23-year-old Ngan received her diploma from the Hanoi University of Pharmacy on 1/8, leading her class with a GPA of 3.81/4. She recalls the moment she walked onto the stage, occasionally glancing back, touched by the smiles on her parents' faces.
"My dad's smile was radiant, his eyes lit up with happiness, a change from his usual calm demeanor. I was overjoyed to make my parents proud," Ngan said.
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Nguyen Phuong Ngan. Photo courtesy of the subject |
Nguyen Phuong Ngan. Photo courtesy of the subject
Ngan is an alumnus of Nguyen Du - Thanh Oai High School. During her high school years, she won first and second prizes in district and city-level physics competitions.
Ngan also enjoyed chemistry. She was drawn to healthcare fields not only for their practical applications but also because she believes they offer significant value to individuals, families, and the community.
With her parents' support, Ngan felt further motivated. In 2020, she scored 29.3 in the A00 exam group (math, physics, chemistry), becoming the top-scoring freshman at the Hanoi University of Pharmacy.
Despite entering with the highest score, Ngan said she never aimed to be the top-graduating student.
"I reminded myself to strive each day. That way, regardless of the outcome, I wouldn't have any regrets," Ngan shared.
The new graduate said her accomplishments stemmed mainly from hard work and persistence. She often studied for 16 hours, especially before exams or when working on scientific papers. Ngan used mind maps for memorization, visualizing connections between concepts or relating them to real-life situations instead of writing them down.
For instance, while studying physiology, she visualized the structure and function of organs in the human body. In pharmacology and pharmacokinetics, she considered how drugs metabolize and affect the body by picturing drug circulation within her own body and its impact on heart rate and blood pressure.
Ngan photographed new and complex information, saving it on her device to review whenever she had free time, like after waking up, before bed, or while waiting for the bus.
From her third year, she began research at the Pharmaceutical Chemistry Synthesis Laboratory. Initially, she faced challenges due to her lack of experience. However, through perseverance, she became proficient and passionate about her work.
Ngan enjoyed exploring various substances. She designed procedures for synthesizing new compounds, then discussed her ideas with her advisor. If a synthesis process was practical and feasible under laboratory conditions, her advisor would approve the purchase of materials.
Ngan co-authored a paper titled "Overview of HDAC6 and Selective HDAC6 Inhibitors for Anti-cancer Effects," published in the "Scientific Research and Development" journal. She also received awards and scholarships for her research potential.
Her thesis, "Synthesis and Evaluation of Anti-cancer Activity of Novel N-hydroxybutanamide Derivatives Containing Triazole Heterocycles," focusing on cancer cell inhibitors, took two years to complete.
Her biggest obstacle was repeated failed reactions, either not producing the desired product or creating hard-to-remove impurities. Ngan adjusted the reaction process, changing solvents and catalysts, finally synthesizing a new cancer cell inhibitor.
Her thesis received high praise from professors, scoring 9.5/10.
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Ngan at her undergraduate thesis defense. Photo courtesy of the subject |
Ngan at her undergraduate thesis defense. Photo courtesy of the subject
Doctor Duong Tien Anh from the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry said that over the past three years, Ngan has participated in various projects, notably on potential enzyme targets for developing new anti-cancer drugs, particularly histone deacetylase (HDAC).
"This topic not only formed her thesis but also contributed to the research group's report at the 2024 National Youth Science and Technology Conference, earning her the second national prize," he said.
According to Dr. Tien Anh, Ngan's meticulousness impressed the faculty. He once assigned her a complex discussion topic requiring information synthesis from multiple sources. Ngan presented the relevant content clearly, understandably, and scientifically, while also thoroughly addressing questions from group members.
"This demonstrated not only her dedication to research and learning but also inspired others," he shared.
Ngan's efforts earned her encouragement scholarships in 9 out of 10 semesters and numerous certificates of merit from the rector for outstanding academic achievements.
Ngan plans to pursue a master's degree at the university and continue her scientific research at the Pharmaceutical Chemistry Synthesis Laboratory.
"I've always dreamt of becoming a teacher, following in the footsteps of the professors at Hanoi University of Pharmacy who instilled in me a love for teaching," Ngan said.
Binh Minh
