Graduates | 国奖得主邹允凡：让学习和科研成为习惯
邹允凡
毕业高中：江苏省苏州中学
本科专业：生物技术与食品工程
获得奖项：
2020至2021学年国家奖学金
2021.12 广以学业优秀奖学金一等奖
2021.12 广以课外活动奖学金
2020.11 广以学业优秀奖学金一等奖
2019. 11广以学业优秀奖学金一等奖
录取院校：
瑞士苏黎世联邦理工学院
约翰斯·霍普金斯大学
加利福尼亚大学洛杉矶分校
杜克大学
“如果用一句话形容我的大学生活，那一定是‘痛并快乐着’。繁忙的学习与科研令我疲惫，但从中获得的成就感让我满心欢喜。”
来自2018级生物技术与食品工程专业的邹允凡，是同学眼中的学霸少女，从进入广以之初便拥有清晰的规划，在繁忙的学业之余还报名参加各类比赛，积极尝试各种运动，将每分每秒都用在了刀刃上。“探索”与“拼搏”是她大学生活的代名词，也是她能够获得2021年国家奖学金的致胜法宝。
学无止境，在合作中汲取知识
大学的头两年，是打好基础的关键时期，广以也将大量的基础课程安排在这个阶段。繁忙的课业常常让允凡觉得时间紧张，因此学习成为她这两年的“主旋律”。在扎实掌握了基础知识后，大三她开始从课业中分出一些时间，游刃有余地去挖掘自己在其他领域的兴趣爱好。“学习与课余爱好都是生活的重要组成部分。如果学弟学妹们学有余力，可以从大一开始就同时尝试课外的新鲜事物，探索热爱的东西。”
作为老师和同学眼中的学霸，她也向大家分享了学习秘笈。除了日常的课程和功课，学会合作学习也非常重要。“在大一的时候，我们就组织了学习小组。每周日下午，大家都会一起讨论作业题，那是一段收获颇丰的时光。”在她看来，学习上的进步很大程度来源于和同学的讨论。在讨论中，各方的观点不断碰撞，常常能给她带来新的灵感。“解决一个问题可以有很多种思路，同学的方法或许不是最优解，但却能从中发现新鲜的观点。”除此之外，给别人讲解题目也是巩固自身知识的过程。比起自己埋头苦练，允凡认为这种方式更为高效。
生物技术与食品工程也是一个需要通过合作讨论进行学习的专业。这个专业和商业的结合度较高，例如Biomedical Entrepreneurship的课程设置是从实际食品工业的需求出发。这就意味着，学生不只需要掌握理论知识与实验技能，也需要全面的理解食品体系的结构，撰写商业计划书。这些任务很多都需要团队合作的力量，在集思广益中发挥每个人的长处，汲取每个人的优点，从而提高自身能力。
积极探索，在闲暇中充实自我
学习并不是提高自己的唯一途径，比赛经历也是快速提升自己的方式。在校期间，允凡利用课余时间参与了2020“外研社 国才杯“全国英语写作阅读大赛、2020广东省高校科技成果转化路演大赛等各类比赛，并取得了优异的成绩。
谈及路演大赛，允凡至今记忆犹新。当时大二的她作为Yigal Achmon助理教授“可持续水产残料资源与有机土壤修复综合处理”项目组中的一员，和其他项目组成员一起，运用生物土壤日晒技术对食品加工业带来的经济收益作出评估。“这场比赛让我学习到了如何从不同视角思考问题，如何将掌握的知识转化成为商业产出。在赛场上，仅仅拥有准确的实验数据是不能够说服投资人的，还需要掌握营销技巧，并用新颖的观点打动他们。”这些在实践中历练得来的经验，将作为学业知识的补充，成为允凡知识体系中重要的组成部分。
在比赛之余，允凡还十分热爱运动。“只要能让我动起来的活动我都喜欢，我很享受在运动场上肆意奔跑的感觉。”这学期，她报名参加了Fabian Rios老师的触式橄榄球课。橄榄球所传递的刚毅精神，球场上无处不在的团队合作，都使这项运动充满魅力。除此之外，瑜伽也是她生活的一部分。“大家或许会觉得触式橄榄球和瑜伽，一动一静，是两种截然不同的运动。但我愿意体验有差异的东西，而且它们都是我释放压力的途径。”
除了理工科学霸的身份，允凡还用有一颗“文艺心”。在生活中，她是一个乐于发现的人。她会时不时去汕头市区的”苍蝇馆子“里找好吃的，探索这座小城的美食地图；她也喜欢在老市区走街串巷，感受熙熙攘攘人群中的浓浓烟火气。“其实这也是一种探索，探索这所城市真正的魅力。比起千篇一律的大型综合体，居民区的菜市场才是了解一座城市最好的地方。”
规划清晰，科研路上再创辉煌
在Yigal Achmon助理教授课题组里，允凡负责温室的管理。从温室的搭建到放置实验用品再到水电的布置，都需要她来决定。这段经历无论在学术方面还是做人做事上，都让她受益匪浅。有一次，她独自负责设定定时灌溉装置。尽管有操作指南，但结果水管却突然向两边滋水，最后还是在水电师傅的帮助下才成功修复了装置。“我以前非常自信，觉得学术一定要按规矩来，实验是完全学术的东西。但这段经历让我明白，实验也是和生活的一种结合。要学会灵活变通，身边的人都可以是老师。比如，这位水电师傅做得比我好，那他也是一位值得学习的老师。”
尽管在课题组中积累了很多经验，但确认自己的研究方向还是耗费了允凡不少时间。“在课题组的时候，你只需要根据教授给的框架去寻找对应领域的资料。而自己撰写研究计划则需要从零开始。”因为研究方向迟迟没有确定，加上疫情的影响，大三那年的寒假她选择留校。“留校那段日子，我几乎每天都会一个人带着电脑去活动室。在那里查找资料、写提纲、记笔记。这是我第一次开展独立的研究，在漫漫书海中寻找一个自己真正喜欢的领域。”经过将近四个月的寻找，她最终在食品感官科学领域确立了研究方向。
允凡想借自己的经历告诉学弟学妹们，在寻找兴趣点时要沉下心来，愿意投入大量时间，通过问题和时间确认这个领域是不是自己真心所爱，不要草率的做决定。“科研是一条非常漫长的道路，只有寻找到了自己真正的兴趣点，这种热爱才能一直支撑我走下去。”
“我将以食品感官科学领域的知识为媒介，进而进行神经科学领域的研究。这是一门多学科交叉的领域，可以让我更好地将所学知识与自己感兴趣的东西相结合。我会加油哒！”
Zou Yunfan
High School：Suzhou High School of Jiangsu Province
