Quoc Dai Ho
Materials Science and Engineering
Advised by Anderson Janotti
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Interview submitted in Fall of 2025.
CHARM Interviewer (CI): Where did you grow up and go to school for your undergraduate degree?
Quoc Dai Ho (QDH): I grew up in Vietnam and attended Quy Nhon University, a beautiful university located in a coastal city in Vietnam. Its main campus is known for having classrooms that face the sea and a relaxed coastal atmosphere.
CI: What got you interested in materials science?
QDH: I was majoring in Chemistry when I did my undergraduate, which is not too far from materials science if not very close to it, so I knew about material science from a chemistry perspective. However, things were pretty vague for me till the very end of my undergraduate program when I had an opportunity to join a research group working on quantum chemistry. From there, I learned that quantum theory is incredible and plays a crucial role in our modern technology and that I wanted to learn more about materials science, about the magic behind the high-tech we use every day.
CI: In technical language, what is the research you do here at CHARM?
QDH: I use first-principles calculation techniques to predict and explain properties of materials at atomistic level, especially structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of them. Within CHARM, I have been working on many different material systems such as III-V semiconductors, rare-earth pnictides topological semimetals, topological insulators, altermagnetic materials, both as single materials and in hybrid quantum material systems.
CI: What is a skill you would like to build on while being a part of CHARM?
QDH: Having the opportunity to work in a multidisciplinary team such as UD-CHARM, the skill I most want to strengthen is collaboration. In the last few years within the team, I gradually accumulate this collaborative goal by actively engaging with colleagues from different research backgrounds, sharing my expertise while learning from theirs, and contributing to team discussions and joint projects. This will not only improve my ability to work effectively in diverse scientific environments but also help me grow as a more well-rounded researcher.
CI: Tell us about your career goals and aspirations.
QDH: I am excited about pursuing a career as a researcher, where I can either lead a group or contribute as part of a team working to address major challenges facing humanity, for example, developing new materials for clean, sustainable energy technologies.
CI: Are there any other student/campus organizations you belong to or volunteering opportunities you enjoy?
QDH: I am particularly excited on international coffee hour every Friday where I have a chance to meet and talk to many international colleagues/students. I am also a member of APS where I usually join their online discussion on many different topics relevant to physics/materials science and job opportunity for young scientists.
CI: What do you enjoy doing in your downtime outside of the lab?
QDH: Apart from my research, I like hiking, running, swimming, or sometimes just driving around beautiful countryside neighborhoods of the east coast.
CI: What advice would you give to undergraduate students and first-year graduate students?
QDH: For undergraduate students, please take every chance to get involved in research early on, and it doesn’t really matter if the project feels small at first. For me, those early experiences helped me discover what I enjoyed and gave me the confidence to pursue graduate studies. Don’t hesitate to ask professors or graduate students about their work; those conversations can open unexpected doors.
For first-year graduates, I guess asking questions, seeking feedback, and staying curious made the biggest difference in my growth. And working in a multidisciplinary team has taught me the value of listening to people from different backgrounds and learning how to connect ideas across fields.