Trong Toan Tran

Qualifications prior to this degree:
Bachelor of Science (Materials Sciences)
Master of Engineering (Chemical Engineering)

Supervisor/s: Professor Milos Toth, Associate Professor Igor Aharonovich

Project title: Quantum emission in wide-bandgap semiconductor

Describe your research project
My research project is about the understanding, characterization, and fabrication of single photon sources and their applications towards nanoscale sensing and quantum communication.

Why did you choose to pursue a research degree as opposed to going into the work force? Why this area of research?
I have been working as an R&D engineer for over three years at Showa Denko HD Singapore - the world's leading hi-tech company manufacturing high-capacity perpendicular media for computers and laptops. With the invaluable industry experience I have obtained in this company, I have been striving to apply those into fundamental research in universities - my ultimate desire. Therefore, getting a PhD degree is obviously the first crucial step towards my potential career in the academia. The reason I chose to study Physics and Advanced Materials have been that I strongly believe materials and their associated technologies play an indispensable role in underpinning the entire development of future science and technology as a whole.

What is your daily activity?
I usually spend 14 hour a day doing research in the lab, starting from 7am. When I get back home, I usually prepare meals for the next day with my wife, and also watch movies with her.

What attracted you to research at UTS Science?
What I like about UTS Science is that it has a rich culture of multidisciplinary research and a very strong tendency of international collaboration which are all very critical for high-impact research. In addition, the faculties are very friendly and open-minded, and they usually keep in close touch with their PhD students during the entire course of research. My supervisors, in particular, Prof. Milos Toth and A/Prof. Igor Aharonovich have impressed me at my first interview with their unparalleled knowledge in their respective fields. I, therefore, believe that they would offer me with great guidance while I do my PhD in UTS Science. Indeed, they have been proving what I have believed in.

My future
As mentioned earlier, I will commit to do my best in my research field. My plan is that I will undertake a postdoctoral research position elsewhere (maybe in the US or Europe) for a couple of years to gain more international experience of research outside Australia. Upon finishing my postdoc there, I would consider to come back to UTS to start my research career here and contribute to the development and growth of UTS Science in particular, and also of UTS as a whole.