Vietnamese scholar named Australia’s top organic chemistry researcher
Nguyen Thanh Vinh,a Vietnamese-born scientist working in Australia has reached a major career milestone, earning national recognition for his research impact and highlighting the growing presence of Vietnamese scholars in global science.
THE HANOI TIMES — Associate Professor Nguyen Thanh Vinh of the University of New South Wales has been named Australia’s most influential researcher in organic chemistry, according to a newly released ranking by The Australian.
The designation appears in the 2026 Research Magazine, the annual ranking published by Australia’s largest-circulation daily newspaper.
Image of Nguyen Thanh Vinh on the website of University of New South Wales. Photo: UNSW
The list identifies the most influential universities and researchers in 2026 based on citation data from academic papers published over five years in the top 20 journals of each field, using Google Scholar metrics.
Under this assessment, Vinh ranks first in organic chemistry within the Chemical Sciences and Materials category.
He currently serves as an associate professor at UNSW, which ranks among the world’s top 20 universities in the QS 2026 rankings.
Vinh’s research centers on organic catalysis, aromatic cation activation, synthesis of natural products and bioactive compounds, asymmetric synthesis and medicinal chemistry.
Born in 1982 in the north-central province of Thanh Hoa, Vinh first gained public recognition in Vietnam as the runner-up of the inaugural season of the televised academic quiz show Duong Le Dinh Olympia (Road to Mount Olympia) while studying in the specialized chemistry stream at Lam Son High School for the Gifted.
He later earned a silver medal at the International Chemistry Olympiad in 2000 in Copenhagen, Denmark. In 2001, Vinh received an Australian government scholarship to study industrial chemistry at UNSW.
After completing his undergraduate degree, his academic record secured fast-track entry into doctoral research. He went on to earn a PhD in organic chemistry from the Australian National University, becoming one of the youngest Vietnamese doctoral graduates overseas at the time.
Vinh launched his independent research career in 2013 at Curtin University in Perth.
He joined UNSW in 2015 as a lecturer and Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award fellow, advanced to senior lecturer in 2018 and received an ARC Future Fellowship in 2019.
In 2021, at age 39, he earned promotion to associate professor.
Following the announcement, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang sent a letter of congratulations to Vinh.
She wrote that the recognition reflects the results of his rigorous and sustained scientific work and demonstrates the expanding international integration and academic standing of Vietnamese intellectuals in the global research community.
Deputy Minister Hang added that his achievement will inspire Vietnamese scholars in Australia, in Vietnam and around the world.
On this occasion, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs formally invited Associate Professor Vinh and his family to attend the Xuan Que Huong (Homeland Spring) 2026 program, an annual event honoring overseas Vietnamese for their contributions and strengthening ties with the homeland.
This year’s event will take place on February 8, 2026 in Hanoi.
