Pham Gia Bao – Biotechnology Valedictorian at NTTU

Starting from a research project on coffee husk beverages, Pham Gia Bao discovered his passion for science and step-by-step defined his direction in the field of microbiology. Graduating as the Valedictorian in Biotechnology at Nguyen Tat Thanh University with an Excellent GPA of 3.68, Bao was also the co-author of a Third Prize-winning project at Euréka and two scientific publications. Behind these achievements lies the story of a student who once had to change his research direction, overcome his anxiety about foreign language, and learn to believe in his own capabilities.

Coffee husks “matchmaking” with science

From coffee husks – an agricultural by-product, Pham Gia Bao and his research group developed a project to produce Cascara Kombucha beverage, excellently winning Third Prize at the 25th Euréka Student Scientific Research Award in 2023.

This achievement contributed to making Gia Bao one of the prominent faces in student scientific research activities at Nguyen Tat Thanh University. However, for the Biotechnology valedictorian, what was even more memorable than the award itself was finding his passion for scientific research and gaining a clearer view of his specialized direction.

“The Cascara Kombucha project and the Third Prize at Euréka were experiences that helped me realize I truly love scientific research. When working on my graduation thesis, delving deeper into microbiology and independently solving issues that arose during experiments, I understood even more clearly that this is the field I want to pursue long-term,” Gia Bao shared.

From a material that seemed to receive little attention, coffee husks became the subject for Bao to apply his Biotechnology knowledge into practice. The process of participating in the project helped him become familiar with the requirements of scientific work, from studying specialized issues and conducting experiments to monitoring and evaluating results.

Not stopping at the Euréka award, Bao was also the co-author of two scientific publications in journals indexed in ISI and Scopus. Among them, the publication “Coffee Husk By-Product as Novel Ingredients for Cascara Kombucha Production” addressed the use of coffee husk by-products as raw materials to produce beverages. The other publication researched the effects of multi-strain probiotics on the bioactivity of Cascara Kombucha.

Engaging in research early on also helped Bao realize that mastering theory is only the beginning. Laboratory work requires meticulousness, analytical ability, and perseverance when results do not go as expected.

“I always try to thoroughly master core knowledge and proactively practice to deeply understand what I have learned. In research, not every experiment yields expected results. I learned to look back at the process, identify the issue, and make adjustments in subsequent trials. Those exact experiences helped me accumulate knowledge and gradually become more confident in my abilities,” Bao stated.

The passion formed from the Euréka project continued to lead Bao to microbiology research when completing his graduation thesis in 2025. However, right during this critical phase, an unexpected change forced him to start over with a new research topic and face a challenge even greater than unsuccessful experiments.

The companionship and dedicated guidance of MSc. Tran Thi Bich Huy helped Gia Bao overcome challenges during the research process, successfully defending his graduation thesis in English with a score of 9.6

Changing research direction, overcoming the English anxiety

According to MSc. Tran Thi Bich Huy, Gia Bao’s academic advisor and thesis supervisor, the most memorable moment involving her student began when the lecturer who had guided Bao in scientific research since his freshman year suddenly transferred to another position.

Facing the risk of having no thesis supervisor, Bao proactively reached out to Ms. Huy to request a topic. That decision meant he had to switch to an entirely new research field and re-learn many specialized subjects right during a critical period of his academic program.

The pressure did not stop there. Bao’s thesis was registered to be presented in English, while he was not yet truly confident in his foreign language skills. At times, worrying that he might not meet the requirements, Bao expressed his wish to switch back to presenting in Vietnamese.

Faced with her student’s hesitation, Ms. Huy encouraged Bao to trust in his accumulated knowledge base and capabilities. Her trust gave him additional motivation to continue preparing and persistently pursue his original choice. As a result, Gia Bao successfully defended his graduation thesis in English, achieving a score of 9.6.

For Ms. Huy, what was memorable lay not only in the grade, but also in the way Bao confronted unexpected changes. From a student who was once anxious about his language proficiency, he proactively learned, adapted to the new topic, and completed a challenge he had previously wanted to give up on.

“Gia Bao is an exceptionally self-disciplined student with clear goals who is always proactive in everything he does. His most prominent trait is his undaunted spirit, always ready to step out of his comfort zone to learn new things,” MSc. Tran Thi Bich Huy remarked.

Through direct supervision, she highly appreciated Bao’s self-research capabilities and experimental skills. In particular, she emphasized his serious attitude toward every single procedure in the laboratory.

