Kien Ngo ’19, on Cancer Research, Resilience, and the TGS Community

With our students just three days away from arriving in Vietnam 🇻🇳, we thought it was the perfect time to spotlight one of our Vietnamese alums, Kien Ngo, a proud member of the Class of 2019.

A couple of fun TGS facts about Kien: Not only was Kien our first Vietnamese graduate, but he also made history as one of the inaugural participants in our Changemaker Curriculum, which launched in Botswana in 2017.

Besides gaining a strong sense of Ubuntu (community) during his time at TGS, Kien also set the groundwork for a career in genome science and technology, which he is currently pursuing a master’s degree in at the University of British Columbia. You can read Kien’s full spotlight by clicking the link in our bio.

Congrats on your recent graduation from Dickinson College, Kien—we can’t wait to see where your research takes you next!

1. Hi Kien, can you tell us what you’ve been up to since graduating from THINK Global School in 2019?

Since graduating from TGS, I have spent five years gathering all the ingredients I need to launch my lifelong mastery project: bringing global equality into medical & cancer research.

I began this journey by moving to Pennsylvania, USA, to study Biochemistry in college. Currently, I’m a graduate student in Genome Science and Technology at the University of British Columbia, Canada. Over these five years, I’ve worked, saved money, flown countless budget airlines, and explored 80 countries. In each place, I observed the local cuisine, way of life, and environmental conditions.

Science increasingly shows how our environment and lifestyle influence genetics, which in turn impacts health—either positively or negatively. However, many medical studies fail to account for human diversity in culture and lifestyle, leading to treatments that might be less effective for some populations. This gap in research, particularly in pharmacogenomics—the study of genetic influences on medication efficacy—is what I aim to address.

My research focuses on cancer immunotherapy, leveraging the body’s immune system to combat cancer. I plan to design experiments that incorporate the diverse lifestyles and diets I’ve encountered during my travels.

2. Do you feel that your time at THINK Global School prepared you for life post-graduation? If so, how?

Absolutely. TGS taught me resilience, strategic thinking, and empathy.

Traveling to 80 countries by the age of 24 as a Vietnamese citizen was no easy feat. I faced visa restrictions, financial challenges, and the difficulty of balancing school and work. As a Vietnamese passport holder, I had to apply for visas to NEARLY EVERY country I visited, often traveling hours by bus or train to consulates in New York or Washington, D.C. The process could take months, requiring careful planning to align with my limited vacation time. Financially, I juggled seven part-time jobs over three years to fund my travels.

On top of this, I was a Biochemistry student aiming for graduate school. This meant tackling rigorous science courses and completing three research internships to build my CV. And when I finally got to travel, I faced the usual hurdles: pickpocketing, food poisoning, language barriers, missed flights, and lost luggage. Traveling alone meant I had to rely entirely on myself to solve these problems.

Not going to lie, there were countless moments when I felt overwhelmed and considered giving up, retreating to Vietnam for a long break. But during those moments, I would reflect on my time at TGS and the privilege I had been given to travel and learn. TGS instilled in me the belief that privilege comes with responsibility. I thought about the projects we undertook to support our host communities and the courageous individuals I met who persevered against the odds to help others. These memories kept me motivated to push forward.

Looking back, I can say all the effort was worth it. After five years of hard work, I’ve built a foundation to pursue my lifelong project of integrating culture into cancer research. TGS gave me both the motivation to start this journey and the courage to see it through.

3. If you have any advice for current THINK Global School students as they explore the world, what would it be?

SAVE THOSE AIRLINE POINTS! If you haven’t already, sign up for frequent flyer programs and stick to one airline alliance for all your eligible bookings. Trust me, one day when your back gives out from lugging a heavy backpack, you’ll appreciate free checked luggage (and possible lounge access)

Beyond practical advice, remember this: You’ve been given the privilege and resources to make a difference, and with that comes responsibility. Use that privilege to make changes for others who may not have been as fortunate as you.

4. Six years later, are there any TGS memories that have emerged as your most memorable?

In my first term in Botswana in 2017, I woke up one night to find a leopard right outside my tent. I was frozen with fear and stayed completely silent, watching it for about 15 minutes until it finally walked away. All my tentmates were asleep, and no one believed me the next day—until the local camp guide confirmed my story after spotting its footprints!

5. What was your favorite country and why?

As much as I love Japan, my favorite country has to be Costa Rica. For the first time in my two years at TGS, I truly felt happy and understood what it meant to be part of the TGS community.

That term in Costa Rica was when I realized how special the TGS community was to me and how it had always been there for me. It gave me a sense of Ubuntu and inspired me to actively contribute to strengthening the community.

Also, a little confession: that was the first time I genuinely took responsibility and put serious effort into my projects. Better late than never, right?