The 7th VANJ Annual Conference on Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation (VANJ Conference 2026) will take place from November 13–15, 2026, bringing together international scholars, policy experts, and industry leaders to discuss sustainable solutions and scientific innovations.
Date: November 13–15, 2026
Venue: IDEC Building, Hiroshima University (Higashi-Hiroshima Campus)
Format: Hybrid | Language: English
Conference Website: https://conf.vanj.jp/2026/

🌟 Opening Plenary & Keynote Speeches
The flagship Plenary Session on November 14, 2026, titled “Vietnam–Japan Collaboration for a Sustainable Future: Perspectives from Academia, Policy, and Industry,” will be chaired by Prof. Tran Dang Xuan (Hiroshima University), who also serves as the General Chair / Head of the Organizing Committee for VANJ Conference 20226.

The session features five distinguished invited speakers presenting cutting-edge research across circular economy, agricultural biotechnology, and biomass conversion:

• Assoc. Prof. Duc Luc PHUNG (Yamagata University)
• Assoc. Prof. Yong Jie WONG (Jacky) (Kyoto University)
• Assist. Prof. Namita MAHARJAN (National Institute of Technology, Nagaoka College)
• Dr. Thanh Sang NGUYEN (National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Taiwan)
• Dr. Thi Hai Anh NGUYEN (Hiroshima University)
  📌 Registration & Information
  We warmly invite researchers, students, and academics to attend and participate in this inspiring academic exchange at the IDEC Building or online.
  Audience Registration: https://event.vanj.jp/conference/
  Official Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/vanj.jp

Today, our laboratory members gathered in the field to carry out the experimental rice harvesting season. Joined by Assistant Professor Tran Duc Viet, researchers and students from our lab worked together to successfully harvest the experimental paddy.

Beyond collecting essential field data and sample crops for our ongoing research projects, the harvest provided a wonderful opportunity for team members to learn directly from hands-on agricultural practices, share practical insights, and strengthen team bonding outside the traditional laboratory setting.

It was a productive, rewarding, and fun-filled day in the field, reflecting the collaborative spirit of our team!

From October 14 to 15, 2026, an esteemed delegation of leading professors and researchers from Hiroshima University, Japan—led by Prof. Tran Dang Xuan (Head of the Global Campus Institute Vietnam Office), Prof. Ueda Akihiro, Prof. Nakayama Tatsuya, and Asst. Prof. Tran Duc Viet—paid a high-level official working visit to Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry (TUAF), marking a significant milestone in international education and applied scientific research centered on advancing the Joint PhD. Program and expanding academic and applied research collaborations in green and sustainable agriculture.

As part of this fruitful academic exchange, two Ph.D. candidates from our laboratory proudly represented our research group by presenting their latest scientific findings in the poster sessions.

Ph.D. candidate Nguyen Thi Doan presented her research titled “Sustainable Valorization of Plant-Derived Diterpenoids with Cytotoxicity against Human Leukemia Cell Lines”.

Ph.D. candidate Do Thanh Tung presented his research titled “Involvement of Momilactones A & B in Drought Tolerance and Drought Resistance in Rice.”

The active participation of our professors and doctoral students highlights our laboratory’s ongoing commitment to fostering global academic networks, sharing innovative research, and driving sustainable agricultural solutions forward. We extend our sincere congratulations to the delegation and our Ph.D. students for a highly successful and impactful working visit!

We are proud to share that Professor Tran Dang Xuan at Hiroshima University has been officially recognized in Research.com’s 2026 Best Scientists ranking.

Research.com is a leading international academic platform that evaluates and ranks top researchers globally based on comprehensive bibliometric data, assessing hundreds of thousands of scientist profiles across various academic disciplines worldwide.

This prestigious recognition is a testament to Professor Tran Dang Xuan’s tireless dedication, outstanding academic leadership, and remarkable contributions to scientific research on a global scale.

The entire laboratory extends our warmest congratulations to Professor Tran Dang Xuan for this remarkable achievement, which serves as a great inspiration for all researchers and students in our team!

