Profile
Dr. Mai Van Ta (Vetnamese)
Place of residence: Hanoi, Vietnam
Position and affiliation: Lecturer, Le Quy Don Technical University
2013 Electrical and Electronic Engineering, School of Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology
2024 Science Tokyo Alumni Ambassador (Former Tokyo Tech Alumni Ambassador)
Campus life
Reasons for choosing Tokyo Tech
The primary reason I chose Tokyo Tech was the university’s prestigious reputation. Through my master’s supervisor, I learned that Tokyo Tech was a leading institution in Japan. Particularly in the field of terahertz science, several laboratories at Tokyo Tech were world-renowned pioneer groups. I dreamed of conducting research at a world-class university. That was why I aspired to become a PhD student at the Suzuki Laboratory, which was globally recognized for its excellence in the field of terahertz. The second reason was that I had quite a few friends who had studied at Tokyo Tech. Through them, I learned that the academic and research environment there was excellent and highly welcoming to international students.
My most significant learning experience or memory
One of my most memorable experiences was attending the annual conference for the optics community, which took place in Yamanashi Prefecture in 2019. The daytime featured highly engaging research presentation sessions, while the evenings consisted of family-like networking activities for the members of various laboratories. After that trip, I gained a much deeper understanding of Japanese culture as well as laboratory culture. That journey brought me a profound sense of connection, making my laboratory feel just like a family.
Current activities and career
Currently, I am working as a lecturer and researcher at the Faculty of Radio-Electronic Engineering, Le Quy Don Technical University in Hanoi, Vietnam. My current teaching and research work involves electronic circuits operating at high frequencies, which is closely related to the research topic I conducted during my PhD studies at Tokyo Tech. Therefore, the knowledge and experience I gained at Tokyo Tech are incredibly useful for my present career. My current position requires me to teach courses such as analog integrated circuits and microwave engineering, while simultaneously advising undergraduate, master's, and PhD students, as well as publishing research results on microwave circuits.
How my studies at Tokyo Tech have contributed to my career
The knowledge and research experience I gained at Tokyo Tech have tremendously benefited my current career. My time at Tokyo Tech taught me how to conduct research, tackle complex scientific problems, and publish research results. In particular, the cleanroom expertise I acquired there is invaluable, as my university has also recently established a cleanroom to support semiconductor microchip research. Lastly, I always remember Professor Suzuki, my supervisor at Tokyo Tech, who was consistently responsible and meticulous when discussing research problems or editing my papers and presentations. That profound lesson has stayed with me as I guide my own students today.
Message to prospective students
What has always impressed me about Tokyo Tech, now Science Tokyo, is its world-class laboratories in every field. Personally, in the area of high-frequency electronics, I was able to experience highly advanced equipment at Tokyo Tech that very few other universities possess. I also believe the professors at Science Tokyo are exceptionally erudite in their respective fields. They know how to inspire and cultivate outstanding students. From my perspective, the student support services at Science Tokyo are also highly professional and welcoming, providing you with the best possible conditions for studying and conducting research. I highly recommend that students be brave, take up challenges, and conduct excellent research at Science Tokyo.
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