On December 19, 2025, the University of Science and Technology of Hanoi (USTH) held the doctoral dissertation defense for PhD candidate Nguyen Thi Trang, majoring in Pharmacological, Medical and Agronomical Biotechnology. The dissertation was entitled: “Functional characterization of a rice gene OsGER4 in root development under abiotic stress”.
The dissertation was supervised by Assoc. Prof. Dr. To Thi Mai Huong, Deputy Director of Department of Research, Innovation and International Affairs, USTH.
The defense ceremony was attended by 7 members of the Evaluation Committee, including Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hai Dang (Chair of the Committee); Dr. Doan Trung Luu (University of Montpellier); Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dinh Truong Son (Vietnam National University of Agriculture); Assoc. Prof. Dr. Huynh Thi Thu Hue (Institute of Biology); Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Canh (Vietnam National University of Agriculture); Dr. Trinh Duy Chi (USTH); and Dr. Nguyen Cam Linh (USTH). The ceremony was also attended by the supervisor, colleagues, friends, and family members of the PhD candidate.
Under the chairmanship of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hai Dang, the Committee reviewed and approved the scientific background, research achievements, academic progress, and overall research outcomes of PhD candidate Nguyen Thi Trang throughout the course of her doctoral study. The Committee highly appreciated her academic performance, research results, and persistent efforts.
PhD candidate Nguyen Thi Trang presented a summary of her dissertation to the Committee, followed by a detailed presentation of the main research findings. The doctoral defense was conducted successfully, marking a significant milestone in a rigorous and meaningful research journey in the field of plant biology. The dissertation focused on rice (Oryza sativa L.)—a staple crop of Vietnam and the world—with the aim of elucidating the role of the root system in helping plants adapt to adverse environmental conditions such as drought, salinity, and high temperatures.
Recognizing that the root system plays a decisive role in water and nutrient uptake as well as stress tolerance, the PhD candidate conducted an in-depth analysis of the function of the OsGER4 gene, which is directly involved in the formation and development of crown root- the most critical component of the rice root system. Through molecular biology, genetic, and plant physiology experiments, the dissertation demonstrated that OsGER4 plays a key role in promoting the formation of crown and lateral roots, particularly under abiotic stress conditions.
The dissertation not only holds significant academic value in clarifying the molecular mechanisms regulating root development in rice, but also provides important implications for plant breeding, aiming to develop rice varieties with stronger root systems and improved stress tolerance in the context of climate change. The successful defense is a well-deserved recognition of the PhD candidate’s perseverance and passion for scientific research.
Notably, during the course of her doctoral study, PhD candidate Nguyen Thi Trang published 06 scientific papers, including five articles in international journals indexed in SCIE, Q1 and Q2 categories. In particular, 01 paper was published in The Plant Journal, a leading and highly prestigious journal in the field of plant biology. These achievements affirm the quality of doctoral training at the University of Science and Technology of Hanoi (USTH).
After deliberation, the Evaluation Committee held a closed meeting and conducted a vote, with the result of 7/7 votes in favor. On behalf of the Committee, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hai Dang congratulated PhD candidate Nguyen Thi Trang on her successful defense and congratulated the Department of Life Sciences on having an additional doctoral graduate.
Before the conclusion of the ceremony, PhD candidate Nguyen Thi Trang delivered a speech expressing her sincere gratitude to Department of Life Sciences, her supervisors, colleagues, friends, and especially her family for their continuous support, encouragement, and favorable conditions that enabled her to successfully defend her dissertation and obtain the doctoral degree.