Nguyen Thanh Quan
Name: Nguyen Thanh Quan
Department: Graduate School for International Development and Cooperation, Program in Development Science
Course: Social Implementation Course
Research Field: Agriculture
Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Tran Dang Xuan
Career and Academic Background before TAOYAKA Program
Prior to my study in the Taoyaka Program of Hiroshima University, Japan, I graduated from the Hanoi University of Science in the field of biotechnology (BSc) and plant physiology (MSc), and then worked as an official researcher in Agricultural Genetics Institute (AGI) in Vietnam for 7 years. In the period of working in AGI, I had joined different projects belonging to the Ministry of Agriculture of the Vietnamese government regarding improvement of food crops and commercial fruits in rural areas. Besides, I also spent a short time studying in China (6 months) and Okayama University, Japan (6 months) on modern techniques and new technologies for agricultural development. With this knowledge, I believe I have the necessary academic background for my career and further research investigation.
Research Plan in TAOYAKA Program
Vietnam is one of the agricultural countries hardest hit by climate change in Asia. Climate trends are expected to have more impacts. Vast portions of the food-crop producing regions in my country were adversely affected from environmental changes such as sea level rise, typhoons, submergence, drought stress, cold and hot temperature. To find crops which can tolerate severe conditions, I have been mainly focusing on the application of biotechnology and modern breeding tools for developing new crops adaptation to environmental stresses caused by climate change. My current research plan is “Identification of phenolic compounds involving in response to drought stress of rice”. This study will be a fundamental investigation supporting the application of molecular breeding and gene technology to improve rice production to cope with drought stress conditions in semi-arid and arid areas.
Career Plan after TAOYAKA Program
Joining the Taoyaka program of Hiroshima University as a PhD student is really a good chance for me to keep studying my research interest and learn more about the experience of Japan in strategies of coping with climate change from various perspectives. I assume that my research can be applied extensively to different countries which are being tremendously impacted by environmental changes. National food security in the face of climate changes is a priority for investigation and cooperation from the international community. Thus, after the Taoyaka program, I hope to continuous to pursue my case study on improving agricultural crops in developing countries. My research not only focuses on rice production under water-stress condition but can also be applied widely on other valuable crops under various stresses. Furthermore, utilization of these food crops and their by-products as a clean energy will also be the focus of my future research plan. Hence, I desire to work and cooperate with people and organizations in these fields.