I got my Bachelor of Science at the Northeast Forestry University in China. During my undergraduate academic study, I was obsessed with courses of organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, and physicochemical chemistry. These courses equipped me with a basic understanding and insight into chemistry. The degradation of Congo red dye by BiVO₄ became the research topic for my thesis, which I later turned into an article published in a Chinese magazine.

Later, I got the opportunity to pursue my MSc studies at the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences and joined Prof. Shu-Li You’s group. At the institute, I acquired knowledge of metal-organic chemistry, physical organic chemistry, asymmetric synthesis and other disciplines, which helped me to better understand organic chemistry. My Master’s thesis mainly focused on Rh-catalyzed asymmetric sp³ C-H arylation. Because I majored in materials and chemical engineering, I also did some work in materials, mainly synthesising organic optoelectronic materials.

What I expect from the BREAKthrough project is, first of all, to learn about skills in biology and chemical biology and to ultimately obtain my PhD. I also hope to synthesise molecules with potential drug activity, which will allow me to predict the drug activity of lead compounds based on their structural characteristics. Meanwhile, I look forward to communicating with experts and professors from different sectors.