Clara Lim-Sylianco

Lim-Sylianco received an associate degree for the pre-medicine program at Silliman University in 1947. However, she switched out of the Medicine track shortly after to pursue a bachelor's degree in chemistry, where she graduated as magna cum laude in 1949.[1] Lim-Sylianco then pursued a master's in Chemistry at University of the Philippines in 1949. There, she worked as a research assistant until 1951 and later took on an instructor role until she graduated in 1953.[1] After receiving a Fulbright scholarship, she went to the United States to pursue her doctoral studies in biochemistry and organic chemistry at the University of Iowa.[2] She was a research assistant in the university's Department of Pediatrics from 1953 to 1955 and a research fellow in the Department of Biochemistry from 1955 to 1957.[1]

Lim-Sylianco moved back to teach at the chemistry and biochemistry departments of the University of the Philippines in 1957. From 1970 to 1973, she served as a consultant for the National Institute of Science and Technology.[1] Lim-Sylianco was a prolific researcher, making contributions to several fields such as environmental mutagens and anti-mutagens, biochemical nutrition, bioorganic mechanisms, and mutagenicity of Philippine medical plants (trilaurin, trilinolein, etc.).[2] In 1989, she became a member of the International Advisory Committee on Anti-mutagens. She was also dedicated to chemical education and wrote textbooks on organic chemistry and molecular biochemistry that were adopted nationally. These include: Principle of Organic Chemistry, 5th ed., 1975; Modern Biochemistry, 1976; Monograph Series on Molecular Biochemistry: Nucleic Acids, Protein, Carbohydrates, Lipids, 1974; Laboratory Manual in Organic Chemistry, 1965; and Laboratory Manual in Biochemistry, 1961.[1]

In 1958, she became a Fellow of the Royal Society.[2]

In 1977, she received the Gregario Y. Zara Award.

From 1974 to 1977, she was the University of the Philippines Endowment Professional Chair in Chemistry.

She was recognized as a National Scientist of the Philippines in 1994.[3]