Alumni | 直博希伯来大学后，我在以色列的多彩生活
这是广东以色列理工学院首届本科毕业生吴之林的成长故事——从广以毕业后，她被希伯来大学医学院微生物专业录取，并获得校长优秀奖学金。她曾说，广以是一个“挑战不可能”的圆梦之地。从广以出发，她在以色列开启了新阶段的追梦之旅——
// 从广以到希伯来大学
”
我在广以本科期间加入了梁嘉言教授的实验室，跟着实验室的博士师姐做科研项目，学习了一些相关的专业知识和实验技巧。在此启蒙之后，我选择到耶路撒冷希伯来大学微生物系继续研究生学习。
我在广以接触过各个国家的教授，了解他们不同的文化，所以来到以色列这个多文化环境后，可以适应接受得更快。在学校四年沉浸式的英文环境也让我在国外能比较自然顺畅地用英文交流。
广以的教学体系和国外很像，实验课非常好，它的硬件配置很全面，内容包含了很多通用基础实验，每个人都有动手操作学习的机会。在我现在做实验的时候，还能接触到一些以前实验课介绍练习过的仪器和实验方法，记忆犹新，很有帮助。
我是以硕士学生身份入学，在第一年结束后申请直博，现在是博士一年级的学生。从硕士入学到直博毕业大概需要6年的时间。
吴之林留学期间旅游照
// 在以色列的学习生活
”
这是我第一次出国，对以色列的了解也不算很多。从地理上，我以为以色列大部分是沙漠，应该黄沙漫天，但从特拉维夫机场到耶路撒冷，一路上虽然很多山丘黄土，也有很多绿色植被。这是跟湿润的汕头完全不一样的风景，很美，很令人惊喜。
在我们来之前，一位同实验室的中国师兄给我们科普了很多以色列的生活知识。在我们到达的第一天，他就带到我们到超市买东西、办电话卡、吃汉堡。以色列真的有很多很多汉堡店，肉质鲜美，很好吃！
吴之林和室友们制作的小甜点
我的导师是个很亲切和蔼的老爷爷，在我刚来的时候很贴心地帮我询问课程登记安排，还有一位师姐一对一带我熟悉实验室和一些基础实验。实验室的其他师兄师姐也很热心，我遇到任何科研和生活上的问题，他们都热心帮助我。在这么和谐的氛围下，我很好地融入了实验室生活，开始了研究生旅程。
希伯来大学的硕士学分要求很高，要修满28个学分。因为想在第二年申请直博，我需要在一年内修满28个学分，并且GPA在90以上。这个学习压力跟本科在广以很像，一学期6、7门课，所以第一年的大部分时间都在上课和考试中度过。
吴之林（前排右1）与实验组成员合影
我是在第一年第二学期中后期开始了自己的研究生课题。最开始是先读文献，了解自己的课题知识，然后开始设计实验。因为经验较少，每个新的实验开始前都要写protocol请教师兄师姐和导师，听取建议进行修改，这样能让实验设计更完善，实验目的和结果更精准有效，省时省力。从最开始每一次实验都需要师兄师姐帮忙看操作是否正确，一起分析结果，到慢慢上手以后就能自己独立完成了。我的实验大部分需要显微镜观察，最开始我是显微镜小白，连开机关机都不会。经过一年多的学习，我已经能熟练操作显微镜，并当小老师教别人用显微镜了。这就是成长吧！
吴之林所在实验组的徒步活动
// 我的科研感受
”
科研并不像想象中穿着白大褂的科学家那样“高大上”，其实我们每天都在重复实验，无聊枯燥。我最开始做的一个实验已经重复了几十次，慢慢修正protocol，虽然至今没有得到想要的理想结果，但也有了一定的进步，积累了经验。
我曾经在一次和导师开完会被否决掉课题后很沮丧，我的导师安慰我：这就是科研，一次失败不算什么。他读博前两年做的课题也一无所获，又花了两年做新课题并顺利博士毕业。实验室里的师兄师姐们大多也都经历过第一个课题不顺利的情况。失败是科研的常态，成功是坚持努力的结果，也是幸运。这也是我在广以刚接触科研时，老师们分享给我的经验。如今，他们的教诲依旧指引着我的科研生活，让我更有动力和勇气去面对未知的挑战。
吴之林拍摄于死海
This is the growth story of Wu Zhilin, who is amongst the first batch of undergraduate students of Guangdong Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT). She was admitted by the Microbiology in the School of Medicine, Hebrew University, and won the Rector Excellent Scholarship. For her, GTIIT is a place to realize her dream. Starting from GTIIT, she has begun her next journey in Israel.
//From GTIIT to Hebrew University
”
I joined Prof. Ka Yin Leung's laboratory during my undergraduate study at GTIIT. Under the guidance of the senior Ph.D. student in the lab, I participated in a scientific research project, and learned professional knowledge and experimental skills. After the enlightenment at GTIIT, I finally decided to continue my education in the Department of Microbiology at the Hebrew University.
GTIIT's teaching system is very similar to that in foreign countries. For example, the experimental course is very helpful - it has comprehensive equipments. When I am doing experiments now, I can get in touch with some instruments and experimental methods that has been introduced in the previous classes, which are still fresh in my memory.
I was admitted as a master's student. A year later, I applied for doctoral studies and am now a first-year Ph.D. student. It will take about 6 years from my master's admission to Ph.D. graduation.
Zhilin's photos in the journey
// My life in Israel
”
It was my first time going abroad and I didn't know much about Israel. I thought most of Israel is desert. Out of my expectation, from Tel Aviv Airport to Jerusalem, although there were many hills and loess, there was a lot of green vegetation along the way. It is completely different from the scenery in Shantou, very beautiful and surprising.
Before I came to Israel, a Chinese senior student in the lab had told me a lot about the life there. On the first day we arrived, he took us to the supermarket to buy the necessities, get phone cards, and eat hamburgers. There are many burger restaurants in Israel, and the meat is fresh and delicious!
desserts made by Zhilin and her roommates
My supervisor was a kind grandfather who helped me with my course registration when I first came here. There was also a senior student who acquainted me with the laboratory and some basic experiments. Lab members are very kind to help me when I meet any problem in scientific research and life. In such a harmonious atmosphere, I was well-adapted to the research life and started my postgraduate journey.
The master's degree in Hebrew University requires 28 credits. In order to apply for a Ph.D. program in the second year, I need to complete 28 credits in one year and have a GPA above 90. The study pressure is very similar to that of the undergraduate study at GTIIT, with 6 or 7 courses in one semester, so classes and examinations cost most of my time in the first year.
Zhilin (right 1 in the front row) with her lab members
I started my own graduate project in the second semester of the first year. At the beginning, I read the literature to learn more about the subject, and then began to design the experiment. I wrote the protocol before each new experiment and asked my supervisor and senior students for advice. In this way, the experiment design can be improved and the purpose can be more accurate and effective. Gradually, I could finish it independently. Most of my experiments required microscope observation. At first, I couldn't even turn on and off the equipment. After more than a year of study, I have been able to operate the microscope skillfully and teach others to how to use it. This is growth!
Zhilin went hiking with her lab members
//My feeling for scientific research
”
Scientific research includes both the lofty and the tedious aspects, as we need to repeat experiments every day. The experiment I did at the very beginning has been repeated for dozens of times, and the protocol has been modified over and over again. Although I haven't got the desired result so far, I have made some progress and got a lot of experience.
I was very depressed after my project was rejected in a meeting with my supervisor. He comforted me - this is exactly scientific research; one failure means nothing. He told me that the project he did in the first two years of his Ph.D. was fruitless, so he spent another two years on the new project and successfully graduated. Most of the students in the lab have encountered the same situation. Failure is a norm in scientific research, and success is the result of hard work and good fortune. This is also the experience that my teachers shared with me when I first involved in scientific research at GTIIT. Their teachings still guide my scientific life and give me more motivation and courage to face unknown challenges.
Zhilin travels to the Dead Sea
Zhilin knows that there is no easy way to scientific research, but she still keeps her original aspiration. May she always retain her curiosity and imagination to explore the unknowns and make great achievements in the future.
GTIIT
推荐阅读
文/图：吴之林、GTIIT传媒与公共事务部
Text/Photos: Wu Zhilin, GTIIT News & Public Affairs
▲关注广东以色列理工学院，开启探索理工世界之旅