Viet Hang Le is not one for resting on her laurels. Having successfully completed a PhD in Medical Science, Hang is now working tirelessly at Cold Springs Harbor Laboratory in New York to understand the underlying mechanisms of common brain disorders.
The prestigious institution in New York has twice been ranked Number 1 in the world for research output and has seen 8 Nobel Prize Winners pass through its doors so Hang is in great company.
However, modest Hang is not one to shout about her successes and instead attributes much of her accomplishments to the support of her supervisors and fellow students – crediting them with helping her through the pandemic. Viet-Hang Le explains: “During the pandemic I spent nearly a year coming in to work in the lab on my own and I have to say at some points the isolation made my PhD experience feel quite surreal. However, I definitely understand a lot more about the importance of giving mental support and showing care to people surrounding us. Throughout that time I received enormous care from other students as well as my supervisors who helped me stay strong and complete my degree.
“I am certain that every other student who shared my experience has shown incredible strength and resilience to pull through such an arduous period - so, cheers to all of us for making it to this graduation day!”
Despite the challenges that the past couple of years have brought, Hang's experience was topped up with fond memories of her time at the University where she was also an active member of the Aberdeen Developmental Biology Group and even practiced with the Aberdeen University dance society.
Not short of ambition, when asked her plans for the future Hang exclaimed: “Graduating urges me to think about the purpose of my life, my short-term and long-term goals, and perhaps what kind of contribution I would like to give to society, and what kind of legacy I would like to leave on earth.
“Ultimately, I would like to bridge the gap between fundamental scientific research and real-life problems, share accurate scientific knowledge and explore brain diseases that are still missing treatments.”
ENDS