Doan Minh Quan (born in 2001), a CMIT Research Assistant, has honorably received a competitive Vingroup scholarship and a PhD admission offer from Imperial College London – one of the world’s most prestigious institutions.
According to the QS World University Rankings, the university is currently ranked second globally, while holding the number one spot in both the United Kingdom and Europe. Minh Quan has been honorably awarded the Vingroup Scholarship to pursue his PhD program at Imperial College London.
At the Vingroup Scholarship Award Ceremony on July 10th, Quan shared that his journey has been driven by a passion for science, a spirit of continuous learning, and a willingness to tackle challenging problems. Instead of merely seeking an opportunity to go abroad, Quan chose to invest in his knowledge, capability, and personal value to target the world’s most outstanding academic environments.
The “Launchpad” for a PhD Dream at a World-Class University
Doan Minh Quan began his studies in Materials Science and Engineering at Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST) in 2019. For the young scholar, this choice stemmed from an early curiosity: how is the world around us constructed, and why do materials have the power to dictate the advancement of technology, medicine, and human life?
From his very first years at the university, Minh Quan joined the research group of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Van Lich at HUST. Dr. Lich did not just impart academic knowledge; he laid the initial foundation for Quan’s scientific mindset: being persistent with questions, rigorous with data, and relentless in searching for novel solutions.
A major turning point came when Quan participated in an exchange program at POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology) in South Korea. Immersed in an international research environment, the young student realized that science is not merely about absorbing existing knowledge, but an active journey of generating new knowledge to solve previously unanswered questions. From that moment on, Quan resolved to pursue scientific research as a lifelong career path.
Upon graduating, Quan learned about the Pathway to PhD Program (VinUni-3P) at CMIT. He was introduced to the program by Prof. Phan Manh Huong during the Horizon 2025 International Conference held at VinUniversity. At the time, Quan was seeking an environment that would help him maintain his research momentum while preparing his application portfolio for higher education.
For Quan, VinUni-3P was not merely a research support place, but a crucial “launchpad” to foster creative thinking, develop international publishing capabilities, build a robust academic portfolio, and target prestigious PhD scholarships.
During his time in the program, Minh Quan transitioned from the mindset of a student to the working style of a professional researcher. Continuous hours of dedicated work, in-depth academic discussions, and an interdisciplinary research environment significantly enhanced both the productivity and quality of his research.
In April 2026, Quan’s research on the flexible control of mechanical properties in materials through nanostructure optimization was published in the Q1 journal Results in Engineering.
To date, Quan has co-authored six papers in Q1 journals, serving as the first author on three of them, alongside several other manuscripts currently under peer review. He has also presented his research findings at various prestigious international conferences, where his work received keen interest and high appreciation from the scientific community.
The young scholar shared that the international-standard academic environment and the multidisciplinary expert network at VinUni-3P also helped him broaden his horizons, confidently build his portfolio, and secure his PhD admission offer from Imperial College London.
Quan expressed his deep gratitude to Prof. Le Van Lich, the mentor who guided and accompanied him from his very first days. Quan believes that more and more young Vietnamese will confidently step into top-tier research environments, competing through their own capability and intellect, while contributing to the creation of a generation of influential Vietnamese scientists on the global stage.
University is not a race to graduate early, but a journey of self-perfection
For Prof. Lich, nothing surpasses the pride of seeing his students mature, find their own paths, and confidently step onto the global stage – and Minh Quan is the perfect embodiment of that pride.
Prof. Lich met Quan when he was just a first-year student. Back then, Quan was quite reserved. What caught the mentor’s attention was not the depth of his knowledge, but his curiosity, eagerness to learn, and thirst for discovery. According to Prof. Lich, while knowledge can be accumulated over time, it is this passion for discovery that sustains a person’s perseverance on the path of scientific research.
Over more than six years of mentorship, besides academic expertise, Prof. Lich always sought to instill in his student a foundation of scientific thinking, research honesty, and the integrity of a true scientist.
The road of research is never smooth. Prof. Lich witnessed Minh Quan navigate numerous difficulties, results that fell short of expectations, and moments where he faced incredibly tough choices. What the teacher cherishes most is that after every challenge, Quan never chose to give up. Instead, he always returned to being more meticulous, resilient, and determined than before.
One of the most memorable moments for Prof. Le Van Lich was when Minh Quan received the admission offer for the exchange program at POSTECH in South Korea. The notice arrived extremely late, leaving Quan with only a few hours to finalize his application. Moreover, participating in the program meant he would have to delay his graduation by a year compared to his peers.
During a candid conversation at the time, Prof. Lich shared with his student that university is not a race to see who graduates first, but a journey of self-perfection. Sometimes, daring to step out of one’s comfort zone and choosing the path less traveled is precisely the opportunity needed to grow faster.
“We raced to complete the application on that very day. I wrote the recommendation letter, while Quan scrambled to prepare other essential documents. A few months later, at a scientific conference in Vietnam, I ran into Prof. Kim from POSTECH. He told me he was advising an exceptionally outstanding Vietnamese student. I felt an overwhelming sense of joy and pride when I realized that student was Quan. For a teacher, there is perhaps no greater reward than seeing your student recognized by international colleagues for their own competence and dedication,” Prof. Lich recalled.
On the day Minh Quan received the Vingroup Scholarship to pursue his PhD at Imperial College London, Prof. Lich shared that he was deeply moved. It was not only because of the opportunity for Quan to study at one of the world’s leading universities, but also because this achievement was a well-deserved recognition of a long journey of relentless effort.
“What makes me proud is not simply where Quan will study, but that he has cultivated the core qualities of a scientist: honesty in research, humility in learning, and a constant desire to create positive value for the community.
Attending the scholarship award ceremony, seeing the bright eyes of the scholars, the happiness of their families, and the pride of their mentors, I felt an even deeper sense of the true meaning of education. I also highly appreciate scholarship programs that choose to invest in people, because each opportunity granted today not only changes an individual’s life but also contributes to nurturing the scientific resources for the nation’s future,” said Prof. Lich.
Prof. Lich reflected that while modern science can be evaluated by bibliometric indicators, what remains most sustainable beyond those numbers is the growth of the next generation. That is also the most beautiful meaning of the teaching profession. For a teacher, there is no greater reward than watching their students continue to write about their own journeys and even reach further than ever expected.
He expressed his belief that this PhD scholarship is not Minh Quan’s destination, but merely a milestone on the long road ahead. He also believes that one day Quan will return to continue inspiring and guiding the youth, walking alongside new generations of students just as many mentors once supported him.
To young students currently studying Physics and Materials Science, Doan Minh Quan shared a simple piece of advice: “Start planning early, thoroughly research the research directions of professors to find the right mentor, and persistently pursue the intersection where your passion meets the best support resources. With a clear vision and a powerful launchpad, the path to stepping into the world is well within your reach.”
