Research Professor Leaves South Korea to Join HUST

Leaving his position as a research professor at a major South Korean university, young Dr. Nguyen Van Nghia chose to return to Vietnam and join Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST). For him, this is not just a homecoming after years of study and research, but the start of a new journey in a new home filled with enthusiasm and hope.

HUST’s Doors Open Wide for Talent

Born in 1989, Nguyen Van Nghia is a young talent who pursued an integrated Master's-PhD program at the University of Ulsan, followed by a postdoctoral position and subsequently a role as a Research Professor at the prestigious Ewha Womans University in Seoul. In 2020, he was honored to be named among the Top 20 young scientists nominated for the Golden Globe Award. By his early 30s, he had secured independent research funding from the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), had full-time graduate students working in his group, and was working in a modern, fully equipped laboratory—a job many dream of.

Yet, after all those achievements, he still felt a void. “I went abroad with the goal of learning and then returning. Twelve years passed, and I realized that if I stayed any longer, my resolve might waver, and I might forget my original goal,” Dr. Nguyễn Văn Nghĩa confided.

His decision surprised many colleagues, who asked, “Why leave when you are so stable?” But Dr. Nghia remained firm in his choice.
  He recounted that his path to HUST began when he read about the "Scheme for Attracting and Recruiting Excellent Lecturers" on the university’s recruitment page.

Dr. Nghia learned that HUST's initiative to attract and recruit excellent lecturers has been implemented since 2021, with the policy of recruiting young PhDs and potential researchers from both Vietnam and abroad who possess prestigious international publications and a clear research direction, for long-term employment. Realizing he met HUST's requirements and attracted by the open opportunities within the Scheme, Dr. Nghĩa decided to apply.

“I used to think that returning to Vietnam meant accepting a fresh start from zero, but this Scheme helps me avoid that.” The initiative offers breakthrough mechanisms regarding income and creates a professional working and research environment so that talented lecturers can fully unleash their potential. For instance, excellent lecturers are granted funding by the university to implement key projects based on their proposals, subject to approval by an advisory council. Additionally, excellent lecturers receive support to enjoy benefits under the government's preferential policies.

This Scheme is part of HUST’s strategy to become a hub of excellent training centers in strategic technology and industrial development, linked with attracting and developing talent, and building a faculty of internationally integrated scientists.

“I want to work in a place where people speak to each other in academic language, where young people are trusted, allowed to try, allowed to fail, and then do better,” Dr. Nghia shared his reason for choosing HUST.

In February 2024, the talented young doctor officially became a HUST member, joining the Faculty of Chemistry, School of Chemical and Life Sciences.

At an age where many choose stability and settlement, Dr. Nghia decided to start a new journey. He understands that a long road lies ahead—from building a research group and applying for grants to setting up a fully equipped laboratory. However, every morning when he walks through the school gates and sees the stream of students full of enthusiasm and youth, he feels re-energized and convinced that his decision was entirely correct.

Aspiring to Contribute to "HUST’s Scientific Fingerprint"

In his first days on the job, Dr. Nghia felt a mix of familiarity and strangeness. The biggest "shock" was not keeping up with the language of the youth: “In Korea, I taught in English. Back in Vietnam, lecturing in my mother tongue, I sometimes... get stuck for words. Vietnamese people are so rich, and now there's 'Gen Z slang' too. Sometimes when students speak, I have to Google to understand what they're joking about!”

Dr. Nghia’s classes are always lively. He likes to call on students randomly to answer questions—anyone with a cool name might get called, or those whose roll number matches the day/month of the class often "win the lottery." Students joke: "If you're not awake in Mr. Nghia's class, you're 'done for' immediately!"

It is not just students but also colleagues who have been a great source of inspiration for Dr. Nghia.

Dr. Ta Anh Son - Deputy Head of the Department of Organization and Personnel, and Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Xuan Truong - Dean of the Faculty of Chemistry, School of Chemical and Life Sciences - gave him a lot of advice and shared insights on development directions before he submitted his application. The lecturers in the Analytical Chemistry Professional Group enthusiastically guided him during his probationary year, frequently connecting him with colleagues in the faculty to help him integrate quickly.
  Colleagues who are also alumni of Korean universities now working at HUST, such as Assoc. Prof. Dang Trung Dung, Assoc. Prof. Vu Anh Tuan (School of Chemical and Life Sciences), Assoc. Prof. Pham Hung Vuong, Dr. Nguyen Minh Thuyet (School of Materials Science and Engineering), and Dr. Pham Tung Duong (School of Engineering Physics), have helped him feel the special bond of the HUST community more clearly. During occasional meetups, everyone shares advice on adapting to the HUST environment and offers feedback on topics or projects, even though they are all busy with their own research and teaching.

Parallel to his teaching duties, Dr. Nguyen Van Nghia focuses on researching and developing new-generation, multi-functional, and eco-friendly photosensitive nanomaterials. His main research directions include:

1. R&D of luminescent nanomaterials for applications in cancer treatment and bactericide.

2. R&D of luminescent nanomaterials for bio-imaging and disease diagnosis.

3. R&D of fluorescent probes for environmental control and food safety.

4. R&D of photocatalysts for environmental treatment.

5. R&D of rapid analysis devices based on optical signals.

6. R&D of luminescent materials for applications in electronic devices.

Dr. Nguyen Van Nghia hopes that within the next five years, he will build a strong research group with HUST students as the core, while expanding the network with laboratories both domestically and internationally. He shared: “I don't want research to stop at standard international papers; I aim for high-quality works that contribute to placing HUST's 'scientific fingerprint' on the world map. Furthermore, I also want to work with colleagues and students to transform basic research into truly useful products that bring practical value to life."

For young Dr. Nguyen Van Nghia, the journey home is a new path full of hope, where a scientist can develop professionally while being closer to his homeland and family. "I believe that when young scientists feel valued and heard, they will be ready to stay and contribute. And that is exactly what I expect at Hanoi University of Science and Technology," Dr. Nghĩa expressed.
 

Following the Scheme for Attracting and Recruiting Excellent Lecturers of Hanoi University of Science and Technology (2021–2025), HUST continues to develop the Scheme for Attracting and Recruiting Talented Young Lecturers, Experts, and Leading Scientists for the 2025–2030 period. The goal of the Scheme is to recruit at least 300 talented young lecturers, experts, and leading scientists from Vietnam and abroad to work and collaborate at Hanoi University of Science and Technology in the 2025–2030 period. The Scheme includes three recruitment categories: Lecturers; Heads of Research Labs/Research Group Leaders; and Experts/Scientists. Criteria and detailed job descriptions for each recruitment position (by major or research field) can be found at: https://tuyendung.hust.edu.vn/#xuat-sac