North Carolina Research Assistant

Vy-Phuong Tran +1-919-***-****

ć *******@****.***

PhD Candidate ć ***********@*****.***

North Carolina State University Google Scholar

Raleigh, NC, USA ] LinkedIn Profile

Education

•North Carolina State University, NC, USA 2025

Doctor of Philosophy, Chemistry

•HCMC University of Science, Vietnam 2018

Bachelor of Science, Chemistry

Experience

•North Carolina State University 5/2023-present

Research Assistant - Material science Raleigh, NC

– Developed light-harvesting materials optimized for near-infrared (NIR) solar capture through targeted synthetic approaches. The projects rely heavily on synthesis (collaboration with MIT).

– Investigated structureproperty relationships, focusing on how molecular architecture and crystal packing influence excited-state energy transfer.

– Tool and technologies: Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), 1H NMR and proton-decoupled 13C NMR, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS), Bruker’s X-ray Diffraction, performed computational analysis using Density Functional Theory (DFT).

– Hard skills: synthetic design, NMR analysis, XRD, and column chromatography technique.

– Softwares: Excel, Word, Mercury, Crystalexplorer-21.3, Origin.

•North Carolina State University 7/2020-4/2023

Research Assistant - Synthetic organic chemistry Raleigh, NC

– Developed versatile synthetic routes to bacteriochlorin macrocycles (tetrapyrroles), advancing the understanding of energy science and photosynthetic processes

– Tailored macrocyclic structures to explore new molecular designs with tunable electronic and photophysical prop- erties.

– Expanded the mechanistic and synthetic understanding of the McMurryMelton reaction in the context of macro- cycle formation.

•HCMC University of Science 2017-2019

Undergraduate Research Assistant Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

– Developed a recyclable catalytic system based on deep eutectic solvents (DES) for the liquid-phase separation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF).

– Achieved excellent selectivity and simplified post-reaction work-up, improving overall process efficiency and sus- tainability.

– The catalyst was characterized by FT-IR, TGA, XRD, ICP-MS, EDS.

– The isolated HMF was characterized by FT-IR, GC-MS, HPLC-UV, LC-MS, 1H NMR, proton-decoupled (13)C NMR.

Publications

1. VP Tran, P Nalaoh, JS Linsdey, Single-crystal X-ray structure analysis of a synthetic chlorin, Journal of Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines, 2025, 29, 262–269. 2. VP Tran, P Wang, N Matsumoto, S Liu, H Jing, P Nalaoh, KC Nguyen, M Taniguchi, JS Lindsey, Bac- teriochlorin syntheses-Status, problems, and exploration, Journal of Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines, 2023, 27, 11, 1502–1551.

3. VP Tran, N Matsumoto, P Nalaoh, H Jing, C-Y Chen, JS Lindsey, Dihydrooxazine Byproduct of a McMur- ryMelton Reaction en Route to a Synthetic Bacteriochlorin, Organics, 2022, 3, 3, 262–274. 4. H Jing, S Liu, J Jiang, VP Tran, J Rong, P Wang, JS Linsdey, Meso bromination and derivatization of synthetic bacteriochlorins, New Journal of Chemistry, 2022, 46, 12, 5556–5572. 5. DTM Chung, VP Tran, KC Nguyen, P Wang, JS Linsdey, Synthesis of model bacteriochlorophylls containing substituents of native rings A, C and E, New Journal of Chemistry, 2021, 45, 30, 13302–13316. 6. PH Tran, VP Tran, A highly selective and efficient method for the production of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural from dehydration of fructose using SACS/DES catalytic system, Fuel, 2019, 246, 18–23. Awards, Fellowships, & Grants

2025 CGSA Award for Excellence in Science Communication, North Carolina State University 2025 Travel award, 2025 ACS spring conference, North Carolina State University 2020-2025 Graduate Research Assistant Fellowship, Department Of Energy Selected presentations

1. VP Tran*, P Nalaoh, MN Scott, A Kundu, GS Schlau-Cohen, JS Lindsey. 2025. Investigating Porphyrin Analogues of Chlorosomal Bacteriochlorophylls. Poster presentation at ACS spring 2025, San Diego, CA. 2. VP, Tran*, P Nalaoh, MN Scott, A Kundu, GS Schlau-Cohen, JS Lindsey. 2025. Investigating Porphyrin Analogues of Chlorosomal Bacteriochlorophylls. Poster presentation at Department of Chemistry 26th Annual Poster Session, Raleigh, NC.

3. VP, Tran*, H Jing, JS Lindsey. 2021. Synthetic Bacteriochlorins with Tunable Absorption in the Infrated Spectral Region. Poster presentation at Department of Chemistry 22th Annual Poster Session, Raleigh, NC.

Contact this candidate