Nathan Truong

About Nathan

(updtead 6/2017) Born to Vietnamese refugees and raised in ethnically and racially diverse southwest Houston, Nathan Truong is fascinated by the effects of upbringing on life outcomes and particularly interested in the role of education in overcoming poverty. His enthusiastic teachers at urban and suburban Houston public schools kindled his lifelong interest in science and inspired him to pursue a degree in Biochemistry and Cell Biology at Rice University. As a research assistant at Rice, he developed a diagnostic assay to detect diabetes for resource-poor settings. At the Baylor College of Medicine, he researched the genetic underpinnings of Rett Syndrome, a debilitating neurological disorder. He interned for the Office of Legislative and Public Affairs at the National Science Foundation, where he authored Congressional reports and public media that analyzed the return on investment for basic science research. Motivated by the community service of his mentors, Nathan has tutored low-income Houston youth in science and advised his fellow college classmates as a Peer Academic Advisor. Currently an Instructor of Physics and AP Statistics and a Teach for America Corps Member at YES Prep Public Schools, Nathan is leading efforts to expand STEM resources for his campus and has formed partnerships with established Rice University and MIT STEM enrichment programs. He enjoys drawing and watching thought-provoking movies, and is especially proud of his first cohort of students graduating YES Prep as the founding class of 2016 as well as students to follow. For his Luce year in  Taipei, Taiwan , Nathan is working at the  Science Education Center at National Taiwan Normal University . The center carries out research projects related to understanding and developing science education pedagogy and resources and is funded by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education and Ministry of Science and Technology. Nathan works on research projects concerning the intersection of science, education, and communication and the overlap that exists and is forming between these fields. His time at the Science Education Center has concurrently provided tremendous insight into the vibrant progress being made in Taiwanese education as well as further highlighting education’s foundational role in society.