Biography

Dr Trong Tran completed his PhD study in Organic Chemistry from Griffith University in 2015 and then obtained a two-year NIH postdoctoral fellowship in the National Cancer Institute in USA. His previous research resulted in the discovery of several novel anticancer compounds from plant, marine and microbial organisms. After achieving the SIEF STEM+ Business Fellowship from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Dr Tran returned to Australia in 2017 and has started working in University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) since then. He was promoted to a lecturer in chemistry at USC in 2021. His current research focuses on discovering compounds from plants, propolis and honey with antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, wound healing and neuroprotective activities, and developing methods to synthesise and analyse these bioactive compounds. He is currently leading several research projects funded by both government (AgriFutures Australia and CSIRO) and industry partners to investigate the chemical diversity and therapeutic values of propolis produced by European honey bees and Australian native stingless bees.