Female scientists are making more and more important contributions.

Through their valuable scientific and practical research, female scientists have made significant and positive contributions in many fields. They are the blossoms of intellect and the light of knowledge, the pride of our nation's science.

A young female professor of psychology.

Professor, Dr. Dang Hoang Minh, born in 1979, is currently the Head of the Faculty of Educational Sciences and Director of the Institute for Clinical Research on Social Psychology and Education, University of Education (Vietnam National University, Hanoi). She was the youngest professor appointed in 2023 and is currently also the youngest professor in the field of psychology.

Professor, Dr. Dang Hoang Minh has a special passion for Psychology. She grew up in a family where both parents worked in the Education and Healthcare sectors. In 1997, while her friends were choosing to apply to universities in the economics field, which were popular for their job prospects and career development after graduation, Dang Hoang Minh chose Psychology.

Professor, Dr. Dang Hoang Minh recounted: "My mother, a doctor specializing in treating mental health issues, said that the next century will be the century of psychology, because as society develops, understanding people's minds will become increasingly important. Our generation knew almost nothing about psychology during high school, but when I entered university to study psychology, I discovered so many interesting things."

Professor Dang Hoang Minh chose clinical psychology as her specialization, focusing on and researching issues related to human mental disorders, psychological disorders, and behavioral issues. The professor and doctor recounted: "While studying mental illnesses, I noticed that some patients had no physical or brain damage but experienced abdominal pain or paralysis of the limbs, as if it were related to nerve damage. In reality, they were suffering from mental problems, which is called psychopathy."

After graduating with a degree in psychology from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi), Ms. Dang Hoang Minh received her master's degree in 2002 and her doctorate in psychology from the University of Toulouse II-Le Mirail (France) in 2007, followed by postdoctoral research at Vanderbilt University (USA).

Professor, Dr. Dang Hoang Minh has held various positions including: Coordinator of the Master's Program in Career Psychology - French National Institute for Career Guidance (L'INETOP), French University Center and Faculty of Education (Vietnam National University, Hanoi); Coordinator of Master's and Doctoral Programs in Clinical Studies, Director of the Center for Career Information and Applied Psychology Research, Head of the Department of Education and Therapy, University of Education (Vietnam National University, Hanoi).

She also previously served as Secretary, then Chairperson of the Interdisciplinary Scientific Council on Psychology and Education, National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (Nafosted), Director of the Young Talents Fund in Psychology and Education, Vietnam Association of Psychological and Educational Sciences…

In the field of clinical psychology, Professor, Dr. Dang Hoang Minh conducts research in three main directions. The first is the mental health issues of children and adolescents. His studies assess the prevalence of mental disorders in Vietnamese children and adolescents, such as anxiety, depression, anxiety, negative childhood experiences, and tools for assessing mental health.

The second approach focuses on the mental health capacity of different population groups. Studies concentrate on analyzing people's knowledge and attitudes about mental health, as well as programs to enhance mental health capacity.

The third direction is the development and implementation of psychological therapy and mental health intervention programs, especially school-based programs. Professor Dang Hoang Minh has supervised four doctoral students who successfully defended their dissertations, completed two research projects at the Hanoi National University, three national-level projects, five international projects, published 90 scientific articles, including 23 in prestigious international journals, and published 18 books with reputable publishers.

As a researcher, educator, and therapist, Professor and Doctor Dang Hoang Minh is deeply concerned about mental health issues in modern society. She notes that 20-25% of the population in Vietnam currently experiences mental health problems, with 50% of these cases involving young people. These mental health issues often begin very early, at the age of 13-14.

Professor, Dr. Dang Hoang Minh is particularly interested in the issue of education, counseling, and mental health care in schools. She and her colleagues are working on numerous projects that combine therapy with raising awareness about mental health issues. Professor, Dr. Dang Hoang Minh stated: "Currently, schools have psychological counselors for students; however, this work is often done by teachers as a secondary responsibility, and there may not be a designated position for this role."

In the healthcare sector, since 2023, clinical psychology has become a recognized specialty requiring a professional license from the Ministry of Health. This ensures stable and clear employment for students studying clinical psychology. This will be a good start for training, and in fact, in recent years, the number of students studying psychology has been increasing."

Passionate about developing materials science applications in medicine.

With a passion and enthusiastic spirit for scientific research, after more than 12 years dedicated to the field of materials science, Dr. Le Thi Phuong, Deputy Head of the Biopharmaceutical Materials Department, Institute of Applied Materials Science (Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology), has achieved many outstanding accomplishments, including holding one international patent and two national patents.

Dr. Le Thi Phuong (37 years old) is one of the young female scientists in materials science research, especially in the research of materials for cancer treatment and medical applications.

After graduating with a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Technology (Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City), Ms. Phuong worked at the Institute of Applied Materials Science, where she nurtured her passion for scientific research, leading to the opportunity to pursue postgraduate studies at Ajou University (South Korea) for 10 years.

Dr. Phuong recounted: During her time studying in South Korea, she had to overcome many difficulties and hardships, but those efforts led to significant achievements in her research career. Bringing with her scientific papers and research projects registered with national/international patents, in early 2022, Dr. Phuong decided to return to Vietnam to continue her passion for science at the Institute of Applied Materials Science.

One of Dr. Le Thi Phuong's outstanding research achievements is the development of a combined therapy system that integrates two methods: gas therapy and starvation, to enhance the effectiveness of cancer treatment. This system is based on a combination of three main components: Glucose Oxidase (GOx), functionalized zinc oxide nanoparticles, and tannic acid.

Dr. Le Thi Phuong emphasized the outstanding advantage of this material: its multi-modal attack capability. It simultaneously "starves" the tumor by depleting its glucose supply and provides gas therapy through the release of NO. This combination allows the system to achieve higher efficiency in destroying cancer cells while reducing side effects compared to single-therapy treatments such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

In terms of application, this material is being tested in in vivo studies (a method of studying the effects of drugs on living organisms), with publications in prestigious international journals focused on cancer treatment. This research direction not only opens up a "green" treatment model with negligible side effects but also promises to provide a new, safe, and effective solution for cancer patients in the future.

Dr. Le Thi Phuong's main research focus is developing new hydrogel systems using bioactive substances (such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and scar-preventing agents) extracted from medicinal plant extracts for wound healing.

According to Dr. Phuong, this research direction, while not new in the world or in Vietnam, is highly practical and urgent, especially for developing countries like Vietnam. It opens up a therapy that allows for timely home healthcare without the need for hospitals or the expertise required of doctors and specialists, unlike traditional surgical and wound-stitching methods. This can reduce the burden on the healthcare system.

With over 40 scientific articles in prestigious international journals, a monograph on undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programs, and significant contributions to materials science research—a challenging field—Dr. Le Thi Phuong was awarded the Golden Globe Science and Technology Award (2022) and was among the top 10 promising young Vietnamese in 2022 (scientific research field).

Currently working as a visiting lecturer at many universities and institutes such as Ton Duc Thang University, Tra Vinh University, Lac Hong University, Saigon Technology University, and the Academy of Science and Technology, Dr. Le Thi Phuong contributes to spreading the passion for scientific research to students, emphasizing: "Young people should keep the flame of passion burning, but at the same time, they must not stray from reality. Work hard, strive to be creative, and don't be discouraged by failure; success will come to you at the right time…". For Dr. Phuong, she always believes that every challenge is an opportunity to develop and affirm one's value in the field of science.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/cac-nha-khoa-hoc-nu-ngay-cang-co-nhieu-dong-gop-quan-important-post863767.html