Ho Vu Hoang Khoa, 22 years old, from Hue City, received his excellent degree in Biotechnology on 28/11. Among the 1,708 new graduates from International University, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City this year, Khoa led with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 93.4/100.

"I am happy, but this title doesn't say too much. Regardless, I gave my best effort," Khoa shared.

Ho Vu Hoang Khoa on his graduation day. *Photo: Provided by subject*

Khoa's curiosity for science subjects began in elementary school. In 8th grade, he joined the school's biology team, nurturing a passion for the field. By 10th grade, he was admitted to the biology specialized class at Tran Dai Nghia High School for the Gifted in Ho Chi Minh City. Initially, Khoa considered pursuing medicine, following the trend of many peers. However, in 12th grade, he decided to pivot to Biotechnology, seeing its "future development potential".

Khoa was admitted to International University based on his competency assessment exam scores. Upon enrollment, he faced challenges with the curriculum, which was entirely in English—a language he was not proficient in. He had to attend an intensive English class during the first semester of his freshman year before starting the main program.

"I had a headache because I had to speak and write in English," Khoa recalled. To overcome this, he committed to daily immersion in the language. Khoa developed a habit of watching movies and videos with English subtitles on TikTok to improve his listening, reading, and vocabulary. His university studies also helped him gradually develop quick reflexes in English.

"I also researched my favorite fields in English instead of learning in a traditional way," Khoa stated. "Learning with a comfortable mindset helps optimize time and increase productivity."

Last November, Khoa received an 8.0 IELTS score, achieving perfect scores in both Reading and Listening, after one month of intensive preparation. For these two skills, his secret was "drilling practice tests" and systematically reviewing commonly mistaken questions for further practice. For Writing and Speaking, he utilized artificial intelligence (AI) to grade and correct his work, while also learning to extract ideas from online lectures.

For his coursework, Khoa regularly read additional specialized materials, practiced past exam papers, and adhered to the criteria of each subject to "understand the essence" and meet requirements. He said he dedicated 3-4 hours to self-study at home daily, aiming to sleep before 10 PM to maintain his health. Additionally, Khoa studied in groups with friends to broaden his knowledge.

Another method that helped Khoa excel was actively serving as a teaching assistant for professors in subjects such as Biology Practical, Genetics Practical, Calculus I, and Organic Chemistry. To perform well, he needed to systematize and master the knowledge of each subject.

Khoa's thesis was titled "Genome-wide association study of Tuberculous Meningitis and Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Vietnam". According to Khoa, the research focused on identifying single nucleotide polymorphisms that might be associated with the spread of tuberculosis bacteria to the central nervous system, earning a score of 95/100 points.

Outside of his studies and research, Khoa enjoys playing games and exploring music. He played the trumpet in middle school and later learned guitar. Khoa once experimented with making music boxes and found it enjoyable. However, because music boxes are limited to 30 notes, he decided to study music theory and analyze music using programming.

Doctor Le Thanh Hoang Nhat, Khoa's thesis advisor, described him as eager to learn, passionate about scientific research, and possessing good skills.

"Khoa equipped himself with advanced programming skills and a solid foundation in molecular biology and genetics. This is what makes Khoa stand out significantly from his peers," Doctor Nhat noted.

Khoa plans to study abroad to further his expertise, aspiring to create artificial intelligence models that help explain biological phenomena and gain more experiences.

Huyen Trang