Pham Thi Phuong Thuy (first left) and her students

Pham Thi Phuong Thuy is now a lecturer in the Biotechnology Faculty at HCM City Food Industry University. 

Thuy is the author of 17 scientific articles published in international journals, one article published in a Vietnamese journal, and one presentation at the Conference on Chemistry in South Korea 2007.

She is also the main author of a chapter of an internationally published monograph, co-author of an utility solution in South Korea, and a member of a ministerial-level project under implementation. Thuy won the award for most cited SCI (science citation index) Article in 2009-2013 from Water Research magazine.

Thuy said she was most proud of her research on transforming solid waste from organic waste. Leftover food could be converted to coal and oil instead of fertilizer, which can bring greater benefits.

Thuy said that organic waste still cannot be effectively recycled.  “The environment is seriously polluted, while fuel such as coal and oil are being depleted and are expensive. The coal from organic waste will help mitigate the burden on the environment.”

At present, the production cost of the coal remains uncompetitive compared with industrial coal. 

However, in the future, when fossil fuel becomes exhausted, this will be the ideal solution. She believes that more thorough research is needed to commercialize fuel and place it in the market at competitive prices.

Thuy and her husband, who is a scientist in the same field, are carrying out research on the use of antibiotics in Vietnam. 

An excessive amount of antibiotics is released into the environment, causing antibiotic-resistant bacteria to develop rapidly. As a result, many antibiotics, which are used excessively in Vietnam, have become ineffective in treatment of infectious diseases.

In 2005, Thuy graduated from the HCM City University of Science & Technology, majoring in food technology. She left Vietnam after obtaining a scholarship for a master’s and PhD in South Korea. After earning her PhD, she chose a job in Singapore.

Thuy later married and had two children. She led a good life in Singapore with a monthly salary of VND100 million, but she decided to return and become a lecturer in Vietnam.

Regarding the Golden Globe Youth Award on Science and Technology, 10 outstanding faces were selected among 61 nominations of 31 units in different fields.

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