“In the Microbiology laboratory, he always demonstrated thoroughness, meticulousness, strict adherence to procedures, and a highly honest and precise work attitude,” Ms. Huy shared.

Looking back at that challenging phase, Gia Bao especially treasures the companionship of his lecturers. Alongside professional feedback, timely encouragement gave him added confidence to complete his thesis and grow more mature through the research process.

“I am especially grateful to Ms. Tran Thi Bich Huy for always dedicatedly guiding, encouraging, and helping me build self-belief, especially during difficult periods. I am also deeply thankful to Mr. Do Anh Duy, who guided and created opportunities for me to get acquainted with scientific research right from my initial steps. The companionship of my teachers served as a source of motivation for me to keep learning and pursuing the path I chose,” Bao expressed.

According to Bao, one of the things he treasures most while studying at the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, is receiving close guidance from lecturers, creating conditions to access laboratories and participate in research early on. That learning environment provided him the opportunity to put classroom knowledge into practice, hone specialized skills, and step-by-step discover the field suitable for himself.

From the Euréka project to his graduation thesis, Bao not only accumulated research experience but also learned how to proactively seek solutions when plans changed. Those were also experiences that helped him prepare better for the next phase, when knowledge is applied in a real-world internship environment.

From the research project on Cascara Kombucha beverage made from coffee husks, Pham Gia Bao step-by-step discovered his passion for science and defined his microbiology research orientation

A big dream in the world of microbiology

In parallel with research activities, Pham Gia Bao maintained Very Good and Excellent academic results throughout his university years and received study encouragement scholarships.

With a GPA of 3.68, classified as Excellent, Bao graduated as the valedictorian of Biotechnology at Nguyen Tat Thanh University. This achievement acknowledged his efforts in balancing studying, practical application, and scientific research.

In 2026, Bao completed his internship at the HUFI Institute of Applied Research and Technology Transfer with a score of 9.7. This experience helped him enhance laboratory skills, hone research thinking, and gain a clearer understanding of the difference between academic practice and actual work requirements at the internship unit.

Three important milestones – the Euréka Third Prize in 2023, the graduation thesis in 2025, and the internship in 2026 – helped Bao progressively define his path in Biotechnology. From getting acquainted with research, he gradually learned how to independently explore issues, apply knowledge, and take initiative when facing new professional demands.

Therefore, when asked what his greatest achievement after university was if a 3.68 GPA were considered just a figure, Bao did not mention his award or valedictorian title. What he values most is his personal growth.

“To me, a 3.68 GPA is a cherished milestone, but the most precious thing after university years is my personal maturity. I learned to be more proactive in my work, find solutions when encountering difficulties, and take responsibility for my choices. More importantly, those years at NTTU helped me understand myself, know what I truly want to pursue, and gain extra confidence to continue on that path,” Gia Bao shared.

Besides studying and researching, Bao also participated in the voluntary blood donation drive “Red Volunteer Day”. To him, family has always been the greatest source of motivation, encouraging him to keep trying and improving himself throughout his student years at NTTU.

After graduation, Bao aims to work in Biotechnology, particularly microbiology research. He hopes to accumulate more practical experience, enhance his expertise, and pursue a master’s degree to further develop in his chosen field. That orientation was formed directly from his learning and research experiences, rather than a momentary choice before graduation.

Understanding the challenges her student has overcome, Ms. Huy believes in Bao’s development potential. She hopes he will maintain his perseverance, passion for science, and serious work attitude when stepping onto the path of in-depth research.

From a valedictorian’s perspective, Bao believes Biotechnology offers many directions for development, from microbiology and biomedicine to food and agriculture. However, to pursue the field long-term, what matters most is that each student needs to proactively explore, find the area they truly love, and continuously refine their expertise.

“I think Biotechnology has many growth directions, but everyone needs to proactively learn to realize the field they truly love. When you have a solid knowledge base, actively practice skills, and stay persistent with your choice, you will find many more opportunities to develop in the industry,” Bao advised.

Starting from a research project on coffee husks, Pham Gia Bao discovered a passion for science, step-by-step defined his direction, and graduated as the valedictorian in Biotechnology. His years at Nguyen Tat Thanh University not only provided him with knowledge, skills, and research experience, but also helped the student who was once insecure before his English thesis defense gain firm belief to pursue higher educational goals.

Text: Cam Thach

Graphics: Hong Quang

Photos: Provided by the subject