Source / Reference:

• Source: Voice of Vietnam (VOV)
• Original Article Link: Vietnamese professor in Japan honored in Research.com’s 2026 ranking

On September 30, 2026, the Graduate School of Innovation and Practice for Smart Society (SmaSo) hosted the Thesis Interim Report Session (Poster Presentation) at the Large Conference Room in the IDEC Building, Higashi-Hiroshima Campus.

Our laboratory was proud to have three Master’s students participate and present their ongoing research progress alongside fellow graduate students enrolled in the program

Nguyen Phu Duc – Poster No. 7: “DNA Barcoding and Phylogenetic Analysis of Vietnamese and Japanese Lacquer trees (Toxicodendron)”

Nguyen Viet Anh – Poster No. 9: “Enhancing the Resilience and Energy Efficiency of Coastal Infrastructures in Cà Mau Province, Vietnam through Nature-Based, Scientific, and Eco-Friendly Approaches”

Tran Duc An Khanh – Poster No. 6: “Phytochemical Profiling and Antioxidant Activity of Artemisia vulgaris L.”

During the session, our students actively engaged in academic discussions with professors, committee members, and fellow researchers, receiving insightful feedback and constructive suggestions to further refine their thesis research.

The laboratory extends its congratulations to Tran Duc An Khanh, Nguyen Phu Duc, and Nguyen Viet Anh on their successful poster presentations and wishes them continued success in their research journey!

Beyond our daily experiments and literature reviews, today was all about teamwork, relaxation, and great conversations. From shared laughs to team-building moments, the trip was a wonderful reminder of the vibrant culture within our lab.

Thank you to every member who joined in and brought such incredible energy to the event.

Refreshed and inspired, we’re ready to bring this same unity and momentum back to our research.

We extend our warmest congratulations to Dr Nguyen Thi Hai Anh on successfully receiving her Doctoral Degree.

This milestone is a testament to her years of dedication, academic rigour, and outstanding scientific contributions during her doctoral journey. Her hard work, perseverance, and passion for research have culminated in this well-deserved success.

We wish Dr Nguyen Thi Hai Anh continued success, discoveries, and brilliant achievements in her future academic and professional endeavours!

Congratulations to our Master’s students, Nguyen Xuan Chien and Somar Achi, on successfully defending their Master’s theses! Their presentations highlighted great dedication, technical rigor, and valuable scientific contributions to agricultural plant biology and bioenergy sustainability.

Master’s Defense Highlights:

Nguyen Xuan Chien’s Thesis Title: “Tissue-Specific Accumulation and Evidence for Biosynthesis of Momilactones in Rice Reproductive”. Research Focus: Investigated the tissue-specific distribution, accumulation, and in situ gene expression profiles of momilactones A and B in rice spikelets and ovaries, shedding light on local biosynthesis and potential defense mechanisms during early grain development.

Somar Achi’s Thesis Title: Evaluating the Potential of Olive Pomace as a Biomass Energy Source: A Case Study in Japan (Shōdoshima). His research Focus: Applied Advanced Mean Conjoint Estimation (AMCE) and mixed-method survey models to evaluate local public acceptance, pricing boundaries, and certification impacts for utilization of olive pomace pellets in Japan. 

On behalf of the entire laboratory, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Chien and Somar on achieving this milestone! We wish both of you continued success in all your future academic and professional endeavors.

Congratulations on Award of the 2026 Satake Research Grant!

Tran Dang Xuan Lab is thrilled to announce that our lab member, Irvan Adhin Cholilie, a doctoral student from the Smart Agriculture Program, Graduate School of Innovation and Practice for Smart Society, has been selected as a recipient of the prestigious 2026 Satake Research Grant (サタケ基金 2026年度研究助成金).

His award-winning research topic is titled: “Research on Low-Chemical Fertilizer Paddy rice cultivation and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Using Photosynthetic Bacterial Formulations” (光合成細菌製剤を利用した低化学肥料型水稲栽培および温室効果ガス削減に関する研究)

Source: https://www.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/yakudou/satakekikin/josei/2026/saitaku2026

On-Site Field Inspection by Prof. Tran Dang Xuan & Experts

Irvan’s work focuses on sustainable smart agriculture by integrating photosynthetic bacteria into rice cultivation. This innovative, eco-friendly approach aims to reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers while simultaneously mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from paddy fields—tackling two of modern agriculture’s most pressing environmental challenges.