Nationality: China
Current Job: Senior Research Specialist, Zhejiang Lab, China
Graduation: Faculty of Engineering, Year of 2020
Undergraduate: Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China
"Our life is more than PhD/graduate study, so try to build other aspects in the graduate journey."
In retrospect, would you still have chosen to do a PhD? Why?
Definitely. PhD training is more than just academic knowledge. It has strong influence on many other aspects including personality, communicating skills, confidence, self-motivation, time management, insight, career goal and so-on. A PhD study is actually shaping oneself into an overal better form.
On hindsight, would you still have chosen NUS to do your PhD?
Yes. NUS is highly ranked, well constructed and the school life here is wonderful.
On hindsight, would you have chosen the same research topic for your PhD?
Yes. My topic is gaining a lot of attention in both academia and industry. I believe this area would have significant impact on modern society.
On hindsight, would you have chosen the same research supervisor for your PhD?
Yes. My supervisor is very nice and I have a lots of freedom in carrying out my research topics.
Suggest 2 or 3 things that graduate students should do to prepare for their professional careers?
1. Make a 3-5 years plan in both work/study and personal life, such as what kind of work to take, where to stay and who to live with.
2. Try to visit the place (Univ, company, city etc) you plan to go and talk to the people there.
3. Do your current job well and try to be among the best of your peers.
Name 2-3 things you wished you had been told when you started graduate school?
1. Get enough information about your prospective supervisor and research group, especially their existing funding amount, equipment, and achievement in recent one year.
2. Know more about your incoming school mates and compare yourself with them and see if you have overestimate or underestimate yourself.
3. Think of one or two cities you plan to stay after graduation and understand the industry structure or academia there, to evaluate the job opportunities in the near future.
Briefly share something fun in your graduate journey at NUS that you remember
I often went hiking during weekends and that’s super mind-refreshing and enjoyful.
Any other words of wisdom to share?
Our life is more than PhD/graduate study, so try to build other aspects in the graduate journey.