Vietnamese man's inspiring journey from construction work to dual PhDs in Europe

At 26, Ngo Huu Thoai has achieved what many can only dream of—getting doctorate in nano electronics from Lille University in France and physics from Ghent University in Belgium.

The story of his journey from a humble background to becoming a postdoctoral researcher in Germany is nothing short of extraordinary.

In August he successfully defended both his doctoral dissertations after three years in a joint program between the two universities. He is now a researcher at the Solid Surfaces, Nanostructures, and Quantum Materials Lab at the Technische Universitat Chemnitz's Institute of Physics.

Ngo Huu Thoai in the laboratory of Chemnitz University of Technology, Germany. Photo courtesy of Thoai

He and his colleagues are studying the electronic and quantum properties of graphene materials on a silicon carbide substrate intercalated with specific metal elements.

Graphene, a two-dimensional material known for its exceptional electronic properties, is at the forefront of advanced physics and nanotechnology while silicon carbide wafers and substrates are specialized materials used in semiconductor technology known for its high thermal conductivity, excellent mechanical strength and wide bandgap.

Using low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy, Thoai aims to explore the quantum spin Hall effect in graphene, a phenomenon with significant potential applications in spintronics and quantum information technologies.

Journey of resilience, determination

Thoai's journey to academic brilliance began in a coastal village in Ba Tri District in Ben Tre Province, where he was raised by his mother.

His family's struggles inspired him to focus on education as a way to escape poverty.

"Family has always been one of my greatest motivations," he says.

In 2016 he was accepted to the University of Science, Vietnam National University, HCMC, to study material science with a focus on thin-film materials.

Faced with tuition fees of VND4 million (US$157) per semester, he did physically demanding jobs like construction work and load carrying to earn that money.

"I worked as a laborer at construction sites and markets, served in restaurants, worked as a factory worker, and tutored students, all at the same time, to pay for my education and support my family," he says.

Since he excelled academically, he also got the Dong Hanh scholarship, Lawrence S. Ting Foundation Scholarship, Odon Vallet scholarship, and Panasonic scholarship.

"You must set goals, and once you have them, you need to figure out how you will achieve them," he says.

From student to researcher

A laboratory internship while in his third year at university sparked a passion in Thoai for research.

Fascinated by the changing properties of materials at the nanoscale, he decided to explore this field further.

His undergraduate thesis on synthesizing and applying graphene oxide in memory and sensor devices earned a perfect score and was published in the prestigious "Journal of Science: Advanced Materials and Devices".

Recognizing his potential, Associate Professor Pham Kim Ngoc in the faculty of materials science and technology at his university recommended him for a three-month research internship at the Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences.

This experience connected him with alumni from the Dong Hanh Scholarship, who encouraged him to pursue master’s programs in France.

Prof Ngoc says: "Thoai is serious about learning, always striving to explore and thoroughly understand each issue. I see his tireless effort, determination and optimistic attitude in every situation."

At this time Thoai had not yet defended his thesis and did not have a university graduation certificate to complete his application.

He patiently wrote letters to several universities, outlining his goals, demonstrating his capabilities and committing to graduate on time.

"The process of preparing the application was full of challenges, but thanks to my curiosity and deep interest in research, I made as much effort as I could and sought advice from my seniors and professors to complete it," Thoai says.

He managed to secure scholarships to study for a master’s degree at Pau University and Paris-Saclay University and opted for the latter due to its reputation as one of France’s top institutions.

He went on to graduate with honors and win master's scholarships again from both Pau University and Paris-Saclay University.

He again chose Paris-Saclay to pursue a master's program in nanoscience in September 2020.

The program offered both theoretical and practical knowledge in nanotechnology and semiconductors.

After six months of theoretical studies, Thoai spent about four months researching at the University of Paris Cite into "Study of the structural and electronic properties of nitrogen-doped graphene materials."

The experience provided him with a fresh perspective on quantum mechanics and nanoelectronics and sparked a desire to delve deeper into the field. So he applied for PhD scholarships at numerous institutions though he had not yet defended his master's thesis.

"I never wait until I finish my current program before seeking higher opportunities; I always look ahead and commit fully to securing scholarships," he says.

Thanks to his proactive approach and diligent planning, he graduated with a master's thesis and also co-authored a paper published in a scientific journal Q1. Following this he received several PhD offers.

He took a chance on a joint PhD program at the University of Lille and Ghent University.

The program, backed by the French National Fund and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions fund, is a highly competitive scholarship in Europe.

His efforts and patience were finally rewarded when he was accepted.

In addition to higher-than-average financial support, Thoai also had the opportunity to work in state-of-the-art laboratories in France, Belgium and Germany.

Ngo Huu Thoai (L, 4th) with the thesis evaluation council at the Institute of Electronics, Microelectronics and Nanotechnology - French National Centre for Scientific Research. Photo courtesy of Thoai

The most memorable experience was when he researched the electronic properties of CdSe nanoparticle crystals using scanning tunneling microscopy.

This material was very difficult to measure, and he had to patiently measure it alone in an underground laboratory for a year and a half.

But he found the experience rewarding, with professors and lab mates always ready to give him a hand when he encountered difficulties.

After three years of hard work Thoai successfully defended his PhD thesis.

He received four or five offers for postdoctoral research positions, and after considering factors such as the professors’ profiles, laboratories’ focuses and development orientations and salaries, Thoai decided to go to the Chemnitz University of Technology in September this year.

Reflecting on his journey, Thoai admits there were times when he lost motivation, partly because of family issues.

But his passion for research and desire to take care of his mother helped him stay determined and proactive.

"If you are proactive, you will find the opportunity to grow."

Now that his life has improved, he wants to inspire and support other young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, who aspire to explore the world and support their family.

The 26-year-old participates in the alumni association at his old university back in Vietnam, offering advice and information about scholarship and education opportunities abroad with students.

His former teacher, Ngoc, has this to say: "Thoai maintains his enthusiasm and continues to contribute to the community, which is something very valuable."