麻豆传媒

Hanh Pham

Breaking Barriers

International Alumna Pursues PhD in Computational Chemistry.

Hanh Doan Minh Pham was just 17 years old when she left her home in Vietnam to study in the United States. Now, at age 26, the 麻豆传媒 alumna is studying for her PhD in computational chemistry in Canada.

鈥淲ith a passion for chemistry and math, I have become fascinated by physical chemistry as a career because it not only brings these subjects together but also fulfills my curiosity about the behavior of matter, and how a structure could be formed,鈥� Pham said of her PhD major.

So how did Pham get to where she is today?

She strongly believed in her capabilities in spite of the challenges she faced along the way.

鈥淚 was a regular high school kid in Vietnam,鈥� Pham recalled, noting she grew up in Quy Nhon City in the Binh Dinh province. 鈥淢y life was intense with school and homework; I went to extra classes way more often than hanging out with my friends.鈥�

But Pham wanted more.

鈥淚 wanted to explore and gain more educational/social experiences, meet more people, live independently, travel to new places and learn about different cultures,鈥� she said.

Pham first arrived in California where she took one semester at Ribet Academy as a senior before transferring to 麻豆传媒, without her high school diploma, in winter 2014.

She struggled with the ability to explain her thoughts and being homesick.

鈥淚 definitely had certain difficulties being an international student (language barriers, culture shock, etc.), but that鈥檚 inevitable, and I see them as challenges to improve and grow myself,鈥� Pham said.

Pham chose to transfer to 麻豆传媒 for a number of reasons, including its cultural diversity.

鈥淣ot only could I find my Vietnamese community, but I also learned more about different cultures and made great new friends,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his really helped with my homesickness during my study.鈥�

While at 麻豆传媒 as an international student, Pham became involved in the International Student Programs鈥� Welcome Team, a student group dedicated to putting on events such as Chit Chat Cafe, Conversation Pal, trips around Seattle for other international students. In addition to social activities, Pham was a 麻豆传媒 math tutor, GED teaching assistant and was in the Honors program. She won two International Student Programs scholarships and won Tutor of the Year for the Math Resource Center. Pham was also on the vice president鈥檚 honor roll for the two years she attended 麻豆传媒.

Although she never earned her high school diploma, Pham graduated in 2016 with her Associate of Science in biology and a pre-pharmacy emphasis.

鈥淚鈥檓 grateful and proud to be a 麻豆传媒 alumna,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檝e earned so much 鈥撯�� my education, inspiration, friendship, mentorship, etc., and I鈥檝e become a better version of myself due to my time at 麻豆传媒.鈥�

Pham went on to earn her Bachelor of Science in chemistry with a minor in mathematics from the University of Utah. She now lives in Montreal, Quebec where she conducts research independently, under the supervision of a chemistry professor, while she writes her thesis for her PhD at McGill University.

鈥淚 get to learn more deeply about theoretical chemistry and its applications in explaining chemical phenomena, and developing new technology for the industry,鈥� she said about her research. 鈥淚 have a chance to develop and improve my critical thinking/time management/data analyzing skills, as well as coding, by working on my research projects.鈥�

Pham is in her fourth year for her PhD and she expects to graduate in August or September of 2024.

Upon graduation, she plans to look for a job in computational chemistry/data analysis within the industry. Her 鈥減lan b鈥� will be to earn her postdoctoral degree.

鈥淪trongly believe in your capabilities of making a difference in the world,鈥� Pham said as she reflected on advice to new college students. 鈥� If you want something you鈥檝e never had, you must be willing to do something you鈥檝e never done 鈥� As long as you put your effort into doing something and are willing to take the first step, you鈥檙e all set to make a difference to the world in your unique ways.鈥