A group of eight people on a beach with plant trays and water containers, smiling and giving thumbs-up.

Mekong-U.S. Partnership Young  Scientist Program (MUSP)

Strengthening research collaboration across the Mekong region

View all past programs

Funder 

United States Department of State

Project dates 

2018-2022 (4 years)

Partners

Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education (HCMUTE), National University of Laos

Focus

Research collaboration and capacity building

$789,096 USD

Amount Awarded

Region 

Lower Mekong, Southeast Asia: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam

Key innovation

Multi-year thematic approach combining immersive field programs, annual symposia, and entrepreneurship training to build sustainable cross-border scientific networks addressing regional challenges

A group of people in a lab with shelves of plant containers.

Project Overview

The Mekong–U.S. Partnership Young Scientist Exchange Program strengthened scientific collaboration and innovation capacity across the Lower Mekong by empowering early-career researchers to work across borders on shared environmental, public health and economic challenges. Through immersive exchange, applied research and regional symposia, MUSP contributed to long-term scientific cooperation and reinforced U.S. engagement in a stable, resilient and innovation-driven Indo-Pacific region.

Advancing Regional Science and Innovation in the Lower Mekong

Funded by the U.S. Department of State and implemented by Arizona State University, the Mekong–U.S. Partnership Young Scientist Exchange Program advanced equitable, sustainable and inclusive economic growth across Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. The program fostered regional scientific collaboration and promoted knowledge sharing on science and technology best practices to address transboundary challenges affecting the Lower Mekong.

MUSP supported early-career researchers by building a collaborative research community across borders. Through immersive field programs, thematic workshops, networking events and annual scientific symposia, participants developed joint research concepts, strengthened interdisciplinary skills and contributed to peer-reviewed research. The program emphasized applied problem-solving, regional awareness and sustained scientific partnerships.

Scale of Impact

90+

early-career researchers engaged

5

Lower Mekong countries: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam

3

thematic programs over 4 years

3

regional scientific symposia hosted

$15K

seed funding awarded (agri-tech pitch competition)

100+

symposium participants (2019 event)

Key Achievements and Strategic Approach

Regional Network Building
Convened more than 90 graduate-level and early-career researchers across five Mekong countries, strengthening cross-border scientific networks and collaborative research capacity.
Applied Research & Innovation
Facilitated interdisciplinary team projects addressing shared regional challenges in water management, energy systems, environmental sustainability, public health, bioinformatics and agricultural technology.
Capacity Building & Professional Development
Delivered hands-on laboratory experiences, design-thinking sessions, entrepreneurship training and communication workshops that strengthened participants’ technical and leadership skills.
Regional Visibility & Knowledge Exchange
Hosted annual scientific symposia that provided platforms for peer exchange, government engagement and public presentation of collaborative research outcomes.

Three-Year Thematic Journey

01

Water, Energy, and Environmental Sustainability

MUSP’s first year convened more than 30 early-career researchers for a four-week immersive program in Vietnam, in partnership with Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education. Participants engaged in workshops, laboratory experiences and field visits focused on water management, energy systems and environmental sustainability.

The program culminated in a regional scientific symposium in Ho Chi Minh City, where participants presented collaborative research projects to government and academic leaders.

Learn more:
2018 Mekong–U.S. Partnership Young Scientist Program (MUSP)
2018 MUSP Scientific Symposium

02

Public Health & Bioinformatics

In its second year, MUSP brought together 33 graduate-level researchers for a four-week program in Vientiane, Laos, in partnership with the National University of Laos. The thematic focus on public health and bioinformatics challenged participants to develop interdisciplinary solutions to regional health issues, including vector-borne disease surveillance.

The program concluded with a scientific symposium in Yangon, Myanmar, where participants presented research findings and strengthened cross-border scientific networks.

Learn more:
2019 Mekong-U.S. Partnership Young Scientist Program (MUSP)
2019 MUSP Scientific Symposium

03

Agricultural Technology & Innovation

In its final year, MUSP focused on agricultural technology and entrepreneurship in partnership with Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education. The hybrid program combined virtual innovation training led by ASU faculty with a five-day immersive experience in Vietnam.

Participants engaged with agri-tech entrepreneurs and industry leaders and concluded the program with a pitch competition awarding a $15,000 seed grant to advance the winning solution.

At a Glance

2022 Mekong—U.S. Partnership Young Scientist Program

ASU Lower Mekong Initiative Young Scientists Program (2018)

Mekong-U.S. Partnership Heroes Series: Vuong Thi Ngoc Tuyet

LMI Young Scientists—long video