The outstanding individual in question is none other than Tran Kim Ngoc Ngan, a student in the Talented Computer Science program, majoring in Computer Science. Despite being only a second-year student, Ngoc Ngan has already had 2 papers accepted for publication at the SoICT2023 conference. She is a member of the executive board of the Wanna.W1n club, an intern at the Information Security Laboratory (InSecLab), and has achieved many commendable accomplishments.
Image: Tran Kim Ngoc Ngan - NVCC.
When the love for security blossoms
Ngoc Ngan began her interest in information technology when exposed to the Pascal programming language in secondary school. Through the process of self-improvement, she has become increasingly fascinated by the field of computer science, especially in the area of security. According to Ngoc Ngan, becoming a member of Team Q - the Wanna.W1n club (InSecLab) has been a significant turning point in her scientific research journey: "Thanks to being selected for the club, despite the high competition rate, I had the opportunity to connect with colleagues and enthusiasts. I participated in various competitions and research projects, all thanks to the guidance of the club's advisors."
Image: Ngoc Ngan's team taking a photo with mentors at InSecLab - NVCC.
A brilliant journey
Tran Kim Ngoc Ngan is currently a member of the executive board of the Wanna.W1n club and an intern at InSecLab. During her time at UIT, she participated in various competitions such as the Euréka semifinals, the AI Challenge HCMC 2023 finals, and the SoICT Hackathon 2023 organized by the Hanoi University of Science and Technology. In the SoICT Hackathon 2023, she competed in the AI-Powered BFIS track (Banking, Finance, Insurance, and Securities) sponsored by the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank) and won third prize. In addition, Ngoc Ngan also engaged in scientific research and co-authored 2 papers accepted for publication at the SoICT 2023 conference. For her, each research project and every signed "Tran Kim Ngoc Ngan" on competition entries represents the dedication and enthusiasm of youth. All her achievements until this moment are like "spiritual children" that she holds dear.
Image: Ngoc Ngan's Doppelganger team participating in the AI Challenge HCMC 2023 finals - NVCC.
Unspoken challenges "behind the glamour"
To achieve the impressive accomplishments mentioned above, Ngoc Ngan had to face many trials and challenges. As a newcomer, determining the topic, handling documentation difficulties, and even the presentation style and language used in scientific research posed significant obstacles. This required Ngoc Ngan to continually learn from competition experiences and research projects, gradually overcoming her lack of experience.
Image: Ngoc Ngan's Shark-eyes team participating in the Euréka semifinals - NVCC.
Additionally, balancing time between study, extracurricular activities, and scientific research was a challenging task for Ngoc Ngan. She had to plan meticulously, marking tasks for each week to meet deadlines for all three areas. For example, she would dedicate time to scientific research and the club if there were no practical classes that week. Furthermore, she always focused wholeheartedly during all core study hours to effectively grasp important concepts from lecturers. For Ngoc Ngan, studying at class and conducting scientific research are equally demanding tasks, with research often taking precedence.
The "rose" amidst the computer science community
As a female student in information technology, Ngoc Ngan has experienced moments of overwhelm and occasional pressure due to perceived inferiority to male counterparts. However, she doesn't believe that being a "woman" puts her at a disadvantage, especially at UIT. "In research groups, being the youngest, I receive a lot of care and attention from teachers and seniors. Not only that, at school, our girls often receive more attention from lecturers and senior students than boys." Ngoc Ngan shared, "In the Talented Science program, there are only 5 female students, but the class size is up to 30 students! Initially, I was worried about not fitting in because of the few female students, but over time, I got used to it. Our girls never lack gifts on holidays, and we receive many privileges every day, so there's nothing to fear. I am very grateful to everyone around me who has helped make my learning environment so wonderful."
Image: Ngoc Ngan participating in the AI Challenge finals with Team Q - Wanna.W1n - NVCC.
After the achievements Ngoc Ngan has attained, the first people she expresses gratitude to are her family - a solid spiritual support always encouraging and supporting her in terms of both health and mental well-being. Alongside this, she deeply thanks the "beloved home InSecLab" - a place that has accompanied and supported her during this period, and the Wanna.W1n club - a place that always provides opportunities for her to participate in various competitions and scientific research projects. Above all, she sincerely appreciates those who have consistently supported and encouraged Trần Kim Ngoc Ngan on this challenging yet joyful scientific research journey.
Brief summary of Tran Kim Ngoc Ngan's achievements:
Member of the executive board of the Wanna.W1n club. Intern at the Information Security Laboratory (InSecLab). Participated in the Euréka semifinals. Participated in the AI Challenge HCMC 2023 finals. Won third prize in SoICT Hackathon 2023 organized by the Hanoi University of Science and Technology - AI-Powered BFIS track sponsored by Vietcombank. Co-authored 2 papers accepted for publication at the SoICT 2023 conference.
Dong Xanh - Media Collaborator, University of Information Technology
Nhat Hien - Translation Collaborator, University of Information Technology
