EduAsiaNews, Lampung — Fendi Setiawan, a doctoral graduate from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) at Universitas Lampung (Unila), was named the best doctoral graduate at Unila’s Graduation Ceremony for the second session of the eighth period of the 2025/2026 Academic Year. The ceremony was held at the Unila Multipurpose Building (GSG) on Saturday, August 29, 2026.
Fendi completed his doctoral studies at the age of 29, graduating after 2.85 years of study. The achievement marked a memorable milestone in his academic journey.
“I honestly never expected it. Being ranked first at the university is not determined solely by GPA; publication records and other achievements are also taken into consideration. I am therefore extremely grateful to receive this once-in-a-lifetime achievement,” he said.
He earned his doctoral degree through a dissertation entitled “OSMAC-Activated Alkaloid Diversity in a Mangrove Aspergillus sp. PLP1-F1 Drives Host-Directed Antibacterial Mechanisms.”
The research was motivated by the fact that certain fungi do not always produce compounds with potential for development as drug candidates. Fendi subsequently developed an approach to stimulate fungi to produce such compounds by utilizing waste materials as a growth medium.
According to Fendi, the research not only focuses on discovering potential drug compounds but also incorporates the concepts of sustainability, the circular economy, and the conversion of waste into value-added compounds.
Fendi’s research has been published in Scopus-indexed journals, including Q1- and Q2-ranked journals. He also gained research experience with the Research Center for Vaccines and Drugs at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), particularly with the Cell Biology and Disease Mechanisms research group, and had the opportunity to serve as a Research Assistant in research on anticancer agents derived from marine sponges.
Fendi hopes that his research will not remain merely an academic achievement but can continue to be developed and make a tangible contribution to scientific advancement and innovation aligned with the principles of sustainability, green chemistry, and the circular economy, particularly in the development of drug candidates.
The achievement also represents part of Unila’s contribution to fostering innovative, sustainable, and impactful research that benefits society.
After earning his doctoral degree, Fendi is committed to continuing his work and research activities. He hopes that the research he undertakes will not remain confined to academic publications but can be further developed to deliver broader benefits.
In closing, Fendi encouraged Unila students not to give up easily, to seize opportunities, and not to be afraid of failure. “Do not worry about things that have not happened yet. Every decision carries risks. Do not hesitate to ask for advice, and do not be afraid to fail,” he advised.
