Dr Can Tran Thanh Trung, who graduated from the California Institute of Technology (US), is now working at the University of Natural Sciences, HCM City. Born in 1995, Trung is an alumnus of the High School for the Gifted under the Vietnam National University, HCM City. He won a gold medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) in Colombia in 2013.

After finishing high school, Trung received a full scholarship to study at Duke University (US), one of the 10 best universities in the US as ranked by US News 2024. He graduated from the school as valedictorian in Mathematics in 2018.

Trung then entered the PhD program in Mathematics at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). According to THE 2024 rankings, Caltech is seventh among the world's best universities. Quacquarelli Symonds - QS (UK) placed Caltech in the global top 10.

Trung said since 2016, together with PiMA (Projects in Mathematics and Application), he has organized maths and app summer camps for high school students across the country. The program introduces modern applied mathematics to high school students and helps them practice skills such as teamwork, research, and programming.

Many camp participants have succeeded in their careers and worked for leading tech companies or become PhD candidates at prestigious international universities. 

Trung plans to develop PiMA into a high-quality mathematics and applied training and research center under the University of Science, Vietnam National University.

Many other PhDs graduating from prestigious universities worldwide have also returned to work in Vietnam. 

Returning to Vietnam to work for the HCM City University of Natural Sciences are:

Dr Tran Minh Tuan, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison (USA); Dr Le Trung Hoang from School of Computing and Information Systems (Singapore); Dr Le Van Ve, from (South) Korea University of Science and Technology; and Dr Trinh Quang Vinh, from National Chi Nan University (Taiwan).

Dr Hoang Tung, who graduated from Seoul National University (South Korea); Dr Tran Thi Thuy Linh from Paris-Saclay University (France); Dr Thai Khac Minh from the University of Vienna (Austria); and Dr Tran Huynh Nguyen Khanh from Daegu Catholic University (South Korea) have joined the University of Health Sciences.

Dr Van Phung Truong Son, a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University (US); Dr Nguyen Sy Ngoc, from Seoul National University (South Korea); Dr Bui Van Hong Linh, from Chulalongkorn University (Thailand); Dr Pham Toan Thang, from Sejong University (South Korea); Dr Nguyen Van Hieu from Côte D’Azur University (France); Dr Truong Van Tri from the University of Ostrava (Czech Republic); and Dr Truong Ngoc Cuong from Korea Maritime and Ocean University (South Korea) have returned to work at the HCMC University of Technology (HCMUT).

Meanwhile, Dr Vu Gia Phong, a graduate of the University of California Berkeley, is now working at the International University; Dr Pham Ngoc Thanh, who graduated from Osaka University, Japan, has joined An Giang University.

A representative of the HCM City University of Industry and Trade (HUIT) said that three PhDs graduating from foreign schools returned to Vietnam last year to work at the school. The university offers a financial support package of VND75 million to PhDs, VND100 million to associate professors, and VND150 million to professors.

"In addition to financial support, the university also provides favorable conditions to work and devote themselves to teaching and scientific research. The individuals can still receive up to 100 percent of their salaries when following refresher training courses,” he said. 

“They are valued in their field of work, and they have opportunities to access resources, and have high priority order in conducting scientific research projects. Also, they can work in the best possible environment,” he added.

The school also offers policies to encourage them to attend training courses to improve their professional knowledge. If candidates can complete their doctoral dissertation ahead of schedule, they get a support package worth VND25 million. Those who receive the title of associate professor will get financial support of VND30 million and professors VND50 million.

Moreover, the school applies a generous reward policy for scientific publications. Individuals who publish their scientific research in SCIE/SSCI journals with Q1 index can receive a VND75 million reward, while those with Q2 index get VND50 million, and other ISI journals, including SCIE, SSCI with Q3, Q4, or ESCI index, can get VND35 million. If articles are published in Scopus journals, the authors can receive VND20 million, and in ISI/Scopus listings VND15 million.

Le Huyen