The HUSTer and His Aspiration to Connect Traditional Medicine with Modern Technology

The stage lights of the iNEXT Leader 2026 finale shone brightly as the name Trinh Minh Duc was announced for the highest position, marking a brilliant milestone in his student life. Overcoming a network of nearly 1,500 potential competitors from 83 universities nationwide, the final-year student majoring in Pharmaceutical Chemical Engineering (CH-E11) from the School of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST), affirmed the unique identity of an engineering student in an arena usually dominated by economics majors.

An Unexpected Turn and Iron Discipline Beside 200-Page Notebooks

Duc's presence at HUST had many interesting facets right from the start. Despite his advantage in the D01 subject combination and having secured early admission to International Law at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and English Pedagogy at Hanoi National University of Education, Duc decided to challenge himself on the path of basic science, guided by his family's orientation.

Duc's parents, who have worked long-term in the Economics sector, always believed that basic science is the core foundation for the country's development. Alongside this, with a background of grandparents being traditional Eastern medicine practitioners, Duc yearned to find the intersection between traditional values and modern medical knowledge.

Choosing the Advanced Program in Pharmaceutical Chemical Engineering taught entirely in English (CH-E11) at HUST, Duc placed himself in an international training environment right in Vietnam. During his early days in the lecture halls, Duc admitted to struggling with the massive volume of knowledge and relentless deadlines. The freshman chose iron discipline to conquer this challenge.
  In the process of conquering "tough" subjects, Duc always cherished the guidance of his teachers at the School of Chemistry and Life Sciences. Dr. Nguyen Dang Binh Thanh and Assoc. Prof. Vu Dinh Tien were the teachers who taught Duc the most important lesson about systems thinking and getting to the root of a problem to solve it.

Duc always remembers teacher Tien's sharing that classroom knowledge is only a small part; the most meaningful thing a student must achieve after each module is a method of thinking and how to provide solutions for various real-life problems. The teachers at HUST are truly guides, constantly encouraging Duc and his peers to ask critical questions instead of resorting to rote learning.

Duc's efforts resulted in an impressive transcript with a CPA of 3.79/4.0 and titles for outstanding academic achievements. He continuously received Type A academic encouragement scholarships for many consecutive semesters. Possessing an IELTS 7.0 certificate helped Duc access international resources, turning a foreign language into a powerful tool for deepening his professional research. However, Duc's grades also showed that he sometimes struggled to push past his limits, receiving a C in Calculus I and a D+ in General Military Education and Karatedo!
  Lab Test Tubes Intersecting with the Market's Pulse

The image of a HUSTer in Duc was vividly portrayed through hours of diligent work in the laboratories. He soon joined research groups at Phenikaa University on antibacterial peptides and conducted his graduation project on natural compound extraction at the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology.

Duc was particularly impressed by the Fragrances and Cosmetics course taught by Dr. Le Thi Thuy. She helped him deeply understand the production processes of beauty products, quality evaluation criteria, and effective usage, giving him practical knowledge to choose suitable products and avoid skin irritation. In the Industrial Design course, his teacher's support helped him grasp ergonomics, learning to always prioritize humans when designing any product.

These practical experiences helped Duc realize the difference between pure theory and variable-filled experiments, training the HUST Pharmaceutical Chemistry boy in skills for processing results and mastering equipment. Designing experiments and observing how the surrounding environment affects measurement results shaped the careful mindset of a future Pharmaceutical Chemical Engineer.
A major turning point occurred in the summer of 2025 when Duc participated in an exchange program at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). In a high-intensity international environment, Duc worked directly with PhDs and researchers to synthesize the anticancer drug protein αDR5 5mer using biochemical methods.
  At KAIST, Duc always received the care and companionship of Assoc. Prof. Phan Thi To Nga, currently the Vice Dean of the Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Life Sciences at HUST. The memories of her caring for him meticulously during his trip abroad deeply moved him, as he realized it is rare for university lecturers to be so close and genuinely share with their students.

The strict requirements for precision in experiments from Korean professors, along with the meticulousness and strict discipline of the researchers, completely reshaped Duc's professional research demeanor. Here, the Vietnamese student confidently asserted his professional capacity and flexible adaptability, proving that HUST students can absolutely integrate into world-leading research centers.

Not confining himself to the laboratory space, Duc brought the mindset of a Pharmaceutical Chemical Engineer into the startup world. With the Calmio project, Duc took on the role of R&D Lead, creating an alertness and stress-relief lozenge combining L-Theanine and Caffeine. The project won Third Prize in the Techstart 2024 competition, made the list of outstanding youth innovation projects, and reached an initial user base of 200 - 250 people.

Receiving a $2000 sponsorship package from the Venture X program at VinUniversity, along with the companionship of professional mentors, helped Duc clearly understand the arduous journey of bringing a product from a test tube to the real market. The HUST boy understood that for research results to meet strict market demands, a combination of multiple factors is required. Duc actively honed his knowledge of project management through an RMIT course and scientific writing skills from Stanford University to perfect his versatile profile.

The Vision of a Tech Leader and a Heart Appreciating Sincerity    
  The victory at the iNEXT Leader 2026 competition affirmed the position of a modern engineering student amidst talented competitors in Economics and IT. Sleepless nights spent with teammates solving tough problems helped Duc discover the power of collective effort and exceptional pressure tolerance. Earning special interview opportunities with multinational corporations like B. Braun and Shopee Express opened up a promising career path for the young engineer.

Duc's dynamism extends beyond national borders as he represented Vietnamese youth at international diplomatic forums. Selected as one of five representatives for the 12th ASEAN-China Young Leaders Exchange Program, Duc had the opportunity to learn about green electricity technology and renewable energy.

Through cultural exchanges in China and his participation in the Red Journey 2026, Duc was always conscious of building the image of modern Vietnamese youth: highly skilled, proficient in foreign languages, and full of bravery. The young man learned the power of people-to-people diplomacy and storytelling skills from veteran journalists to confidently represent the internationally integrated younger generation. For Duc, participating in these programs was a test of both physical endurance and communication and learning abilities.
  Reaping many successes, Duc still maintains his humility and deep gratitude toward his family. He admits that he sometimes feels pressured by the excellence of his parents and grandparents, but that very pressure becomes his motivation for continuous self-improvement. The HUST boy believes that each individual has their own way of shining, and what matters most is sincerity and humanity in life. His fit, elegant appearance further highlights the calm and humble demeanor of the Pharmaceutical Chemistry student in every conversation.

In the near future, Duc plans to focus on the Health Sciences field to accumulate practical experience in a professional working environment before pursuing higher education abroad. The future Pharmaceutical Chemical Engineer hopes to return to contribute his intellect to the nation's science, continuing his family's tradition of medical ethics.
  Duc always keeps a profound philosophy in mind: “All roads lead to Rome,” believing that every individual has their own pace—some walk fast, some walk slow—but as long as they persevere and stay strong, everyone will reach their own "Rome." For Duc, being a little better every day than the day before and learning something new is already an important step forward on the journey to conquer the "Rome" of knowledge and career!