The journey to get a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine at the age of 28 of the valedictorian of the Academy of Agriculture-Youth

Le Thi Dung has a love for animals and a passion for learning and research along with the dream of becoming a veterinarian to care for and treat pet diseases.

Le Thi Dung became a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Tokyo, Japan at the age of 28.

Le Thi Dung (Quang Ninh), from a young age, she soon expressed her love for animals and her passion for studying and researching in the field of agriculture. In 2011, Le Thi Dung left her hometown with her dream of becoming a veterinarian to take care of and treat pets.

After graduating from the Vietnam Agricultural Academy, with the title of valedictorian, Le Thi Dung chose to work and gain research experience in the veterinary industry with the first private veterinary vaccine manufacturing company. of Japan, in Vietnam. This is the time to help her understand more about scientific research, which must ultimately be applied, served, and met practical needs. During this time, Dung not only updated his expertise and vaccine production technology, but also learned the admirable working style of the Japanese.

Not only working hard, accumulating experience and skills, Dung also constantly improved her English and Japanese skills and actively sought out professors to “apply” the scholarship. One year after graduating from university, Le Thi Dung received a Japanese Government Scholarship (MEXT scholarship – a prestigious scholarship for research) to pursue a PhD in Veterinary Medicine at the University of Tokyo, Japan. need a Master’s degree, at the age of 24.

Dung shared, “The opportunity that came to me was really unexpected because this was my first time applying, so I also determined to get experience. At the same time, the MEXT scholarship is very competitive for someone who has just graduated from college and works in an enterprise, not in a state agency like myself.”

During the first time doing research, professors almost completely did not repeat the background knowledge at the university, but went straight to analyzing in-depth topics, making Dung feel “shocked” when it was all new knowledge. cool, incomprehensible. “There are times when I feel very pressured, very lonely, want to give up everything to return, but the encouragement of my family and the aspirations of my youth have motivated me to keep moving forward. prior to”. In the following days, the graduate student decided to make up for the lack of knowledge with her hard work when she went to the lab early and returned to the dormitory on the last train of the day. New knowledge is updated by Dung every day from scientific articles, then will exchange and discuss directly with the “senpai” seniors who have gone before.

Le Thi Dung (front row, 5th from the right) is an excellent valedictorian, graduating from universities and academies in the city. Hanoi, 2016.

Research results on infectious diseases first detected in cows in Vietnam are published one after another. The results not only support disease prevention in cattle, but also help the world know more about the Veterinary sector, the method of raising cattle in our country. With 4 years of research in Japan, Le Thi Dung has had remarkable scientific achievements with 6 articles in the Q1 & Q2 groups in the Scopus list of Veterinary Medicine.

Referring to the past days, Le Thi Dung shared: “Researching gives me the opportunity to know, cooperate and share sample sources and work with many very good Vietnamese brothers and sisters abroad in general and in Japan. in particular. The brothers and sisters are not only role models in research, but also very passionately share and care to support the development of the generation of young Vietnamese veterinarians like myself. The idea of ​​​​Vietnam Youth Vet Network with the spirit of Pay it forward (Continue to give) that Dung is working with young Vietnamese brothers and sisters in the veterinary industry is doing. Living and working in many parts of the world is such a project”.

At the age of 28, holding a doctorate degree, Le Thi Dung thinks this is the right time to return to Vietnam, “put away the degree”, put the acquired knowledge into practice and contribute.

With diverse knowledge and working experience, Dung was recruited to the Center for Emergency Prevention and Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). In her new position, Dung will continue to collaborate with leading domestic and international experts, contributing to disease control and preventing the disease from spreading, in order to protect food security. and prevent the transmission of diseases from animals to humans.