Share with us the story of your postgraduate journey.

I am now a Postdoc at the Queen Mary University of London. I joined the 3+2 Bachelor-cum-Master Programme between Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) and Taiyuan University of Technology (TYUT). After I completed a three-year undergraduate study in TYUT and one year in HKBU, I continued my postgraduate journey in Green Technology (Energy) program in HKBU. I benefited a lot in specialized knowledge as well as interpersonal communication during this year’s study and equipped me for the PhD study.

How did you choose this course and institution?

The Master in Green Technology (Energy) Programme encompasses the fields of materials science, renewable energy technologies, and their applications in our daily life. This course meets the demand of society to develop renewable energy resources. Besides, I already had a background in physics and optics which can help me to get into the field.

What research are you currently pursuing?

My research interest is organic electronics. During my PhD study, I focused on the Stability of Non-fullerene Organic Solar Cells. Organic solar cells are an alternative photovoltaic technology with a promising potential for a cost-effective, clean and sustainable source of energy. This technology is expected to help society get rid of the dependency on fossil fuels. I hope my research can increase the stability of organic solar cells which is essential for their commercialization.  

Choosing your supervisor

I am very interested in the field of organic electronics, so I chose Prof. Zhu Furong as my supervisor. Prof Zhu has done a lot of excellent work in organic electronics.

Postgraduate studies and your career

I think it is better to continue master’s study immediately after graduating with a basic degree. Because we could still remember the relevant knowledge and it is not easy to find a good job with only a bachelor’s degree.

What is your favourite part about your postgraduate degree?

I joined an exchange programme in Japan. Together with students from different universities and different disciplines, we developed innovative and sustainable solutions for real-life problems, guided by design thinking.

What advice would you give to someone considering a postgraduate degree?

My favourite part is the Project in Green Technology. To complete this project, we are required to choose a study topic offered by professors in our Department. I got a chance to get into the organic electronic field. With the help of my supervisor Prof Zhu and other members in the laboratory, I conducted a lot of experiments and improved my relevant knowledge and skills in organic electronics. This experience helped me to become a PhD student after I finished my master’s journey.

If you could change anything about your postgraduate journey, what would you do differently?

I would try my best to improve my English skills. English skills are really important no matter in learning or writing papers. To some extent, English proficiency can affect further PhD study. Thanks to the study in HKBU, my English has been improved greatly.