🎓🌍 Prof. Hồ Phạm Minh Nhật (alumnus of the Vietnam–France Master’s Program in Applied Mathematics, Class of 2011) helps young scholars pursue PhDs at top universities worldwide

Hồ Phạm Minh Nhật (34) is a Full Professor at the University of Texas – Austin, one of the top 10 U.S. universities in the fields of Artificial Intelligence and Technology.

He is also a key member of the Institute for Foundations of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence in Austin, Texas. His main research and teaching areas include Data Science, Machine Learning, Statistics, and Artificial Intelligence.

“RISING STAR”

This professor, originally from Bạc Liêu, is often referred to in the U.S. academic community as a “rising star” in Data Science and Machine Learning. He is considered one of the most productive young professors with highly promising research.

To date, he has published 65 papers in Q1 journals and A conferences* (standards used to evaluate high-quality and impactful research) in the fields of AI, Machine Learning, Data Science, and Statistics. In addition, he has been entrusted as Associate Editor for several Q1 journals and A conferences*.

"I feel very proud to be recognized by my peers. It is a great encouragement. The praise also shows that the research work and directions I am pursuing have meaningful value in real life, which motivates me to strive even harder," he said.

Speaking with this young professor, it is easy to see that he can talk endlessly about scientific research. He explains:
"I enjoy exploring new knowledge. Gradually, this enjoyment developed into a passion for scientific research. I love the feeling of excitement and pride whenever I discover new models, properties, or methods… helping people understand more deeply and improve important applications in Data Science, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence."

He believes that Data Science and Artificial Intelligence will continue to “boom” in Vietnam and globally. Vietnam needs a team of top experts in these fields. Therefore, alongside teaching and research, he carries out numerous initiatives to help train the next generation of experts for the country.

"Data Science and AI are currently very “hot” fields. The job demand is high, and the compensation is extremely attractive, which makes them particularly appealing to young people. Therefore, I leverage my practical experience and international network to act as a bridge, helping young Vietnamese pursue PhDs in Machine Learning, Statistics, and AI at top universities worldwide," he shared.

Prof. Minh Nhật (second from the left) acts as a bridge, helping many young Vietnamese pursue PhDs in Machine Learning, Statistics, and Artificial Intelligence at top universities worldwide

Currently, some Vietnamese PhD students under his supervision have been highly recognized by the academic community for the quality of their research work and show strong potential to become professors at top universities worldwide in the future.

"Some of them have already been interviewed and accepted into PhD programs at prestigious universities in the U.S. This could help form a talented new generation in Vietnam in key fields such as Data Science, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence. Later, they may return to contribute to their homeland in the digital transformation revolution," he said.

AMBITION TO DEMONSTRATE “VIETNAMESE SPIRIT”

Looking back on his youth, the 34-year-old professor shared that he feels proud of his accomplishments.

According to him, his first achievement is becoming a professor at the University of Texas – Austin, which, according to the 2023 Princeton Reviews, is among the top 10 dream schools for American students. His second achievement is guiding and supporting many students in Vietnam to conduct research in Data Science, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence. His third achievement is having research recognized in leading international journals and conferences.

Among the research projects he has conducted, he is particularly satisfied with discovering important theories in combined models used by major companies such as Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI.

Another research highlight he is proud of is developing new methods to improve the efficiency of generative models. This work enables companies to generate high-quality new data, accessible to many people, without incurring high costs in building AI models.

"Currently, at 34 years old, I feel a mixture of happiness, pride, and gratitude. Happiness comes from being able to teach and conduct research that I love. Pride comes from the accomplishments and contributions I have made to myself and society. Gratitude comes from the nurturing and education provided by my parents, and the unconditional support from my family. I am especially grateful for the foundational knowledge, educational environment, and opportunities provided by my homeland, Vietnam," he shared.

Today, many talented young Vietnamese are demonstrating the “Vietnamese spirit” around the world in various fields. When asked what “Vietnamese spirit” he strives to embody, he said:

"I aspire to become one of the leading professors worldwide in Data Science, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence. It is a difficult goal that requires tremendous effort, but I believe I can achieve it in the near future."

He also mentioned meeting many young Vietnamese globally and realizing that no matter where they are or how successful they become, they all share a desire to contribute to their country.

"This contribution can take many forms, such as helping develop the next generation of talented people for the country or bringing international recognition to Vietnam through their successes. In this way, the world will know more about Vietnam and help the country develop further, standing alongside other global powers. I hope and believe that more and more young people will demonstrate the ‘Vietnamese spirit’ worldwide," he said.

Regarding his future plans, he shared that he will continue supporting Vietnamese students in scientific research, providing them with opportunities to pursue PhDs at top universities and become leading experts in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Science, and Statistics.

In addition, he plans to develop the Facebook page “Data Science and Artificial Intelligence”, which currently has over 16,000 members, to share knowledge from basic to advanced levels for young Vietnamese interested in these fields.