Looking back on his journey to convocation, Daniel Nguyen realizes it was the free-flowing, after-school conversations with his grandparents that set him on a path to the uOttawa Faculty of Medicine and sparked his goal of becoming a researcher.
When he was a child, he and his grandparents on his father’s side would spend afternoons talking about everything under the sun. This was easy to do since his grandparents, both retired educators, loved teaching and delighted in stoking their grandson’s interests. Every visit to their home in Ottawa’s Greenboro neighborhood promised new discoveries.
“My earliest introduction to science came from those after-school moments: fun facts about space, animals, and how the body works,” he recalls. “They’re the ones who taught me to love learning, and I hope they’re proud of where I am today.”
“Every opportunity I have today is rooted in the risks that my parents and grandparents made and in the dreams that they set aside so my sister and I could chase our own.”
Daniel Nguyen
The love and sacrifices of his grandfather (who passed in 2021 and whom Nguyen called ‘ông nội’) and grandmother (who passed in 2014 and whom he called ‘bà nội’) were the foundation upon which his family’s aspirations were built.
Strong role models abound in Nguyen’s life. His parents, both first-generation immigrants, left their Vietnamese homeland in the tumultuous aftermath of the Vietnam War to seek better opportunities in Canada. Their resolve planted the seeds of motivation and commitment.
Their vision was achieved. Nguyen’s parents, both dental technicians, forged a good life in Ottawa. Nguyen is now graduating with a Honours BSc in Translational and Molecular Medicine (TMM). And his little sister is following in his footsteps: She will be starting at uOttawa this fall.
“Every opportunity I have today is rooted in the risks that my parents and grandparents made and in the dreams that they set aside so my sister and I could chase our own. That legacy is why I work hard, not only to make them proud, but to also make their sacrifices matter,” he says.
Bitten by the research bug
Nguyen has been an admired – and very active – member of this year’s graduating TMM class. He credits his success to the support he’s received: Mentors at the Faculty of Medicine have provided valuable insights and opportunities.
Transferring from Biochemistry, he immediately felt at home with TMM’s smaller class sizes, dynamic courses, and the chance to develop close relationships with professors. Faculty members like Drs. Keith Wheaton and Lisa D’Ambrosio were mentors to everyone in his tight-knit class. “They knew us by name, checked in when we were struggling, and wanted us to succeed,” he says.
“My goal has been to make pathways into research more accessible, inspire future scientists, and raise awareness of the opportunities available through our program.”
Daniel Nguyen (pictured far right with TMM colleagues)
When it came time to rank his rotation choices, he says one lab stood out: the BioEngineering and Therapeutic Solutions (BEaTS) lab led by Drs. Emilio Alarcón, Erik Suuronen, and Marc Ruel. It appeared to promise the kind of translational science he was looking for. He wasn’t disappointed. As part of the lab, he’s worked on designing light-activated hydrogels made of collagen-like peptides for tissue repair.
“A core aspect of the BEaTS team is facilitating close collaborations between scientists like Drs. Alarcon and Suuronen, and physicians like Dr. Ruel, to develop real, clinically relevant solutions to medical challenges. This tight connection between research and medicine has inspired me, and I hope to continue to be part of that model of research-to-clinic collaboration in the future.”
His undergrad work earned high praise from Dr. Alarcón, who will continue to supervise Nguyen during his planned MSc in Biochemistry. This degree work will be supported by a Canada Graduate Scholarship.
“Daniel is one of the most talented undergraduates I have met. His synthetic skills are superb, and he has managed to work with our team members to produce very complex peptide sequences,” Dr. Alarcón says.
Paying it forward
Nguyen’s efforts extended well beyond his courseload. That commitment has taken many forms and has left a positive mark on the Faculty of Medicine community.
Nguyen was the energetic recruitment coordinator for the TMM Students’ Association (TMMSA). Over the past year, he’s delivered a slew of presentations, helped organize uOttawa Open Houses, and represented TMM at the Ontario Universities’ Fair in Toronto. He’s organized several field trips for high school students to visit the Faculty’s Biomedical Research Lab, and led TMM’s first-ever rural outreach trip, driving seven hours north to Kirkland Lake alongside three other students to expose young people to the joys of research.
“My goal has been to make pathways into research more accessible, inspire future scientists, and raise awareness of the opportunities available through our program,” he says.
He collaborated closely with Let’s Talk Science, a national outreach organization that provides programs and resources to improve youth education and engagement in STEM. He recruited 35 new TMM student volunteers and earned competitive awards, including this year’s Let’s Talk Science National Volunteer Award, offered to one volunteer across 50+ outreach sites/universities.
In a recommendation letter for this national award, Sue McKee, Director of Let's Talk Science at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University, described Daniel as a “volunteer whose contributions stand unparalleled.”
Nguyen also invested time into teaching and mentorship with Learning for Charity, uOttawa’s largest student-led tutoring organizations. He and a colleague launched successful organic chemistry exam prep workshops and he was eventually elected LFC Co-President, leading a team of over 100 student tutors who raised $12,000 for the CHEO Foundation.
“From the moment I met Daniel in January, 2023, I knew he would be one of those volunteers who would exceed expectations. He is a volunteer whose contributions stand unparalleled...”
Sue McKee, Director of Let's Talk Science at uOttawa & Carleton.
He’s never lost sight of the importance of representation, language, and culture. He keeps close ties with Ottawa’s Vietnamese community and worked as a student helper and office assistant at two multicultural schools for the International & Indigenous Languages Program.
Nguyen enjoys time spent with buddies and giving expression to his playful, artistic side. He has cutthroat 8-ball tournaments with his family (his dad always seems to pull off the big win), is a part-time hip-hop/rap music producer, and is always trying to beat his record as a speedcuber (his best time solving a Rubik’s Cube is 20 seconds).
Advice for students
Ever the recruiter, the future clinician-scientist has some valuable counsel for up-and-coming students interested in the TMM program. First of all, don’t worry if you have no research experience at the get-go. What matters is your curiosity and willingness to learn, he says.
“TMM is designed to train you. Over time, you’ll build the core skills that make a strong researcher: critical thinking, data analysis, collaboration, scientific writing, and how to communicate your ideas clearly.”
Nguyen also advises students not to feel rushed during their undergrad experience. “Take your time to enjoy it. Don’t be afraid to explore new areas of research that you’ve never experienced before. This is the perfect environment to grow and figure out what excites you the most.”
For Nguyen, he expects his future will involve a combination of research, teaching, and outreach — and he’s confident that his Faculty of Medicine undergrad years have helped give him the skills to chart his course.
“Whatever happens next, what is certain is I will continue teaching, mentoring, and building bridges so that every student, regardless of their background, can envision a place for themselves in STEM,” he says.
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