Professor Trần Lê Bảo Hà at the 2025 decision announcement ceremony.

In the latest announcement from the State Council for Professorship, Professor Trần Lê Bảo Hà (VNUHCM-University of Science) stands out as the sole female scientist to be conferred the title of Professor in the field of Biology this year. With an impressive portfolio of 118 scientific publications, her story is a powerful testament to passion, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to the challenging field of biomedical materials.

From Academic Vision to Tissue Engineering

Born in 1975, Professor Hà has dedicated over 23 years to education and scientific research. Her career at HCMUS progressed from a Teaching Assistant in 2001 to Senior Lecturer and eventually Head of the Department of Physiology and Animal Biotechnology in 2015.

Driven by a “desire to explore and discover the new,” she soon bridged pure science with practical medical needs. “I am particularly interested in injuries that the human body cannot heal on its own,” she explains. This empathy led her to specialise in Biomedical Materials and Tissue Engineering—fields that offer superior solutions for clinical transplantation.

Reflecting on her journey, Professor Hà notes that the most rewarding moments are not just the data, but the human impact: “The true motivation comes when research results meet expectations, and I witness patients actually benefiting from the solutions our team created.”

Adaptation as a Key to Success

The early 2000s presented significant hurdles for researchers in Viet Nam. Professor Hà recalls a time of limited facilities where ‘experiments often failed’ and returning from overseas meant facing a lack of advanced equipment.

Rather than giving up, she chose to adapt. This persistence resulted in 118 scientific papers, including 45 in prestigious international journals; an exceptional output of 21 international publications in the 30 months leading up to her professorship application; and the publication of 5 books and 3 book chapters in English with world-renowned publishers such as Woodhead, InTech, and Springer Nature.

Despite these academic triumphs, she remains vocal about the ‘valley of death’ between research and application. “Translating research into clinical trials is exponentially harder than the research itself. I hope for more policies that pave the way for ‘Made by Viet Nam’ products to serve our citizens,” she urges.

Mentorship: Cultivating “Iron Will”

Throughout her career, Professor Hà has viewed her students and young colleagues as her greatest source of energy. Her educational philosophy is centered on nurturing self-learning, critical thinking, and professional ethics. “Success is born from passion, scientific curiosity, and the relentless effort to find answers. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn.”

As the only female Professor in Biology in the 2025 cohort, she is acutely aware of her role as a pioneer. She believes that the dual roles of a high-intensity researcher and a family-oriented woman do not have to be in conflict; rather, they can empower each other.

To the next generation of scientists at HCMUS and beyond, she offers a definitive piece of advice: “Develop an iron will. This is shown through passion, determination, and ‘grit’. Only when you truly love what you do can you overcome the obstacles to achieve success.” For female students specifically, she adds a final note on well-being: “Learn to balance work and life; ensure you bring joy and happiness back to yourself.”