INSTITUTE FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT

The Institute of Biotechnology and Environment (IBE) was established in 2006 (recognized from Central Laboratory established in 1992). The Institute offers academic programs in different levels from associate, undergraduate (both programs) and graduate degree (only biotechnology). The Institute’s staff body now consists of 2 Associate Professors, 10 PhDs, and 24 Masters. With nearly 700 students and an annual graduation rate about 80-96%, we are on track of appropriate strategy for meeting the demand of society in human resources. The Institute is striving to develop the biotechnology program to meet the standards of the ASEAN University Network (AUN). Besides, focusing on the competence of the students after graduation in the convenient academic environment for meeting the human demand in biotechnology and environment engineering, the IBE has proved the strong commitment of serving high quality for all programs and activities.

The Institute now consists of three units: Department of Biology, Department of Biotechnology, Department of Technology and Environmental Engineering.

TRAINING PROGRAMS

Undergraduate programs:

1. Bachelor in Biotechnology

The Bachelor programme of Biotechnology requires 157 credit hour program during around 8 semeters. The program provides students with professional competence in Biotechnology including knowledge and skills.

The program includes requisite and selective courses in biochemistry, microbiology, molecular biology, molecular genetics, plant biotechnology, animal biotechnology and laboratory skills in biotechnological research. Other elective courses include environmental biology, bioinformatics, and biodiversity.

The graduates will get abilities to work as researcher, technician in laboratory, quality assessment center, quality control team, biological processing factory in the fields of food, vaccination, microbiology, veterinary, seafood, aquaculture, plant tissue culture.

2. Bachelor in Environmental Engineering

The programmer of Environmental Engineering requires 130 credit hour program within around 4 years. The program provides basic and advanced knowledge of relevant physical, chemical and biological systems with a strong emphasis on engineering. In the first 2 year, students are introduced basic courses in mathematics, physics, chemistry, informatics, statistical probability, and ecology. In the last 2 year, students will take advanced courses in environmental engineering including wastewater treatment, air pollution, noise treatment, solid waste management, environmental monitoring and effect assessment.

The graduated engineer can work in any factories that have environmental treatment system, design, build up and operate environmental treatment system, consultant for environmental effect assessment document of projects, environmental management in local offices.

Graduate programs

Master in Biotechnology

Master's degree in Biotechnology last in 2 years with 60 credits. Students will be supported with advanced knowledge and professional skills that create abilities of discover problems, design and operate project in Biotechnology. The graduates can work in research institute, teaching and industry company applied in fisheries, food, agriculture, medicine and veterinary.

Short courses:

Aquatic disease diagnosis.
Molecular biology.
Tissue culture.
Microbiology technique.
Mushroom cultivation.
Marine field trips.
Marine biodiversity.
Statistic in biology.
Marine conservation technique.
Advanced genomics

04/06/2020

RESEARCH

1. Research interest:

Microbiological Biotechnology (bacteria, fungi, marine fungi, probiotic).
Aquatic Biodiversity and conservation.
Marine bioactive substances (biopolymer, Biofuel, marine bioactive compounds)
Plant biotechnology (Tissue culture).
Environmental engineering (design and construction of environmental treatment systems).

2. Ongoing research projects:

Microbiome, Probiotics and Vaccines, for improved Human and Animal Health.
Aquatic biodiversity and climate change.
Fish physiology and ecology.
Genetic conservation of aquatic ecosystems.
Food safety and Functional foods.
Medical plants and bacteriocin for human health.
Smart agriculture.
Environmental treatments.

3. Achievements:

Probiotics for shrimp and lobster, anticancer bacteriocins, marine fungi biodiversity.
Aquaculture environment assessment, food safety in marine polyculture.
Aquatic biodiversity and conservation of genetic resources
Diagnostic techniques for virus, bacteria and parasitic pathogens in shrimp and fish.
Plant tissue culture in seaweed and medicinal mushrooms.
Marine bioactive compounds: technology and application.

4. Research groups:

Microbial Biotechnology led by Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Van Duy. Its interests are Microbiome, Probiotics and Vaccines, for improved Human and Animal Health, including:

- Probiotics for shrimps and lobsters.

- Bacteriocins with antimicrobial/anticancer activity for improved human and animal health.

- Marine bacteria and fungi biodiversity.

- Spore vaccines against Helicobacter pylori.

Biodiversity and Conservation led by Dr. Dang Thuy Binh. Its interests are:

- Aquatic Biodiversity and climate change.

- Molecular phylogeny and phytogeography of aquatic organism.

- Molecular Ecology and Evolution.

- Conservation Genetics for Improved Biodiversity and Resource Management.

Marine Bioactive Substances led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ngo Dang Nghia. Its interests are:

- Marine biopolymer and seaweed extracts: alginate, chitin, chitosan and their derivatives applied in food and biomedicine.

- Marine toxin from Conus snail.

Plant Biotechnology led by Dr. Pham Thi Minh Thu. Its interests are:

- Plant/Algea tissue cculture.

- Application of marine products/compounds on plant tissue culture and agriculture.

- Application of biotechnology in agriculture and/or medicine.

- Medicinal mushroom (Cordyceps militaris) culture.

Environmental management

- Microplastic pollution.

- Aquaculture byproduct treatment.

- Plastic pyrolysis process.

- Marine Biofuel.

Publications

- List of some published papers:

1. Hoang Ngoc Cuong, Nguyen Cong Minh, Nguyen Van Hoa, Khong Trung Thang, Nguyen Anh Tuan, Trang Si Trung, 2017. High Molecular Weight and High Degree of Deacetylation of Chitosan Prepared from Squid Pens (Loligo chenisis). Journal of Polymer Materials 34(1):103-114.

2. Hoang Ngoc Cuong, Huynh Thanh Tung, Nguyen Cong Minh, Nguyen Van Hoa, Pham Thi Dan Phuong, Trang Si Trung, 2017. Antibacterial Activity of Chitosan from Squid Pens (Loligo chenisis) against Erwinia Carotovora from Soft Rot Postharvest Tomato Fruit. Journal of Polymer Materials 34(1):319-330.

3. Pham Thi Dan Phuong, Nguyen Cong Minh, Hoang Ngoc Cuong, Nguyen Van Minh, Nguyen The Han, Nguyen Van Hoa, Ha Thi Hai Yen, Trang Si Trung, 2017. Recovery of protein hydrolysate and chitosan from black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) heads: approaching a zero waste process. Journal of Food Science and Technology. 54 (7), 1850–1856.

4. Orélis-Ribeiro, R, KM Halanych, BT Dang, MD Bakenhaster, CR Arias, & SA Bullard, 2017. Two new species of Elopicola (Digenea: Aporocotylidae) from Hawaiian ladyfish, Elops hawaiensis (South China Sea) and Atlantic tarpon, Megalops atlanticus (Gulf of Mexico) with a comment on monophyly of elopomorph blood flukes. Parasitology International 66: 305-318.

5. Thi Hoang Quyen Tran, Nam Phuong Nguyen, Vinh Thinh Phan, Hong Cam Van (2017) Biodegradable chitosan/gelatin/glycerol film incorporated with natural bioactive compounds for skin care application. Организация и регуляция физиолого-биохимических процессов, Выпуск (19) pp 86-100. (Organization and regulation physiological and biochemical processes - Interregional collection of scientific papers, Department of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Voronezh State University,Russia).

6. Trang Si Trung, Nguyen Thi Khanh Huyen, Nguyen Cong Minh, Tran Thi Le Trang and Nguyen The Han, 2016. Optimization of Harvesting of Microalgal Thalassiosira pseudonana Biomass Using Chitosan Prepared from Shrimp Shell Waste. Asian J. Agric. Res., 10 (5): 162-174.

7. Hoang Ngoc Cuong, Nguyen Cong Minh, Nguyen Van Hoa, Khong Trung Thang, Nguyen Anh Tuan, Trang Si Trung, 2016. Preparation and characterization of high purity β-chitin from squid pens (Loligo chenisis). International journal of biological

8. Roberts, JR, R Orélis-Ribeiro, BT Dang, KM Halanych, & SA Bullard. Blood flukes of Asiatic softshell turtles: revision of Coeuritrema Mehra, 1933 (Digenea: Schistosomatoidea) and description of a new species infecting Chinese softshell turtles, Pelodiscus sinensis, (Testudines: Trionychidae) cultured in the Da Rang River Basin, Vietnam (2016) Folia Parasitologica 63

9. Warren, MB, R Orélis-Ribeiro, CF Ruiz, BT Dang, CR Arias, & SA Bullard. Endocarditis associated with blood fluke infections (Digenea: Aporocotylidae: Psettarium cf. anthicum) among aquacultured cobia (Rachycentron canadum) from Nha Trang Bay, Vietnam (2016) Aquaculture 468:549-557

10. Dang Thuy Binh, Vu Dang Ha Quyen, Tran Quang Sang, Truong Thi Oanh. 2016. Vibriosis in cultured seahorse (Hippocampus spp.) in Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam (2016) International Journal of Innovative Studies in Aquatic Biology and Fisheries (IJISABF), 2: 43-50

11. Van Duy Nguyen, Ha Hung Chuong Nguyen (2015): Molecular screening of Azurin-like anticancer bacteriocins from human gut microﬂora using bioinformatics. Proceedings of 3rd International Conference on Computer Science, Applied Mathematics and Applications - ICCSAMA 2015, In: H.A. Le Thi et al. (eds.), Advanced Computational Methods for Knowledge Engineering, Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing 358, ISSN 2194-5357, ISBN 978-3-319-17995-7, Springer, pp. 219-229. (Xếp hạng ISI Proceedings)

12. Thu Thuy Pham, Thi Hong Nhi Ho, Van Duy Nguyen (2014): Screening for bacteriocin-like antimicrobial activity against shrimp pathogenic vibrios and molecular identification of marine bacteria from otter clam Lutraria philippinarum. Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 44(3): 345-353. (Xếp hạng tạp chí SCIE)

13. Nguyen Thi Thanh Tra, Nguyen Van Duy (2014): Biodiversity of major bacterial groups in association with agarwood (Aquilaria crassna) in Khanh Hoa province, Vietnam. Journal of Vietnamese Environment (Dresden University of Technology, Germany, ISSN 2193-6471), 6(2): 132-137.

04/06/2020

EXTERNAL COOPERATION

International projects:

The IBE has conducted many provincial, ministerial and national research projects, as well as international collaborative projects.

CARD project, Australia Center for International Agriculture Research (ACIAR) support “Increase the capacity on nutrient analysis in Vietnam.” Leaded by Faculty of Aquaculture, Nha Trang University. (2000 – 2004)
NUFU Project “Aquaculture and coastal management in Vietnam”. Leaded by Institute of Aquaculture Research Number 3 (2006- 2011)
Component 4, SRV2701 project “Environmental impact of Aquaculture activities to the issue of food safety of green mussels and aquatic snails in integrated farming systems” under NORAD framework, leaded by Nha Trang University. (2004-2009)
National Gene Conservation Project “Gene conservation of Vietnamese marine organism” – collaborator (2004-2009) and PI (2010 – 2015)
National Project – MARD supported: "Research and scientific basis to propose sustainable solutions of Swiftlet farming in Vietnam. 2013-2016
National Project – MOST supported: Exploiting and conservation genetic resources of Island swiftlet (Aerodramus fuciphagus germani Oustalet, 1878) for sustainable development in Vietnam” (2004-2018)
CT–PIRE (Coral Triangle Pire Project) lead by Old Dominion University, 2010 – 2012,
EU Project “Parasite Risk Assessment with Integrated Tools in EU fish production value chains” 2012 – 2015.
PEER 2-7 “Conservation Genetics for Improved Biodiversity and Resource Management in a Changing Mekong Delta”. NFS and USAID supported (2013 -2017).
PEER 3-100 Project “Building the Mekong river genetic biodiversity research network”. NFS and USAID supported (2014 -2018).
PEER 6-435 Project “Riverscape Genetics to Inform Natural History of Exploited Fishes in the Lower Mekong River Basin”. NFS and USAID supported (2017 -2020)
Erasmus + Project “Mobility between and Czech Republic “, EU supported (2015-2017)
NORHED Project “Improve training and research capacity of Nha Trang University, NORRAD Incorporating Climate Change into Ecosystem Approaches to Fisheries and Aquaculture Management in Sri Lanka and Vietnam, NORAD supported (2014-2020)
APN (Asia Pacific network) Project CRRP2019-05MY-Benkendorff “Understanding the interaction of ocean acidification and marine tourism for sustainable management of coral reefs” (2019-2021)
HAPIE Project “Enhancements of High-Quality Human Resources and Employability for Vietnam in Design and Development of High-value Added Products, Innovation and Entrepreneurship”, British Council supported (20---20)
TEAM-SIE Project: Sustainable Development, Innovation, and entrepreneurship” British Council supported (20---20)