row) with their families for a reunion in May. PC

Rev. Nicanor Austriaco, O.P. ’20G, who has taught biology at the private Providence College in Rhode Island since 2005, left on June 30 to become professor of biological sciences and professor of sacred theology at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila.

Father Nic, as he is known, has a Ph.D. in molecular biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a doctorate in sacred theology from the University of Fribourg in Switzerland, and an MBA from Providence College.

Students who have worked in his laboratory have gone on to careers in medicine, research, teaching, and the priesthood.

Rev. Nicanor “Father Nic” Austriaco. PC

Austriaco also will serve as regent of the College of Sciences, which has 4,000 students. The university founded by the Order of Preachers in 1611 has 45,000 students.
“God willing, I will be helping to strengthen the scientific infrastructure of my homeland to make it pandemic resilient and vaccine independent,” Father Nic said.

planned to spend a sabbatical year at the University of Santo Thomas in the Philippines. However, after the country locked down while he was visiting over spring break, the professor of biology and of theology started working on COVID disease modeling for metro Manila.