On 17 December, VNUHCM-University of Science (HCMUS) conferred the 2025 Le Van Thoi Awards upon five researchers, celebrating exceptional achievements in undergraduate and postgraduate research. These distinctions honour exemplary academic contributions and foster a culture of scholarly innovation throughout the learner community.

For the 2025 cycle, the Awards Council recognised three outstanding submissions across distinct categories. Ms Nguyễn Lê Anh Đào (Faculty of Chemistry) received the prize for Best Bachelor’s Thesis; MSc Trần Nhật Thông (Faculty of Materials Science and Technology) secured the award for Best Master’s Thesis; and Dr Tôn Nữ Quỳnh Trang (Faculty of Physics – Engineering Physics) received the accolade for Best Doctoral Dissertation.

Moreover, the Council presented Commendation Awards to Dr Lê Ngọc Thành (Faculty of Information Technology) and MSc Phạm Phú Quân (Faculty of Materials Science and Technology). The adjudicating panel highly commended the work of these researchers for inherent novelty, methodological rigour, and significant contributions to the respective fields.

The University additionally acknowledged the pivotal guidance provided by the academic supervisors, including Assoc. Prof. Trần Hoàng Phương (Faculty of Chemistry), Assoc. Prof. Hoàng Thị Đông Quỳ (Faculty of Materials Science and Technology), Assoc. Prof. Vũ Thị Hạnh Thu (Faculty of Physics – Engineering Physics), Prof. Lê Hoài Bắc (Faculty of Information Technology), and Assoc. Prof. Phạm Kim Ngọc (Faculty of Materials Science and Technology).

Established by Prof. Lê Ngọc Thạch, the awards commemorate the late Prof. Lê Văn Thới, former Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Sai Gon (now HCMUS). Presented annually since 2017, the prize stands as one of the University’s most prestigious academic honours, designed to encourage scholars to pursue rigorous, methodical scientific research and engage with the international community.

The 2025 awards attracted 30 applications—nearly double the volume of the previous year—comprising 10 undergraduate, 12 Master’s, and eight Doctoral submissions. Beyond the numerical increase, the Council noted the exceptional calibre of the entries, reflecting the institution’s thriving research culture.

Eligibility requirements stipulated that projects must have undergone defence at HCMUS between 1 January and 31 December 2024. Regulations mandated the publication of at least one international article in a Q1-ranked journal within the relevant discipline, listing the candidate as the principal (first or corresponding) author. Crucially, the article content must derive entirely from the thesis or dissertation. Articles published with page numbers or a DOI by 30 August 2025 qualified for consideration.

Selection relied upon stringent criteria, including journal classification (Q1–Q4), Impact Factor (IF), and the authorship position held by the candidate. In the event of a tie, the Council granted preference to the individual holding the higher Grade Point Average.