A STALE CAKE & THE JOURNEY TO VINUNI – THE RESILIENCE OF A DATA SCIENTIST

Can a discarded cake really make a difference?

Trang started exploring Data Science and realized that food waste isn’t just an isolated issue at a small event – it’s a massive challenge for the entire F&B industry. And more importantly, data is the key to controlling it.

At first glance, a spoiled cake may not seem significant. But what if food waste happens every day, at every store, every business, every supply chain worldwide? It’s no longer a minor issue – it’s a problem that demands a solution. 

For Quynh Trang, recipient of an 85% Talent Scholarship from VinUni’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, everything started with a failure. During Cakes For Charity – a fundraising event she organized with her club – dozens of cakes had to be thrown away. Some were spoiled due to improper storage, while others were wasted because demand had been miscalculated. More than just a failed event, this was the moment Trang realized: waste isn’t just an outcome – it’s something that can be controlled with accurate data.

Can data change how an entire industry operates?

That question led Trang to Data Science.

Companies like Leanpath and Winnow are transforming the F&B industry by using data to predict demand, optimize supply chains, and minimize food waste right from production. While Trang couldn’t implement such complex systems yet, she wondered: “Is there a way to manage this better within my club’s event? Without advanced technology, just with small, data-driven adjustments?”

She began analyzing sales data, refining production processes, optimizing recipes, and improving storage methods. The result? No more wasted cakes. But more than that, it was the first step in a journey to transform data into solutions for even bigger problems – a journey Trang believes VinUni will help her pursue to its fullest potential.

Telling a Story Instead of Just Showcasing a Transcript

Identifying a passion is just the first step – turning it into an opportunity is the real challenge. When Trang saw the list of VinUni scholarship applicants, she knew she didn’t have a perfect transcript or a collection of prestigious awards. But this time, instead of doubting herself, she chose to talk about her dream in Data Science. She shared about the wasted cakes, how data can transform the food industry, and why Data Science isn’t just a trendy field, but a key to solving real-world challenges.

And it was this story that helped her win VinUni’s Talent Scholarship.

Trang believes that VinUni’s scholarship doesn’t just enable her to pursue her passion for Data Science – it provides an environment where she can turn ideas into action. Here, she has set three key milestones for herself:

Researching applications of Data Science in the F&B industry to tackle food waste.
Building a strong network and engaging in real-world projects to learn from experts and businesses.
Pursuing a 3+2 or 4+1 program to fast-track her studies and gain early access to an international working environment.

Trang believes VinUni will not only equip her with knowledge from leading global models but also enable her to bring these solutions back to Vietnam, where many F&B businesses still lack data-driven optimization.

And we believe that at VinUni, this journey is no longer a distant goal – but a vision steadily taking shape.

“A cake may be discarded. But the right idea can change an entire industry.”