Following its successful launch last year, PT Darya-Varia Laboratoria Tbk (Darya-Varia) proudly reintroduces D-STAR 2025 (Darya-Varia Scholarship for Talented Aspiring Women Researchers), a scholarship program designed to support outstanding female pharmacy students undertaking research-based final projects.
Now in its second year, D-STAR 2025 has entered the final stage of its virtual judging and selection process. This year’s program has drawn dozens of high-quality research proposals from four leading universities: Universitas Indonesia (UI), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), and the School of Pharmacy at Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB).
Each university conducted an internal selection process to identify its top three proposals, which have now advanced to the final round. In this phase, the finalists present their research before a panel of judges composed of pharmaceutical industry professionals Lilis, Research and Development Division Head Darya-Varia, Iman Dwinanto Gunung Putri Plant Division Head, and Selenia Sandraningtyas Consumer Health Group Innovation Head Darya-Varia.
The judges will select one winner from each university to receive a scholarship worth IDR 30 million. This support aims to help recipients complete their final research projects while nurturing their potential in pharmaceutical research.
This year’s research topics reflect pressing and relevant issues in the pharmaceutical sector, including:
- Indonesian Herbal Remedies: The Efficacy/The Rising Demand of Indonesian Herbal Remedies for the Global Market
- Understanding women’s biology and how it affects the efficacy of heart medications
- Research on the Discovery of New Drugs/Active Compounds for Beauty Applications
“We believe that empowering women in research is not just about equity, but a strategic step toward creating healthcare solutions that are inclusive and impactful,” said Widya Tobing, Legal and Corporate Affairs Division Head & Corporate Secretary of Darya-Varia.
Beyond financial assistance, D-STAR also offers awardees the opportunity to receive direct mentorship from industry experts and participate in internships across various divisions at the Darya-Varia Plant—providing them with practical exposure to the pharmaceutical industry.
Born from Darya-Varia’s commitment to increasing female participation in pharmaceutical research, D-STAR has successfully attracted talents from four universities since 2024. This year, the sharper and more refined proposals highlight the value of academic–industry collaboration in developing the next generation of researchers.
“We assess not only quality of ideas but also the passion, perseverance, and readiness to turn research into real-world solutions. The proposals from all four universities have been truly impressive—strong, relevant, and inspiring. I deeply respect students' dedication and sincerely appreciate academic advisors who have guided them to this stage,” said Iman Dwinanto, Gunung Putri Plant Division Head, as one of D-STAR 2025’s judges.
Through D-STAR 2025, Darya-Varia reaffirms its commitment to fostering a more inclusive and innovative pharmaceutical industry by championing women in science and research.