Hands-on Environmental Research – A Memorable Internship Experience at VinUni for Cornell Students
July 30, 2025
This summer, Eric Han and Nichole Zheng – two students from Cornell University (USA) – chose VinUni as the destination for their research internship. With support from the VinUni Center for Environmental Intelligence (CEI), Associate Professor Dr. Kok-Seng Wong, and a dedicated team of research assistants, they enjoyed both academic and cultural experiences in Vietnam, a country they had never been to before.
Let’s take a closer look at what the past few months were like for them as research assistants at VinUni!
1. Real-World Experience – Making a Direct Impact Through Green Research Projects at VinUni
Although only sophomore and junior undergraduates, Nichole and Eric worked as research assistants at VinUni, where they were empowered to take on independent research projects. Eric conducted research on split federated learning, while Nichole focused on data pipeline architecture. Both topics are part of CEI’s Green Serverless Computing project – a computing model that aims to minimize environmental impact by optimizing resource usage and reducing carbon emissions.
2. Strong hands-on experience, excellent facilities, and dedicated support from faculty – the three elements that made a meaningful internship
Nichole and Eric were genuinely surprised to learn that VinUni had only been established for five years when they first arrived. The university’s modern facilities and the professionalism of the research team left a strong and positive impression on them.
Throughout the research process, they received continuous guidance and mentorship from VinUni faculty to keep the projects on track. “The research assistants were incredibly helpful, their mentorship made it much easier to adapt and make progress in a new research environment.” – Nichole reflected.
“More students at Cornell should be aware of the program, because it’s incredibly valuable. For me, this exchange allowed me to dive into topics I’m passionate about and learn directly from Dr. Wong and his team.” – Eric shared. As someone with experience interning in countries like South Korea, Ghana, Nigeria, and most notably at NASA in the U.S., Eric found his time at VinUni particularly impactful because of the hands-on nature of the work and the responsibility he was entrusted with.
For Eric, Nichole, the exchange students at VinUni, and VinUni students in general, the university is not only a place for academic excellence but also a space where students are empowered to contribute to real-world projects that benefit society. At VinUni, internships are not just about gaining experience – they’re about discovering one’s potential, engaging in professional research, and building cross-border academic connections.
Please find in the photos below some of Eric and Nichole’s activities during the summer research program at VinUni:
