Meet 9X boys with 15 international scientific publications

Just 26 years old with 15 ISI international announcements, Tran Quoc Quan is probably holding Vietnam's record of international publication at his age. But the story of the 9X guy in the poor countryside of Can Loc, Ha Tinh is not just a scientific article.

Going to tutor to make money to do science

Starting scientific research from the second year of university, up to now, after about 5 years, Tran Quoc Quan, PhD student of Advanced Materials and Structural Laboratory, University of Technology - VNU, has owned 22 scientific articles and reports including 15 ISI publications (the world's most prestigious scientific journal system) with an impact index (IF) greater than 2.

This is a desirable number for not only domestic researchers but also foreign-trained graduate students. However, few people know that, in order to achieve this achievement, Tran Quoc Quan has experienced quite a lot of hard work.

Only 26 years old but Tran Quoc Quan had 14 ISI projects.(Photo: Le Van).

Quan said that in 2011, when participating in the introduction of scientific topics of the teachers in the school, I heard and felt very interested in the research direction on composite materials by Prof. Nguyen Dinh Duc - who instructor of the Army later."After that day, I went to see the teacher and asked for my strength" - Quan said.

Quan started his scientific research path from that time. In the next 2 years, when graduating from the University, under the guidance of Prof. Duc, Quan had 2 international publications in ISI magazines.

After graduation, there are many choices and opportunities: Find scholarships abroad to study or work with a high salary. However, in the end Quan still chose to stay in his doctorate country, continuing to pursue the path of scientific research.

"At that time, I just joined as a subject with Professor Nguyen Dinh Duc and worked as a tutor to earn more income. However, the income was not much, the tuition fees for doctoral and English studies were many. when I still have to ask for money from my family " - Quan said.

At the same time, the father of the army also suffered a seizure, paralyzed by half. The family's income is completely dependent on the father's pension and the mother's grocery store income."It was a hard and difficult time and I was also struggling and struggling a lot," Quan said.

In the years of 2014-2015, Quan had the opportunity to receive scholarships to study abroad, but he still decided to stay in the direction of research and chosen with his instructor.

Quan said that it would be easier and more convenient for me to go abroad to study under a scholarship, but since I have determined to follow this research direction and have invested in it, should I? want to quit.

Until the end of 2015, when the Advanced Materials and Structural Laboratories was established, Quan was only allowed to sign an officer contract here with an engineer salary. Quan said that at the moment, I don't have to ask for money from my family anymore, but I have not helped much for my parents.

However, up to now, the 9X boys' efforts have been rewarded. Not only has the "great" scientific research achievements, Quan recently received the Nguyen Van Dao Mechanical Talent Award for the third time. Quan is the youngest scientist to be awarded the prize. this.

Science must come from reality

Possessing up to 15 ISI announcements, Quan also said that scientific research is not necessarily a follow-up of scientific articles.

According to Quan, basic scientific research as the research direction you are pursuing, the evaluation of results is mainly based on international publications. However, basic research must also come from reality and work towards practical application, not just pure international publication.

Tran Quoc Quan said that scientific research needs to come from practice and practice.(Photo: Le Van).

"For example, when I do research, even if I calculate the theory, I have to think about where this material is made, how to do it and where my results can be applied. Well, there's an international publication for nothing to do, " Quan said.

"Of course, this depends on the specific industry. There are difficult branches, but there are also industries that are easier to apply. Because basic science is primarily the foundation and orientation for other sciences." - Quan added.

Quan said that I myself would like to apply my research results to solve practical problems.

"In the past, the school's facilities have not allowed but until now, when the Advanced Materials and Structural Laboratories were established, I and my students and students will have many things. more in the experimental results to apply to practice, " Quan said.

Talking about future plans, Quan said, currently, the research results for his doctoral thesis have been completed, next year, he defends his doctoral thesis and continues his research work. teaching at University of Technology - VNU.

Quan's doctoral dissertation research topic is about FGM functional materials, a relatively new research direction in Vietnam. Quan said that this research direction cannot be applied right in Vietnam at the present time, but I hope that someday, it is possible to apply these research results into practice.

In addition to research, Quan also hopes to train and lead more students who are passionate about research like me. Quan said, I used to meet a lot of smart friends who do science but then quit because I felt so hard."If you want to do scientific research in Vietnam, you have to endure suffering," Quan said.

I asked Quan, what caused me to overcome that suffering to pursue scientific research, Quan contemplated for a while and then answered me: "Since I was in grade 1, my hometown students have been It is determined that only students can escape this poor land, so pursuing education is the only way of people like you. "