Research

As a computational neuroscientist by training, my research has continuously grown, spanning multiple interdisciplinary areas from computer science, Bioinformatics, computational neuroscience, applied mathematics, to engineering education, which greatly reflects liberal art education at the Academy. My research can be partitioned into four main categories:

1. Generative AI, fairness in Machine Learning, Large Language Models and Knowledge Graph

2. Bioinformatics Methods and precision medicine in brain dysfunctions such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD).

3. Efficient computations of complex networks with applications in the biomedical multi-omics data

4. Neuro-inspired pedagogical innovation.

In the field of Biomedical/Bioinformatics, my work spans a variety of focus, ranging from theoretical (e.g., in Journal of Network Neuroscience – Methods Section, or Mathematics) to applied/computational (e.g., Neuroimage and Brain Connectivity, iScience - Cell Press). In the field of Computer Science (CS), my work has been published in top CS Conference such as Association for Computational Linguistics (ACL): Empirical Methods in Natural Language Processing (EMNLP) or Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI).

[Google Scholar] [PubMed] [ORCID] [Research Gate] [SciProfile] [LinkedIn]

Nghi Nguyen is a current Erasmus Mundus Fellow at the Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel. He enjoys language, philosophy, artificial cognition, and the human brain. The big questions he's pursuing include: can meaning emerge from communication games between AI agents? How, and to what extent, can AI help humans understand their brains on a computational level? What kind of understanding is afforded by collaborations between AI and neuroscience practitioners? To approach those questions, he's working on his skills in machine learning, agent based modeling, and computational neuroscience.

He was selected as one of Fulbright University Vietnam's first 53 students who helped re-imagine higher education through a project called "the Co-Design year". Alongside 16 founding faculty members and several staff, he prototyped and built courses, learning experiences, possible academic trajectories, club and residential activities, and overall a blueprint for a kind of education that best serves Vietnam's future. He was mentored by Prof. Duy Duong-Tran for his Undergraduate thesis in Computer Science at Fulbright in 2022. LinkedIn

Ngoc-Ha is currently a senior student at Fulbright University Vietnam, pursuing double majors in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science. She aims to pursue higher studies in the field of Applied Mathematics, especially in Operations Research and Optimization. In addition, she has teaching experience as an IGCSE Math and Computer Science teacher and university teaching assistant (in Maths, Economics, and Artificial Intelligence). Before diving into research, she interned at multiple companies as part of their data science teams starting in her first year of college. These experiences sparked her interest in the optimal aspects of computing, with a focus on making computations more efficient and environmentally sustainable.

She was selected as one of the top 5 scholarship recipients in her cohort for four consecutive years due to her achievements in numerous national quiz competitions and her founding of the largest multimedia and communication organization at her high school in the Central Highlands. Moreover, she received some scholarships from the Vietnam Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics (2018, 2023, 2024). She also earned two silver medals in the Analysis track in the national olympiad mathematics for undergraduate students. Beyond her academic pursuits, she has been an active science communicator. As the former vice president of the Fulbright STEM Club, she led her team in organizing the largest STEM quiz show on campus, which won the award for the best club event of the year. She has also worked in marketing and operations for several science-related projects and college admission consulting businesses.

Thái-Bách is a senior undergraduate at Fulbright University Vietnam, majoring in Computer Science with a minor in Applied Mathematics. Driven by a passion for interdisciplinary exploration across Mathematics, Science, Art, and Vietnamese Studies, Thái-Bách is particularly interested in advancing research through innovative computational tools. His primary academic goal is to pursue higher education in Artificial Intelligence for scientific discovery.

Thái-Bách specializes in Machine Learning and Deep Learning, with demonstrated expertise in domains such as Computer Vision, Sequential Data Prediction, Natural Language Processing, and Deep Learning for Material Science. His current work involves applying state-of-the-art Large Language Models (LLMs) and Knowledge Graph (KG) techniques to preserve and analyze the legacy of Trịnh Công Sơn, a renowned Vietnamese composer.

