Vietnamese student, 24, wins full PhD scholarship at Johns Hopkins for AI research

A 24-year-old Vietnamese student has secured a full PhD scholarship in the U.S. for his breakthrough AI research, following remarkable contributions in global competitions and high-profile industry roles.

Academic Excellence and AI Passion
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 due to his outstanding achievements in artificial intelligence (AI).

Coming from a business-oriented family in central Vietnam, Long developed a passion for technology early on. He began studying AI in his first year at university, recognizing its pivotal role in daily life and future career opportunities.

AI Research and International Recognition
During his time at HUST, Long secured an internship at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore. There, he worked on major AI projects, including research with Professor Sh Annabel on analyzing and predicting Parkinson’s disease progression.

His work provided valuable insights for the medical field and played a key role in earning him the prestigious PhD scholarship at Johns Hopkins, where he will continue AI research in neuroscience.

Before securing this opportunity, Long faced setbacks when applying to multiple master’s and PhD programs. However, he identified areas for improvement and focused on AI competitions, 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.

Big Tech and Professional Experience
Determined to apply AI knowledge in real-world settings, Long aimed to join a Big Tech company. Through perseverance and structured study, he successfully landed a role at Amazon U.K. as a Machine Learning Operations Engineer.

His recruitment process included four rounds:

HR interview
Online assessment
Technical interview
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 at university, Long actively pursued professional opportunities, working remotely for European companies on innovative AI products like virtual fitting rooms and recommendation systems.

This international experience strengthened his technical expertise, communication, project management, and teamwork skills, paving the way for future roles in leading tech firms and further academic research.

Competing and Innovating in AI
In addition to academics and professional roles, Long participated in international scientific conferences, presenting innovative AI research and solutions.

He also achieved top prizes in AI competitions in Vietnam, including:

Runner-up at a Cyber Security Hackathon
Best Presentation Award at the Modern Machine Learning (MML) summer school
Future Plans
Looking ahead, Long stated:
"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."