Program：Biotechnology and Food Engineering
Awards：
2020/2021 China National Scholarship
Dec. 2021-Academic Excellence Scholarship (1st Prize)
Dec. 2021 GTIIT Extra-Curricular Scholarship
Nov. 2020-Academic Excellence Scholarship (1st Prize)
Nov. 2019-Academic Excellence Scholarship (1st Prize)
Received offers from:
ETH Zurich
Johns Hopkins University
University of California, Los Angeles
Duke University
"If I need to describe my university life in one sentence, it would be "pain and happiness". The busy study and scientific research make me tired, but the sense of achievement makes me full of joy."
Zou Yunfan, a straight A student from Biotechnology and Food Engineer Program, has had a clear plan since she came to GTIIT. In addition to her busy study, she has also signed up for various competitions, actively tried different sports, and never wasted any second. "Exploration" and "mettle" are the key words about her university life, and also the magic weapon for her to win the 2021 National Scholarship.
Knowledge has no limit, gain knowledge in cooperation
The first two years of university is a critical period for laying a solid foundation, and GTIIT also arranges a large number of basic courses at this stage. Busy schoolwork often makes Yunfan feel time-constrained, so learning has become her "main theme" for the first two years. After having solid basic knowledge, she began to take some time away from her study in her junior year to explore her hobbies in other fields. "Study and after-class hobbies are both important parts of life. If the freshmen have the extra energy to learn, they can try new things and explore what they love from the beginning of freshman year."
As a straight A student, she also shared her learning tips with everyone. In addition to daily lessons and homework, it is also very important to study cooperatively. "When I was a freshman, we organized a study group. Every Sunday afternoon, we discussed questions together. It was a fruitful time." In her opinion, the progress in learning is largely due to the discussion with classmates. In the discussion, the views of different people are constantly colliding, which often brings her new inspirations. "There are various ways to solve a problem. My classmates’ method may not be the best solution, but they can give me fresh ideas." Besides, explaining the answers to others is also a process of consolidating one's own knowledge. Yunfan believes that this method is more efficient than studying alone.
