ABOUT VINUNIVERSITY

VinUniversity (VinUni) is Vietnam’s first private, not-for-profit university established to international standards, with the vision of becoming one of the world’s top 100 universities. Guided by its core values (EXCEL) of Empathy, Creativity, Leadership Mindset, Exceptional Capability, and Entrepreneurial Spirit, VinUni develops talent equipped to create meaningful impact in Vietnam and globally.

Founded by Vingroup, one of Asia’s largest private conglomerates, VinUni benefits from a dynamic ecosystem spanning Industrials & Technology, Real Estate & Services, Infrastructure, Green Energy, Culture, and Social Enterprises. This ecosystem provides unique opportunities for collaboration and innovation through leading organizations such as VinFast, Vinpearl, Vinmec, Vinschool, and Vinhomes, as well as a vibrant entrepreneurial network including VinVentures, VinMotion, VinRobotics, VinSpace, and VinEnergo, etc.

VinUni comprises four colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business and Management, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, and the College of Health Sciences. The University has established strategic partnerships with Cornell University, the University of Pennsylvania and Nanyang Technological University to advance excellence in education, research, and innovation.

In 2024, VinUni became the youngest and fastest university globally to achieve QS 5 Stars, earning the highest rating in nine categories: Global Engagement, Good Governance, Program Strength, Academic Development, Teaching, Employability, Facilities, Arts, and Social Impact. The University was also appointed by UNESCO as the first and only UNESCO Chair University, focusing on Environmental Leadership, Cultural Heritage, and Biodiversity.

As a rapidly growing research-intensive university, VinUni is investing in world-class talent, research centers, and cutting-edge facilities to drive breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Data Science, Environmental Intelligence, Innovations in Health Sciences, Policy Development, and Sustainable Societies.

THE COLLEGE

The College of Health Sciences (CHS) is committed to developing world-class research and providing outstanding healthcare education. We aim to be an agent of change in medical education reform and health sciences research. We strive to attract and develop healthcare leaders who will advance health sciences locally and globally.

CHS’s strategic partner within Vingroup is the Vinmec Healthcare System—the leading private, not-for-profit provider in Vietnam, comprising 10 hospitals and outpatient clinics (1,600+ beds). Vinmec is the only provider in Vietnam with two JCI-accredited hospitals (Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City). Vinmec Times City in Hanoi is our primary teaching hospital and the only academic JCI-recognized hospital in the country, offering students robust clinical exposure and a strong care–education–research environment.

CHS currently offers undergraduate programs in Medicine and Nursing, and six residency programs in Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Pediatrics, Radiology, Orthopedics, and Anesthesia. All programs at CHS are competency-based and were developed with international standards and benchmarking. Our strategic academic alliance partner is the University of Pennsylvania. With international standard curricula, a blend of international and Vietnamese faculty, modern pedagogical approaches, and technology-forward infrastructure, we ensure cutting edge education and research opportunities across programs in a supportive and collaborative culture. Our graduates are prepared to become leaders, innovators, and scientists with an entrepreneurial mindset.

VinUni CHS received official recognition from ACGME International, a renowned international accrediting organization, for the high quality of its postgraduate medical education programs at institutional level. This marked CHS as the first medical education institution in Vietnam and only the second in Southeast Asia, following Singapore, to attain such recognition. In March 2024, ACGME-I accredited 3 residency programs at CHS (Internal Medicine, General Surgery and Pediatrics), which recognized VinUni again, for the first time in Vietnam with 3 “program level” accreditation. CHS is also the first and only institution in Vietnam with ACEN Candidacy recognition for Nursing education program. 

About the Project

Our team at the College of Health Sciences, VinUniversity, is conducting a research study on environmental exposure and health among motorcycle-based delivery drivers in Hanoi. The study combines wearable air-quality sensors with health surveys and health in general to understand how everyday air pollution exposure affects respiratory and metabolic health. The project is carried out in partnership with a major private hospital system and a ride-hailing/delivery company, with support from international academic collaborators. Additionally, this project is funded by the VinUniversity Assistant Professorships (VAP) program.

