A 24-year-old Vietnamese student has secured a full PhD scholarship in the U.S. for breakthrough AI research, following notable contributions in global competitions and high-profile industry roles.
Le Thanh Long, a former student of Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST), has been awarded a full PhD scholarship at Johns Hopkins University thanks to his outstanding achievements in artificial intelligence (AI).
Coming from a business-oriented family central Vietnam, Long developed a passion for technology early on. He began studying AI during his first year at university, recognizing its pivotal role in daily life and future career opportunities.
While at HUST, Long secured an internship at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore. There, he contributed to major AI projects—including research with Professor Sh Annabel on analyzing and predicting the progression of Parkinson’s disease.
His work provided valuable insights for the medical field and played a key role in earning him the prestigious PhD scholarship at Johns Hopkins, paving the way for further AI research in neuroscience.
Before receiving this scholarship, Long applied to multiple master’s and PhD programs but initially faced setbacks. Through these challenges, he identified areas for improvement and focused on bolstering his experience in AI competitions, scientific research, and essay writing.
“My professors, especially Professor Sh Annabel, provided immense support during my application process. Without their guidance, I would not have achieved this result,” Long shared.
Pursuing Big Tech and professional experience
Determined to enhance his programming skills in a real-world setting, Long set his sights on joining a Big Tech company. Through perseverance and a structured study plan, he successfully landed a role at Amazon U.K. as a machine learning operations engineer.
His recruitment process included four rounds: an HR interview, an online assessment, a technical interview, and a culture-fit interview.
“Early exposure to corporate environments helped me gain confidence in algorithms and system design, which was crucial during the Amazon interview process,” he reflected.
From his second year of university onward, Long actively sought professional opportunities by working remotely for European companies on innovative AI products, such as virtual fitting rooms and recommendation systems.
This international experience not only enhanced his technical expertise but also improved his communication, project management, and teamwork skills, paving the way for future roles in leading tech firms and further academic pursuits.
In addition to his academic and professional endeavors, Long participated in international scientific conferences where he presented innovative AI research and solutions.
He also garnered top prizes in various AI competitions in Vietnam, including a runner-up finish at a Cyber Security Hackathon and the Best Presentation Award at the Modern Machine Learning (MML) summer school.
Looking ahead, Long said: “Soon after graduation, I plan to return to Vietnam to contribute to medical AI research and support the country’s development in the era of digital technology and artificial intelligence.”
