Driven by her early interest in chemistry, Dr. Duong Bui is now carving a remarkable path in glycomics.  

“I think, like many other students, my initial motivation was the chemist Marie Curie,” she says, recalling that her interest in chemistry started out in secondary school. 

Duong also enjoys mathematics, which helped her narrow down her focus at university to analytical chemistry—combining both her interests.   

However, her PhD studies led her to another unexpected area of research. When she joined Dr. John Klassen’s lab in 2020 at the University of Alberta, she discovered the fascinating field of glycomics, the study of sugars called glycans and their roles in health, disease, and other biological functions.  

“When my relatives or friends ask what I do, I explain we study sugars—not the sugars you eat—and people are always amazed when I tell them that our cells are sugar-coated,” says Duong. 

“The more I work with glycomics, the more I see the importance in our health and the potential impact for society. We’re at the frontier doing something very cool.” 

In early 2024, Duong became a postdoctoral researcher in the labs of Drs. John Klassen and Lara Mahal, both GlycoNet investigators at the University of Alberta.  

Among the research projects she’s worked on, Duong shares two favourites that have resulted in some important contributions to glycomics. In one project, she worked with teams in the Klassen and Mahal labs to develop a new mass spectrometry technique called Slow Mixing Mode (SLOMO) Nanoflow ESI-MS, which slowly and gently mixes tiny amounts of molecules. This method preserves delicate interactions and enables researchers to accurately measure the strength of interactions between molecules, such as proteins and sugars, without disrupting them. This advancement allows scientists to gather more detailed information to improve our understanding of how molecular interactions affect biology and medicine.  

In another project, Duong worked on developing a method called Concentration-Independent (COIN) Native Mass Spectrometry, which can measure binding interactions between sugars and proteins even when the concentration of sugars is unknown. This technique simplifies the analysis of complex sugars and can help to accelerate screening processes in research, leading to a better understanding of diseases and the development of new treatments.  

As a young researcher, Duong already has numerous awards under her belt. One of particular note is the 2024 Governor General’s Gold Medal for her exceptional academic achievements during her PhD studies. This prestigious award is the highest academic distinction for students in Canadian schools, recognizing those who have demonstrated excellence in their field. Other awards she’s received in 2024 include the Doctoral Dissertation Award from the University of Alberta, Graduate Student Award from the American Society for Mass Spectrometry, and a Postdoc/Early Career Research Travel Award for the International Mass Spectrometry Conference.  

Duong thanks her mentors and GlycoNet for encouragement, support, and opportunities such as travelling to conferences. She also previously served as an ambassador for the GlycoNet Trainee Association, helping engage trainees across Canada in activities. 

Duong’s accomplishments speak to her dedication and passion for advancing chemistry and glycomics, and we’re excited to see where her career takes her next!