Position Summary

We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher or research fellow to lead the analytic, methodological, and scientific output of MOTOAIR. The successful candidate will work closely with the Principal Investigator and a multidisciplinary team (epidemiologists, data scientists, clinical partners at Vinmec, and GPS/exposure-modeling collaborators) to translate sensor, survey, and clinical data into peer-reviewed evidence on air pollution exposure and health outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the cleaning, harmonization, and quality control of personal environmental exposure (PM2.5/VOC/temperature/humidity), GPS, daily diary, baseline survey, and clinical datasets (spirometry, CT, blood/biochemistry, anthropometry).
• Conduct statistical analyses linking individual air pollution exposure to respiratory symptoms, lung function, and biochemical markers.
• Build or assist in the development of air pollution maps and conduct related data analyses in collaboration with computer scientists.
• Draft and co-author manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication, conference abstracts, and progress reports for funders and the Ethics Committee.
• Support preparation of grant applications (e.g., NAFOSTED, NIH, Wellcome Trust, …) and the planned year-long longitudinal follow-up sub-study and wearable (Fitbit) expansion.
• Liaise with Vinmec Smart City clinical staff, GreenSM, and field/survey teams to ensure data integrity and participant safety, including referral pathways for clinically significant findings.
• Mentor research assistants, graduate students, and field staff involved in data collection and entry.

Required Qualifications

• PhD (or near completion) in Environmental Health, Public Health, Epidemiology, Occupational Health, Exposure Science, Data Science, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated experience with environmental exposure or cohort/epidemiological data analysis (e.g., air pollution, occupational exposure, or similar observational health studies).
• Proficiency in a statistical/data analysis language such as R, Python, or Stata; experience with spatial/GIS or GPS-based exposure data is a strong advantage.
• Track record of (or strong potential for) peer-reviewed publication.
• Strong written and spoken English.
• Ability to work on-site in Hanoi and collaborate with clinical, field, and industry partners.

Preferred Experience

• Prior work with wearable/low-cost sensor data (air quality, GPS, or biometric wearables) and associated calibration methods.
• Experience with respiratory health outcomes (spirometry interpretation) or cardiometabolic biomarkers.
• Experience working in or with low- and middle-income country (LMIC) field research settings.
• Familiarity with REDCap or similar survey/data-capture platforms.

What We Offers

• Competitive compensation.
• An initial appointment of 12 months, extendable up to 36 months based on performance and funding.
• Expected to contribute to 2–3 publications per year, depending on the research track. The PI will provide sufficient data, research directions, and ongoing projects to support this publication output.
• Opportunities to attend international conferences and participate in international research exchanges, with financial support from the PI and VinUniversity.
• Access to state-of-the-art research infrastructure and real-world clinical data through VinUni’s partnership with Vinmec Healthcare System, Vietnam’s leading private hospital network.
• Mentorship and collaboration with international advisors, including faculty from Harvard University, Columbia University, and Simon Fraser University (SFU).
• Opportunities to travel to leading universities such as Harvard, Columbia, and SFU for visiting research opportunities and advanced training courses.
• A supportive, interdisciplinary research culture within the College of Health Sciences, which prioritizes research excellence and an annual personal development fund for conferences and collaboration.
• Assistance with visa, work permit, and relocation arrangements for the role in Hanoi, Vietnam.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit the following as a single PDF to the research team:

• A brief cover letter describing your interest in the role.
• A current CV/resume.
• Contact details for two academic or professional references.
• A publication list, writing sample, coding project, or other relevant supporting document demonstrating your research skills.
• (Optional but encouraged) A one-page research statement describing how your expertise could extend the project’s analytic or exposure-science components.

For any enquiries, please contact: 

Tung Thanh Pham, MD, MPH, MSc, PhD

Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, Global Health, and Public Health, College of Health Sciences at VinUniversity

Research Associate, Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health

Email: tung.pt@vinuni.edu.vn

We thank all applicants for their interest. Please note that only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.