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Staff Profile

Dr Duy Nguyen

Academic in Artificial Intelligence & Engineering Biology for Food & Healthcare Systems

Background

Dr Van Duy Nguyen obtained his first Science degree from the Vietnam National University (First Class Honours), stayed as a Lecturer at the same university, and then pursued PhD research in Microbiology (Multi-Omics, Molecular Microbiology and Bioinformatics) at the University of Greifswald, Germany. Subsequently, he came back Vietnam to work as a Lecturer and then was promoted to an Associate Professor position in Biosciences at Nha Trang University, where he has led a research group and served as Program Leader for BSc and MSc Biotechnology and Vice Director at Institute of Biotechnology and Environment for more than a decade. During that time, he contributed in teaching or research in many international higher education institutions such as Prince of Songkla University (Thailand), University of Greenwich (UK), Cardiff University (UK), University of Lisbon (Portugal), and Royal Holloway University of London (UK). After securing successfully a Global Talent visa endorsed by UK Royal Society, he has joined into the School of Engineering at Newcastle University, where he is involved in Royal Society/RAEng/EPSRC-funded interdisciplinary projects on Computational Biology & Chemistry, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), Predictive Modelling of Bio-based Materials, and Optimisation of Sludge Valorisation and Valuable Materials Recovery.

Dr Van Duy Nguyen still maintains active research interests as an Academic in Interdisciplinary Life Sciences such as Microbiology, Bioinformatics, AI/ML, Omics, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, and Engineering Biology, and published extensively as well as presented at international and national conferences. He contributed as PI or Co-I of over 15 research grants exceeding £1M from Medical Research Council (MRC), Newton Fund, British Councils, Vingroup Innovation Foundation (VinIF), National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED), and other international funds. He has contributed with a strong research record of over 30 international peer-reviewed articles in high-impact journals with over 600 citations, focusing on themes such as AMR, human and animal microbiome, novel antimicrobial solutions (probiotics, bacteriocins, vaccines, peptides), sustainable and resilient food systems, bio-based materials and drug development and delivery. 

He has been awarded in many prizes for learning, teaching and research, served as a Consultant for United Nations as Expert in Biodiversity and Biogenetics in Asia, an Ambassador of German Academic Exchange Organisation (DAAD), a Proposal Evaluator for research funds (EPSRC, NAFOSTED), and editor and peer reviewer for over 10 international journals. Currently, he is a member of the Microbiology Society, Institute of Food Science & Technology (IFST), AMR Networks, BactiVac Network, Biomass Biorefinery Network, and Co-Founder and Admin of Vietnam-UK Network for Higher Education, Innovation & Entrepreneurship (www.vuheie.org). 


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Research

Research Interests

- Global Health and Environment Challenges & Innovative Solutions: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), Antibiotic Alternatives (probiotics, vaccines, antimicrobial/anticancer peptides), Gastrointestinal Microbiome (Helicobacter pylori, gastric cancer, biomarkers for diagnosis and therapy), Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems, Bio-based Materials, Drug Discovery and Development

- Interdisciplinary Methodologies:

  • Biosciences & Biomedical Sciences (Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiome, Multi-Omics and Bioinformatics)
  • Artificial intelligence for Biological, Food and Healthcare Systems (Bioinformatics, Computational Biology and Chemistry, Big Data, AI/ML, Optimisation, Simulation and Predictive Modelling)
  • Engineering Biology (Genetic Engineering, Microbial Biotechnology, Circular Chemical and Environmental Engineering, AI/ML)
  • Sustainability and Innovation in Biological, Food and Healthcare Systems.


Current Research Grants

- Joint Newton Fund program on Infectious Diseases: UK Medical Research Council (MRC) (£466,981; Co-I), Helicobacter pylori in Vietnam: Prevalence, AMR & Vaccination (PI: Prof. Simon Cutting, Royal Holloway University of London, UK) and Vietnam Ministry of Science & Technology (MOST) (£150K, PI), Development of spore vaccines against Helicobacter pylori (2020-2024)

- British Council (£20K, Co-PI), Vietnam-UK Network of Higher Education, Innovation and Entrepreneurship: A Shared Heritage of sustainable University – Industry links, Impactful Research, Digital Education and Academic Mobility (iRDAM) (PI: Dr. Michael Packianather, Cardiff University, UK) (2023)

- Vingroup Innovation Foundation (VinIF) (£200K, PI), Innovative and Smart Agriculture Platform: A Digital Transformation and High Technology Integration for improved Coffee Value Chain and Supply Chain in Vietnam (INNSA) (2021-2024)

- British Council (£20K, Co-I), Education fit for the future: development of a university-industry-government model to deliver industrial placements in international and transnational education. PI: Prof. Raymond Lee, University of Portsmouth (2019)

- British Council (£60K, PI), Transnational Education and Research via the Academic Mobility, Business-University Collaborations and the Joint Postgraduate Programmes in Sustainability, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (TEAM-SIE) (2017-2018)

- National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) (£38K, PI), Molecular screening of potentially anticancer bacteriocins from human microflora using bioinformatics and molecular biology approaches (2015-2018)

- NAFOSTED – UK Academies (PI), Innovative design & development of anticancer bacteriocins from the human microbiome: Big-Data & Bioinformatics (2017-2018)

Teaching

Throughout his academic career, he has contributed significantly to higher education in diverse academic cultures and environments. He has designed, delivered, and led courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. He has supervised over 50 BSc, MSc and PhD students. His innovative teaching approaches, such as implementing Learner-Centered Education and incorporating lab practices, have been instrumental in fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills among students. With more than 10 years of BSc/MSc Biotechnology program lead and faculty administration experience, he has been adept at understanding professional development and individual student needs, and thus providing personalised and broader attention.

Publications