Biotechnology and food engineering is also a program that requires collaborative learning. It has a high degree of integration with business, such as the course Biomedical Entrepreneurship, which is based on the actual needs of the food industry. This means that students not only need to master theoretical knowledge and experimental skills, but also need to fully understand the structure of the food system and write business plans. Many of these tasks require the power of teamwork, to develop strengths, and to learn from everyone to improve their own abilities.
Actively explore and enrich herself in spare time
Apart from study, joining competitions is also a best way to improve herself. During her spare time, Yunfan participated in various competitions such as the 2020 “FLTRP · ETIC” National English Speaking, Writing and Reading Contest and the 2020 Guangdong University Research Findings Commercialization Roadshow Contest, and achieved excellent results.
The roadshow contest remains fresh in Yunfan’s memory. At that time, she was a sophomore as a member of Assistant Professor Yigal Achmon's research group about "Sustainable Treatment of Aquaculture Wastewater and Organic Soil Amendment Solution". Together with her teammates, they evaluated the economic benefits of adopting Soil Biosolarization (SBS) in food-processing industries. "This contest has taught me how to think from different perspectives and how to turn the knowledge I have into commercial output. In the competition, the accurate experimental data alone cannot convince investors. You also need to master marketing skills and impress them with innovative ideas." These practical experiences will supplement the academic knowledge and become an important part of Yunfan's knowledge system.
In addition to the competition, Yunfan also loves sports very much. "I like any activities that can let me move, and I enjoy the feeling of running on the sports field." This semester, she signed up for Dr. Fabian Rios' touch rugby class. The spirit of fortitude that rugby conveys, and the teamwork that pervades the field, make this sport so appealing. Besides, yoga is also a part of her life. "You might think touch rugby and yoga. movement and stillness, they are two very different sports. But I'm a person who likes to try different things, and they're both good ways to release my pressure."
In addition to a straight A student, Yunfan also has a "literary heart". In life, she loves to discover. She always visits some small restaurants in the urban area of Shantou to find delicious food; she also likes to walk through the streets and feel the atmosphere of this city. "In fact, this is also a kind of exploration, to explore the real charm of this city. Compared with the large-scale complexes, the market in the residential area is the best place to understand a city."
Clear plan and bright future in scientific research
In the research group of Assistant Professor Yigal Achmon, Yun Fan is in charge of the greenhouses. From the construction, to the placement of experimental supplies, to the arrangement of water and electricity, it is up to her to decide. This experience has benefited her a lot. Once, she was responsible for setting the irrigation timer by herself. Though she had the instruction manual, the water pipe suddenly breached water to both sides. Finally the device was successfully repaired with the help of the plumber. "I used to be very confident that academics must follow the rules, and that experiments are completely academic. But this experience made me understand that experiments are associated with our lives. Be flexible, and everyone around you can be your teacher. For example, the plumber did a better job than me, so he is also a teacher."
Although she has accumulated a lot of experience in the research group, it still took Yun Fan a lot of time to confirm her research direction. "When you are in the research group, you only need to search for information in the field given by the professor. When you write a research plan yourself, you need to start from zero." Because the research direction has not been determined yet, coupled with the impact of the epidemic, she chose to stay at GTIIT during the winter holiday in the third year of university. "During the holiday, I took my computer to the activity room almost every day. I searched for materials, wrote outlines, and took notes. This is my first time conducting independent research to find my favorite field in the sea of books." After nearly four months of searching, she finally determined her research direction in the field of food sensory science.
Yunfan wanted to use her own experience to tell GTers that they should calm down when looking for interest, be willing to invest a lot of time, make sure you love this field through questions and practice, and don't make hasty decisions. "Scientific research is a very long road. Only when I find my true interest can my passion keep me going."
At present, Yunfan is continuing to explore the field of food sensory science. “After graduation I will continue my studies. Perhaps I will use the knowledge in the field of food sensory science as a medium to conduct research in the field of neuroscience. It is a multidisciplinary field, which helps me to connect what I have learned with my own interests. It's a somewhat interprofessional option, but I'm working on it."
文：GTIIT传媒与公共事务部
图：GTIIT传媒与公共事务部、邹允凡
Text: GTIIT News & Public Affairs
Photos: GTIIT News & Public Affairs, Zou Yunfan