In addition to academic pursuits, Thái-Bách has actively participated in diverse activities, including competing in Computer Science and AI competitions, serving as a teaching assistant for university-level AI courses, and coaching students for the Vietnam Physics Olympiad. He also briefly worked in the field of AI for Material Science, where he received a fee-waiver award to attend the "Materials Informatics: Accelerating Materials Research and Design with Artificial Intelligence" program.

Khue Ngo is currently a junior student at Fulbright University Vietnam, majoring in Computer Science with a minor in Integrated Sciences. She aims to pursue higher education in the interdisciplinary field of computer science and life sciences, with a specific focus on understanding human biology and diseases. She is interested in applying her computational skills and data science to study biological mechanisms underlying diseases and other complex processes in humans. 

Her academic journey has been shaped by her experiences in environmental and microbiology sciences. She conducted research on microplastic pollution in the Hau River in Vietnam, which she presented at the 3rd International Vietnam Conference on Earth and Environmental Sciences. Additionally, she served as a teaching assistant for Environmental Sciences and Environmental Microbiology courses at Fulbright. These experiences has helped her to develop hands-on research skills and sharpened her scientific research mindset. 

In her future professional career, she aspires to contribute to discoveries in the human-related biology field by using her expertise in computer science. 

MIDN 3/C DeFabio is an Operations Research major at the United States Naval Academy and hopes to service select Submarines. She is Midshipmen Group Study Program leader where she assists other Midshipmen in differential equations. She was also selected to participate in Junior United Kingdom and International Scholarship Program, a place to discuss literature and current events among other Midshipmen who want to pursue graduate education. Additionally, MIDN 3/C DeFabio is a member of the USNA Varsity Women's Lacrosse team, where she has been a starting midfielder since Plebe year. She was also selected for the U.S. U20 Women's National Training Team as one of the top 42 players in her age group to compete for a spot at the World Games. This upcoming summer, she is traveling to Turkey with a group of students from Tufts University as part of Allies for Civil Military Relations and writing a research paper on the effects of the coup attempt. She was also selected to be a Plebe Summer Squad Leader this summer, where she will be responsible for training and caring for 10 incoming freshmen and teaching them about the Naval Academy. Due to her high performance in all mission areas, she has been on the Superintendent’s List every semester and she recently joined Dr. Duong Tran in his research.

MIDN 2/C Noelle de Vente is a Pure-Mathematics major at the United States Naval Academy where she hopes to pursue a career in Navy Medicine. She serves as the Navy Medicine Club President and was accepted to a program where she is able to observe at the Baltimore Shock Trauma unit, accumulating over 75 hours. She is a Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Education (SHAPE) Peer Educator where she teaches monthly lessons to her fellow midshipmen regarding all aspects of sexual assault. Furthermore, she is a Midshipmen Group Study Program (MGSP) Leader where she leads tutoring sessions for her fellow midshipmen in calculus and chemistry. She is a member of the Varsity Navy Women’s Rowing team and has competed in the First Varsity (1V) boat ever since her Plebe year. She was selected for the Patriot League Women's Rowing All-League Second Team and was awarded CRCA Scholar Athlete award as a result of her high academic achievement. Last summer she was selected as a intern with the Bureau of Public Health in Miami, FL where she experienced the challenges involved in working with diverse and dynamic public health situations, including detection of bioterrorism agents, and was a USNA Plebe Summer squad leader where she assisted in the development of plebes as they entered the Brigade. Due to her high performance in all mission areas, physical, mental, and moral, she has been on the Superintendents list all semester of her Academy career and is ranked top of her class, 28th out of 1122 midshipmen. This past semester, she joined Professor Duy Duong-Tran as his research student. In April 2024, MIDN Noelle de Vente was chosen as the 2nd Battalion Commander for the next semester (Fall of 2024). She was selected out of 1,100 of her classmates to lead and represent the 800 midshipmen under her battalion's command. In addition to taking responsibility for the safety, well-being, and efficiency of her Battalion, she ensures the Commandant's and Brigade Commander's policies are instituted and upheld within her command.