Viterbo grad continues family legacy in chemistry

For Vietnamese international student Van Nguyen, 25, choosing a major at Viterbo was easy. She was going to study chemistry.

Both of her parents are chemists. Her father has a Ph.D. in chemistry and works for the Vietnamese army. Her mother also works for the Vietnamese government, using her chemistry degree to help with environmental and international cooperation.

I come from a chemistry family, she said. It was always set for me to go into chemistry, too.

Growing up in Hanoi, the smells and the colors of chemical work intrigued her. Curious about the field, she attended a high school in Vietnam that focused on chemistry studies. Studying chemistry in college was a given but not where she would study.

Nguyen said she always wanted to go somewhere different and try something new. She said she was interested in coming to America, because of the quality of the education. Nguyen was introduced to Viterbo, applied and was accepted and loved every minute of her studies.

Everyone here is really nice, Nguyen said. So far it has been a really positive experience.

During her studies, Nguyen said she was drawn to the field of organic chemistry. She said she liked it because of its applications, what scientists can do in the field and because of the career opportunities.

Organic chemists can synthesize natural products and design molecules for use in a number of fields including the medical industry. There are a lot of things going on in organic chemistry, Nguyen said.

It is really refreshing, she said. I learn something new every day.

After more than four years studying in America, Nguyen said she wants to stay in the country for her graduate studies. After finishing her education, she said he hopes to go into medicinal chemistry, a field that intrigues her.

Read the original here:
Viterbo grad continues family legacy in chemistry