At the head of the AI4LIFE Research and Application Institute in Hanoi, Nguyễn Phi Lợi belongs to a new generation of scientists. Her research aims to harness these advanced technologies for the benefit of health and the environment.
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Nguyễn Phi Lợi currently leads one of the most advanced artificial intelligence (AI) research institutes in Vietnam. At 44 years old, the scientist dedicates her work to real challenges, from public health to the environment.
In a field largely dominated by men, her career path is intriguing. As an associate professor, she is currently serving as the interim director of the AI4LIFE Research and Application Institute, affiliated with the Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST).
AI for healthcare Despite her petite stature, soft voice, and discreet smile, it is hard to imagine that Nguyễn Phi Lợi now leads one of the most advanced AI research institutes in Vietnam. She coordinates a team of around eighty researchers and students, among whom only four are women.
Before making a name for herself in AI, Phi Lợi excelled in mathematics. In 2000, she won a silver medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad, one of the top performances by Vietnamese females in the competition.
Her scientific trajectory, however, took a non-linear path. After a year at HUST, she received a scholarship from the Japanese government to study information technologies at the University of Tokyo. Upon completing her master’s degree, she returned to Vietnam and worked in the private sector for a while.
But her experience quickly revealed her true calling in research. She joined HUST and went back to Japan in 2016 to pursue a doctorate.
When she defended her thesis in 2019 at the age of 37, her scientific career truly took off. Between 2019 and 2024, she led three major research projects, two of which were funded by the VinIF Innovation Fund, with a total budget of around 11 billion đồng.
These projects have a clear objective: to leverage AI to address concrete issues faced by Vietnamese society.
Context note: AI is a rapidly growing field in Vietnam, with a focus on using technology to address real-world challenges in areas like healthcare and the environment.
Fact Check note: The content of the article accurately reflects the accomplishments and career trajectory of Nguyễn Phi Lợi as a leading figure in AI research in Vietnam.
