The top graduate in Physics Education wins three doctoral scholarships in the US.

Although he chose to study education partly due to financial difficulties, Nhat Quang graduated at the top of his class and won three full doctoral scholarships in the United States.

With a GPA of 3.92/4, 22-year-old Nguyen Nhat Quang was the valedictorian of the Physics Education program at Ho Chi Minh City University of Education in 2023.

From the end of his third year of university, Quang was awarded a full doctoral scholarship worth 7 billion VND over 5 years by Florida State University, USA, covering tuition and living expenses. Living expenses would come from teaching or research assistant positions in the Physics department of the university. In addition, he was accepted into doctoral programs at the University of Connecticut and the University of Utah, also with full scholarships and financial aid.

"Passionate about researching high-energy physics (also known as fundamental particle physics), I chose Florida State University because the school is very strong in this field, with key research and experimental labs in the US," Quang said. The school is ranked among the top 20 public universities in the US according to US News & World Report.

Nhat Quang during a scientific exchange trip to Japan in 2022. Photo: Provided by the subject.

In 2020, Quang, a former student of Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted in Ho Chi Minh City, faced many choices for direct entry into university after winning third prize in the national physics competition. Unlike his friends who chose engineering or information technology, Quang chose education because of his love for physics and teaching, which also helped his family reduce the financial burden of tuition fees.

Quang said that his family wasn't well-off, so he didn't think about studying abroad or pursuing higher education, and instead decided to become a physics teacher at a high school. The turning point came when Quang participated in research at the university's computational physics laboratory under the guidance of Professor Le Van Hoang.

From the work of his professor and senior colleagues, Quang realized that graduating with a degree in Physics Education not only led to teaching at the high school level but also allowed for in-depth research and teaching at higher levels. Guided by his professor on research directions and participation in international scientific exchanges, the young man gradually developed an interest in research and teaching at the university level. With his professor's encouragement, "Keep going and you'll get there," Quang bravely set a goal of pursuing a PhD in the United States at the beginning of his third year (August 2022).

Within four months, the male student rushed to take the GRE (a prerequisite for graduate studies in the US) exam in Physics and an English proficiency test. At that time, IELTS courses in Vietnam were temporarily suspended, so he had to switch to taking the Duolingo test. In addition, he obtained letters of recommendation from Professor Le Van Hoang and two other lecturers in the Physics department, wrote a self-introduction letter, and included his transcript and a list of Physics and Mathematics courses he had taken in his application.

Quang said that the average application fee at each school is $100 (2.5 million VND), so he prioritizes schools that are strong in physics research. The male student also proactively contacted schools to request fee waivers or reductions.

Professor Le Van Hoang, a senior lecturer in the Physics Department, remarked that Quang was an exceptionally outstanding student he had ever mentored. In his experience, when awarding doctoral scholarships, American universities prioritize academic achievements and the candidate's scientific research aptitude, as evidenced by letters of recommendation from supervisors.

In his letter of recommendation for Quang, Professor Hoang emphasized that the student was the best in the nearly 100-student cohort of the department, belonging to the top group in the school. Quang had been attending the lab and participating in physics research since his second year, and had published research on low-dimensional systems physics in the school's scientific journal in his third year.

When supervising his scientific research and graduation thesis, he assigned Quang the topic of calculating the theoretical exciton energy spectrum in a TMDC monolayer plate in the presence of a magnetic field. This topic required higher knowledge and skills than those required at the university level, but Quang solved it well.

The professor was impressed that his student continued to tackle the research problem even after completing his dissertation and receiving a doctoral scholarship in the US. This exemplifies the unwavering dedication of a scientist. The results of Quang's research will be published in the international scientific journal SCIE in the near future.

"Besides his abilities, with his serious work ethic, ambition, and passion, I believe Quang will succeed in his scientific career," Professor Hoang said.

Nhat Quang and Professor Le Van Hoang (on the left). Photo: Provided by the subjects.

In his introductory letter, Quang shared his view that scientific research is a journey of continuous learning and discovery , never complacent with what one already knows, but striving to explore new limits.

"There were times when I encountered difficulties and didn't understand everything immediately, but I saw those as steps forward and necessary elements on my research journey," Quang said.

Besides his grades, Quang recognizes that his participation in a summer physics school and student exchange programs on science and culture in Japan and South Korea are also positive points that demonstrate his commitment to pursuing scientific research.

Quang is also an active participant in the school's Youth Union and Student Association movements, as well as in the Summer Volunteer Campaign and Spring Volunteer Campaign. From his first year, he started tutoring and assisting in Physics for the annual Mathematics-Physics-Literature Meeting program. Quang considers this both a part-time job and an opportunity to practice his teaching skills and knowledge.

To balance his time, Quang creates a weekly plan, prioritizing tasks at each stage. Tutoring is scheduled for the evenings. During exam periods, Quang focuses entirely on studying. Weekends or summer breaks are dedicated to extracurricular activities and scientific exchanges.

One way Quang makes efficient use of his time each day is to take advantage of scattered free time slots to study quickly or do small tasks. He uses the time between classes or while commuting to school to review lectures.

Quang plans to return after completing his doctoral program in the US. He hopes to work at a university or research institute, where he can both conduct research to create new knowledge and teach to inspire future generations.

"I believe that research is valuable when it is taught and passed on for continued application and development. Therefore, igniting a passion for Physics in the younger generation is just as important as research," Quang shared.

Le Nguyen

Source link: https://vnexpress.net/thu-khoa-su-pham-ly-gianh-ba-hoc-bong-tien-si-my-4643100.html