Prof. Alvarez-Castillo is a social scientist and professorial lecturer in political research and ethics at the University of the Philippines Manila and author of the 1st training manual on social research ethics in the Philippines. She is a member of the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board, the country’s policy making body on research ethics. She also provides  expertise on research ethics and gender justice in capability building, for NGOs, indigenous peoples’ organizations, and faculty researchers in various universities in the Philippines. She is currently visiting professor at the Institute of Social and Health Sciences, University of South Africa.