Dr To Minh Nhat (born 1996) is currently an aerospace mechanical engineer, specializing in the manufacture of aircraft engines within the Safran group (France). Eight months ago, Nhat earned a doctorate from the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space, France’s leading aerospace engineering school.
“Three years ago, I left for France with 2 suitcases and the dream of conquering the sky. Three years later, I have more baggage in hand, but this desire has never cooled,” Nhat said.
To Minh Nhat is currently an aeronautical mechanical engineer (Photo: NVCC)
Gars Quang Ngai originally a former student of Duc Pho No.1 High School. Nhat is also the face who won the laurel crown and participated in the monthly round of the Road to Olympia competition. Due to its love for the film “Iron Man”, Japan is gradually becoming passionate about robots flying in the sky. Therefore, the student decided to take the entrance exam to the Polytechnic University of the National University of Ho Chi Minh City.
As part of the group of people with high scores, Nhat enrolled in the Vietnam-France high-quality engineering training program. In the early years, the curriculum was heavily theoretical, the number of credits was twice that of the general education system, and there were months when students “had to take exams every day.” Learning a lot of theory but not being able to practice makes Japan depressed, even wondering “should I retake the college entrance exam?”
At the end of the second year, when the specialist exam began, Nhat chose aeronautical engineering. With deeper knowledge of manufacturing techniques and greater exposure to the industry, the Japanese passion gradually returned.
“During that time, I was exposed to the technical specifications of real aircraft and interned at several aviation companies in Vietnam. Dong Nai, Bình dương… The knowledge I gain makes me want to stay true to the profession,” Nhat said.
Nhat is also the face who won the laurel crown and participated in the monthly round of the Road to Olympia competition. (Photo: NVCC)
At the end of the 4th year, thanks to his excellent academic results, Nhat was one of two students selected to go to France for a 6-month internship at the school affiliated with the École Polytechnique, the École Nationale Supérieure of Mechanics and Aviation (France). Here, Vietnamese students work in a research laboratory related to fluid mechanics.
Even though his French at the time was not very good, Nhat still decided to defend his final thesis in French before the French Council. As a result, the student earned a perfect score of 20/20 and graduated valedictorian of the major with a cumulative GPA of 8.19/10.
The Vietnamese boy chose to do his doctorate at the French National Institute of Aeronautics and Space. (Photo: NVCC)
Realizing the student’s potential, at the end of the internship period, the Japanese instructor suggested that the student stay and pursue a Ph.D. However, Nhat decided to return to Vietnam, working in a Swiss simulation software company related to the field of structural and materials mechanics.
During a year of work, there were many things about Japanese industry that I wanted to learn but were not satisfied with. Believing that “if you want to go further in your career, you have to continue your education,” Nhat “found a way” to study for a doctorate. From 1, 2020X began to “release” documents.
Graduating as a major gives Japan many advantages. In addition, Nhat has a letter of recommendation from the lecturer of the aviation department and the supervising professor during his internship in France. Evaluations related to research ability, initiative… allowed Nhat to be accepted by many professors in the laboratory.
The Vietnamese boy then chose to study at the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space in Toulouse. “It is the headquarters of many airlines. Through this, I have the opportunity to interact directly with the aviation industry, opening doors to things I have never seen before,” said Nhat.
Here also, Nhat had the opportunity to exchange for a year and a half in a school in the city of Tarbes. “Before studying my PhD, I decided it would be a ‘swimming on my own’ journey. But fortunately, the instructors were all dedicated, followed my work closely, and always encouraged students to “try hard, everything will be fine.” So this trip is no longer too stressful. »
After 3 years of research in 2 schools, Japan had up to 6 professors teaching in 3 laboratories, specializing in structures – mechanics, adhesives and polymer materials. Before the day Japan defended his doctoral thesis, the six professors listened to the Vietnamese make a draft presentation and edited every sentence to prepare for the important presentation.
“These are all positive memories and experiences of a friendly and open environment, eager to share knowledge,” Nhat said.
Nhat and his professors on the day of their doctoral thesis defense. (Photo: NVCC)
About 6 months before graduation, the supervisor offered Nhat a postdoctoral research position. However, according to Japan, in the aerospace engineering industry, the gap between research and applications is very large. Therefore, 9X wants to deepen the application direction.
During the last period of his doctorate, Nhat applied to several major aeronautical companies in France. Among them, Safran was the first company to interview and hire Nhat just before his graduation, as an aeronautical mechanical engineer, specializing in aircraft engines.
Having a “dream” job, Nhat feels that he still needs to try to improve and explore many different aspects of the manufacturing engineering field.
“The more I go out, the more I feel like I don’t know much, I just want to become a frog with strong legs, able to jump out of the well to reach a big well, and see the sky more clearly. I want to improve my thinking and knowledge so that I can contribute more or less to the aerospace industry in Vietnam one day in the near future,” Nhat said.
The young man obtained his doctorate at the age of 29 and chose to return to Vietnam to work in the medical field. Setting the goal before going to study abroad to “study until the end” , After completing the master’s program in the United Kingdom, The Vinh continued to go to Korea to do his doctorate. He graduated from the #1 school in this country when he was under 30 years old.
How does Duong Nhat’s decision to pursue a career focused on application rather than continuing in research reflect personal values and priorities, and what are the potential implications of this choice for both his career and Vietnam’s aerospace industry?
This article recounts the remarkable journey of Duong Nhat, a Vietnamese man who achieved both academic and career success in the field of aeronautical engineering. Let’s break down the story into thematic sections and develop open-ended questions for discussion:
**Section 1: Early Life and Inspirations**
* **Key Topics:** Nhat’s winning streak on “Road to Olympia,” childhood passion for “Iron Man”, choice to pursue engineering.
* **Open-ended Questions:**
* How might Nhat’s experiences on “Road to Olympia” have contributed to his determination and success in academics?
* Nhat’s passion for “Iron Man” led him to aerospace engineering. What role do you think pop culture and personal interests play in shaping career aspirations?
* What are the potential benefits and challenges of pursuing a specialized field like aeronautical engineering from a young age?
**Section 2: Navigating Academic Challenges and Triumphs**
* **Key Topics:** Initial struggles with the rigorous curriculum, internship experiences, decision to pursue Doctorate.
* **Open-ended Questions:**
* Nhat hit a point of doubt during his early years. How common is encountering such challenges in demanding academic programs, and what strategies can help students persevere?
* How did Nhat’s internship experiences in Vietnam shape his perspective on the field and solidify his passion?
* What factors influenced Nhat’s decision to pursue a doctorate despite having a promising job offer?
**Section 3: Doctoral Studies and International Experience**
* **Key Topics:** Choosing France, supportive professors, research focus and collaboration.
* **Open-ended Questions:**
* What advantages and disadvantages might a student consider when choosing to pursue doctoral studies abroad?
* How did the collaborative environment and mentorship Nhat experienced in France contribute to his academic growth?
* Nhat had the opportunity to work with professors across different laboratories. What are the potential benefits of such interdisciplinary research collaboration?
**Section 4: Career Aspirations and Contributions to Vietnam**
* **Key Topics:** Postdoctoral position offer, focus on application over research, desire to contribute to Vietnam’s aerospace industry.
* **Open-ended Questions:**
* Nhat chose to accept a job in an applied engineering role instead of continuing in research. Why might this decision be significant for someone with his qualifications?
* What challenges and opportunities might Nhat face in contributing to the development of Vietnam’s aerospace industry?
* Nhat’s story demonstrates the value of pursuing education and experience abroad. How can individuals and institutions in Vietnam encourage and support such endeavors to foster national progress?
Let me know if you would like me to delve into any of these sections further or if you have other aspects of the article you’d like to discuss.
