Overview
The Department of Life Sciences is one of the founding departments of the University of Science and Technology of Hanoi (USTH). It originated from the Department of Biotechnology – Pharmacology (2009–2015) and the Department of Agri-Bio-Medical Biotechnology (2015–2019). The Department is currently one of USTH’s largest departments in terms of the number of lecturers, undergraduate students, master’s students, and doctoral candidates.
The Department is responsible for managing training programs across three degree programs:
Bachelor’s program (3 training programs): Biotechnology – Drug Discovery (*), Food Science and Technology, Medical Science and Technology.
Master’s program: Plant – Biomedical – Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
Doctoral program: Agri-Bio-Medical Biotechnology
(*) Since the 2022–2023 academic year, the Department has offered a double degree programme in Biotechnology – Drug Discovery. Upon graduation, students receive two degrees, one awarded by USTH and the other by its French partner institution. The programme follows a 2+1 study pathway, with two years at USTH and one year in France.
(*) Starting from the 2026–2027 academic year, the Department will introduce a Talented Master’s Training Program in Medical Biotechnology – Plant Biotechnology – Pharmacology.
Mission
To train high-quality human resources in the fields of biotechnology, biomedicine and pharmacology.
To conduct scientific research and technology transfer in plant biotechnology, biomedicine and pharmacology .
Vision
The Department of Life Sciences aims to become a reputable academic and research institution in biotechnology, biomedicine, and drug discovery, while striving for excellence in science and technology within USTH and the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST).
Key Figures & Highlights
- 21 lecturers, 100% holding Ph.D. degrees earned in France, including 5 senior lecturers and 1 senior researcher.
- Nearly 350 bachelor’s graduates and approximately 150 master’s graduates.
- The Bachelor’s programme in Biotechnology – Drug Discovery and the Master’s programme in Medical Biotechnology – Plant Biotechnology – Pharmacology have received international accreditation from the High Council for Evaluation of Research and Higher Education (HCERES).
- Over 100 research papers published in international journals indexed in the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE).
- Established 1 strong research group and 2 promising research groups at the university level.
- Since 2017, the Department has received funding for 2 national-level research projects, 10 projects funded by the National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED), 1 project supported by the VINIF Foundation, and 10 VAST-level research projects. In addition, the Department has undertaken 11 postdoctoral research projects supported by the Graduate University of Science and Technology (GUST), 2 postdoctoral research projects funded by VINIF, 3 projects supported by non-governmental organizations, and 2 joint laboratory projects in collaboration with enterprises.
- Recognized as an Advanced Labor Collective by the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology in 2020.
