A young professor in psychology
Professor Dr Dang Hoang Minh, born in 1979, is currently the Head of the Faculty of Educational Sciences and the Director of the Institute for Clinical Research in Social Psychology and Education at the University of Education, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. She was the youngest professor appointed in 2023 and remains the youngest professor in the field of psychology today.
Professor Minh has a deep passion for psychology. She grew up in a family in which her parents worked in education and healthcare. In 1997, while most of her peers were choosing to study economics — a field favoured for its career prospects — she decided to pursue psychology.
“My mother, a psychiatrist, once told me that the coming century would be the era of psychology because as society advances, understanding the human mind will become increasingly important. When I was in high school, we knew little about psychology, but as I entered university, I discovered how fascinating it was,” she recalled.
Specialising in clinical psychology, she focuses on researching mental disorders and psychological-behavioural issues. “When studying psychiatric illnesses, I found cases where patients exhibited physical symptoms such as stomach pain or limb paralysis, despite no apparent brain or nerve damage. These were actually due to psychological disorders — what we call psychosomatic illnesses,” she explained.
After graduating from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, she obtained her master’s degree in 2002. In 2007, she earned a PhD in psychology from Toulouse II-Le Mirail University in France, followed by postdoctoral research at Vanderbilt University in the US.
Professor Minh has held various positions, including coordinator of a master’s programme in vocational psychology at France’s National Institute for Vocational Studies (L’INETOP), director of the Career Information and Psychological Application Research Centre, and head of the Department of Education and Therapy at the University of Education under the Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
She has also served as secretary and later chairperson of the Interdisciplinary Council on Psychology and Education at the National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) and as director of the Young Talent Fund for Psychology and Education at the Vietnam Association of Psychology and Education.
Her clinical psychology research follows three main directions. The first focuses on childhood and adolescent mental health, evaluating the prevalence of disorders such as depression, anxiety, and childhood trauma while developing diagnostic tools.
The second explores mental health literacy among different demographic groups, analysing public awareness and attitudes toward mental health and designing educational programmes. The third involves developing and implementing school-based mental health interventions and therapeutic programmes.
So far, Professor Minh has supervised four PhD candidates who successfully defended their dissertations. She has completed two research projects funded by Vietnam National University, three national-level projects, and five international studies. She has published 90 scientific papers, including 23 in prestigious international journals, and has authored 18 books with reputable publishers.
As a researcher, educator, and therapist, she is deeply concerned about mental health issues in modern society. “In Vietnam, around 20-25% of the population has mental health problems, and 50% of these cases involve young people. Many of these issues emerge early, from around the ages of 13-14,” she noted.
Professor Minh is particularly passionate about mental health education, counselling, and care in schools. She and her colleagues are conducting various projects that combine therapy with raising public awareness. “School counsellors are now present, but in many public schools, these roles are still taken on by teachers who lack specialised training,” she pointed out.
In the medical sector, since 2023, clinical psychology has been officially recognised by the Ministry of Health as a licensed profession. “This ensures a stable and well-defined career path for students pursuing clinical psychology. It marks a good start for professional training, and in recent years, more students have shown interest in studying psychology,” she added.
Passion for developing biomedical materials
With a strong passion for scientific research, Dr Le Thi Phuong, Deputy Head of the Biopharmaceutical Materials Department at the Institute of Applied Materials Science at the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, has made significant achievements after more than 12 years in the field of materials science. She holds one international patent and two national patents.
At 37 years old, she is among the young female scientists leading research on biomedical materials, particularly in cancer treatment applications.
After graduating in Chemical Engineering from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Phuong joined the Institute of Applied Materials Science, where she nurtured her love for research. This later led her to pursue a PhD at Ajou University in the Republic of Korea (RoK), where she spent 10 years conducting research.
Reflecting on her time in RoK, she recalled facing numerous challenges, but her perseverance paid off, earning her scientific publications and patents. In early 2022, she returned to Vietnam to continue her research journey at the Institute of Applied Materials Science.
One of her most notable projects involves developing a dual-mode cancer treatment system that combines gas therapy and metabolic starvation to enhance treatment effectiveness. This system integrates three key components: glucose oxidase (GOx), functionalised zinc oxide nanoparticles, and tannic acid.
Dr Phuong emphasised that the material’s unique strength lies in its multi-modal attack: it starves tumours by depleting glucose while simultaneously providing gas therapy by releasing nitric oxide (NO). This approach offers superior cancer cell elimination while minimising side effects compared to conventional treatments like chemotherapy and radiation.
In terms of application, this material is undergoing in vivo testing, with findings published in prestigious international journals. The research not only introduces a “green” treatment model with minimal side effects but also promises a safe and effective solution for future cancer patients.
Another major research direction for Dr Phuong involves developing hydrogel systems that incorporate bioactive compounds with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and scar-preventing properties for wound healing.
She noted that while this research is not entirely new globally or in Vietnam, it holds high practical value, particularly in developing countries. “This approach enables at-home wound care without requiring hospital visits or highly skilled medical staff, thus reducing the burden on the healthcare system,” she explained.
With more than 40 scientific publications in international journals, along with a specialised textbook for undergraduate and graduate education, Dr Phuong has made crucial contributions to the challenging field of materials science. She has received the Golden Globe Science and Technology Award (2022) and was named one of Vietnam’s Top 10 Promising Young Faces in Science (2022).
As a visiting lecturer at several universities and research institutes, including Ton Duc Thang University, Tra Vinh University, Lac Hong University, and the Academy of Science and Technology, she continues to inspire students. “Young people must keep their passion alive while remaining grounded in reality. Work hard, keep innovating, and don’t be discouraged by failures — success will come at the right time,” she advised.
For Dr Phuong, every challenge is an opportunity to grow and affirm her place in the scientific world.
