Lê Nguyễn Phương Thùy’s journey into science and technology did not start in modern, gleaming laboratories. Instead, began in a small internet café in her home village. Few would have predicted that the curious young girl watching her youngest aunt type on a computer screen would go on to be named one of the 20 outstanding recipients of the Vietnamese Female Students in Science and Technology Award 2025. Phương Thùy remains a final-year Information Technology student at VNUHCM-University of Science (HCMUS).

From Childhood Curiosity to Career Path

Phương Thùy’s childhood involved accompanying her youngest aunt to the internet café. While her aunt worked and studied computing, Phương Thùy sat nearby, utterly fascinated by the ‘magical’ computers. Early passion was nurtured by her parents and teachers, who encouraged her to enter competitions like Violympic and IOE, where she subsequently won numerous district and provincial awards.

Awareness of technology’s true power became clearer during high school, especially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. “I realised technology was the tool that kept society functioning amidst difficulties, and I wanted to be someone who understood, created, and improved those tools,” she explained. Choosing Information Technology at HCMUS in 2021 was a natural next step, opening up exploration of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

As a female student pursuing engineering, she inevitably faced some prejudice. However, Phương Thùy quickly grasped that ability lies not in gender, but in sheer perseverance and a willingness to learn. Her greatest inspiration is her mother—an elementary school teacher who taught herself AI to enhance her teaching quality. She also draws motivation from the excellent female programmers she met in competitions, such as her classmate Võ Hoàng Hoa Viên (Vietnamese Female Students in Science and Technology 2024). “They prove that women can absolutely go far in technology if they have enough passion and confidence in themselves,” Phương Thùy remarked.

The Humanitarian Value of Explainable AI

When honoured at the Vietnamese Female Students in Science and Technology Award 2025, Phương Thùy impressed the judges with a research topic rich in humanitarian value. Her project focuses on solving a core problem for AI in healthcare: trustworthiness.

She explains that many AI models can predict diseases accurately but function like a ‘black box,’ unable to explain why produced a certain result. Lack of transparency makes difficult for doctors to feel confident in the diagnosis. Furthermore, medical data is exceptionally sensitive and often unbalanced.

Phương Thùy’s group devised a two-pronged solution: researching how to make the AI model ‘articulate the reason’ for each prediction, while simultaneously utilising AI to generate safe, synthetic medical data. This approach helps train AI effectively without compromising patients’ real information.

“The distinctive element of the project lies in combining technology with human values. I understand that a scientific product is only truly meaningful when transparency and responsibility are built into the design,” Phương Thùy stated.

A New Chapter

Another pivotal moment in Phương Thùy’s journey occurred when she realised she loved not only research but also sharing knowledge. She transitioned from being a student to a mentor, explaining complex concepts to her friends. “That moment made me dream of one day standing in a lecture hall, both teaching and conducting AI research.” This ambition, inspired by her mother, has been fostered by the open academic environment at HCMUS and the VNUHCM system, where students are encouraged to begin researching early on. Phương Thùy expresses sincere gratitude to the lecturers of the Faculty of Information Technology for their continuous inspiration and support.

For Phương Thùy, the award is not a ‘destination’ but a ‘new starting point.’ The recognition is a powerful reminder to continue learning, exploring, and sharing her knowledge, especially by inspiring young female students to take up technology. In the future, Phương Thùy plans to conquer higher levels of knowledge, researching transparent and responsible AI in depth, with the ultimate aspiration of becoming a researcher and a lecturer.

Offering advice to young people, Phương Thùy shared: “Academic passion doesn’t require a grand beginning; one only needs to be genuinely curious and dare to persevere to the end… Don’t be afraid of making mistakes, and don’t worry about being slow, as every attempt is an opportunity for growth.”