CV
A PDF version of my resumé can be found here.
Education
- Ph.D Candidate in Political Science, University of Iowa, USA, 2027 (expected)
- M.A. in Political Science, University of Iowa, USA, 2023
- B.S. in Political Science & International Relations, Truman State University, USA, 2021
Additional Training
- Swedish Interdisciplinary Research School in Computational Social Science, Institute of Analytical Sociology (IAS), Linköping University, Sweden, 2025 - 2026
- Summer Institute in Computational Social Science (SICSS), IAS, 2025
Work experience
- Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Iowa, 08/2021 - 12/2024
- Instructed a total of 20 small classes under 4 professors in International Relations, Comparative Politics, and US Foreign Policy.
- Implemented various active learning methods, including simulations, team-based learning, and project-based learning.
- Guided and graded 70-90 students per semester on their weekly assignments, projects, and research essays.
- Managed and monitored students’ grades and performance via Canvas system.
- Supervisor: Prof. Brian Lai; Prof. Sara Mitchell; Prof. Fred Solt, Prof. Kelly Kadera, and Dr. Nick Martini
- Editorial Assistant & Replication Analyst, Foreign Policy Analysis (FPA) Journal, 08/2023 - 05/2024
- Conducted data analysis to inspect & replicate results of accepted peer-reviewed articles at FPA using Stata, R, and Python.
- Ensured timely communication between the authors and editorial team.
- Supervisor: Prof. Brian Lai
- Lead Consultant, Truman State University, 08/2020 – 12/2020
- Led a 3-person team of consultants to help Truman State’s reforms in academic advising system by conducting a campus-wide survey and statistical analyses (in R) on students’ advising experience.
- Delivered insights and policy recommendations via a presentation and 18-page report to Truman State authorities.
- Supervisor: Prof. Scott Albert
Skills
- Research/Analytical: Large Language Models (LLMs), Machine Learning, Text Analysis, Computational Social Science, Network Analysis, Econometrics, Advanced Statistics, Time Series, Archival Research
- Computer Software: STATA, R, Python (Transformers, Llama, OpenAI API, Scikit-learn, NLTK, SpaCy), SPSS
- Languages: Vietnamese (Native), English (Fluent), Japanese (Elementary)
Working Papers
Talks
Unveiling Elite Networks Across Time and Space Using Large Language Models (LLMs)
Conference presentation at American Political Science Association (APSA) Annual Meeting, Vancouver, Canada
Unveiling Elite Networks Across Time and Space Using Large Language Models (LLMs)
Workshop presentation at WhoGov Workshop on Political Elites, Oslo, Norway
Racing for Global Influence: Political Turnovers and US-China Foreign Aid Competition
Conference presentation at Peace Science Society (International) 2024, Michigan, MI, USA
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and LLMs: Innerworkings, Applications and Ethics
Talk at Methodology Workshop Series, University of Iowa, Department of Political Science, Iowa City, IA, USA
Racing for Influence: US-China Foreign Aid Competition and Domestic Politics of Recipient States
Conference presentation at American Political Science Association (APSA) Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Dictators at Sea: How Oil and Economic Hardships Shape the Militarization of Maritime Disputes by Autocrats
Conference presentation at International Studies Association (ISA) Meeting, San Francisco, CA, USA
Leader Background and Civil War Onset
Conference presentation at International Studies Association (ISA) - Midwest, St. Louis, MO, USA
Teaching
Honors
- Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award ($1000), University of Iowa, 04/2025
- Best Graduate Seminar Research Paper ($250), Department of Political Science, University of Iowa, 09/2024
Scholarships & Grants
- Travel Award ($500), WhoGov Workshop on Political Elites, University of Oslo, 09/2025
- PolMeth Travel & Accommodation Award ($700), Society for Political Methodology (Declined), 07/2025
- Travel & Accommodation Award ($6000), Swedish Research School in Computational Social Science, 06/2025
- Post-Comprehensive Exam Research Fellowship ($11,000), Graduate College, University of Iowa, 02/2025
- Iowa Recruitment Fellowship ($45,000), Graduate College, University of Iowa, 08/2021
- Grants-in-Aid of Scholarship and Research ($1500), Truman State University, 06/2020
- Truman State Presidential Scholarship ($36,000), Truman State University, 08/2017
Service and leadership
Professional
- Graduate Student Representative, IR Faculty Recruitment Committee, Department of Political Science, University of Iowa, 2024
- Co-Coordinator, International Relations (IR) Workshop Series, Department of Political Science, University of Iowa, 2023 – 2024
- Peer-Reviewer, Foreign Policy Analysis (FPA) Journal, 2024
Other
- President, Vietnamese Student Association (VSA), Truman State University, 2019 – 2020
- Representative of the Student Government, Undergraduate Faculty Council, Truman State University, 2018 – 2019
- Academic Affairs Committee, Student Government, Truman State University, 2018-2019