Graduates | 虞永昕：以兴趣为灯，照亮逐梦之路
毕业生专访
2024年，广东以色列理工学院迎来第四届本科毕业生。尽管入学时正值新冠疫情爆发、中外合作办学遇冷，但意志坚定的少年们用理想指引前路，以行动践行初心，他们秉承“实干圆梦”（dream it, do it）的广以校训，在科学的道路上砥砺前行，成就了一个个“低调高光”的动人故事。广以2024届本科毕业生系列专访将与大家共同分享学子们耕耘梦想的成长故事，见证他们向阳而生的奋斗历程。
虞永昕
毕业高中：
广东仲元中学
本科专业：
材料科学与工程
获得奖项：
广以Chancellor's List (2021)
广以Vice Chancellor's List (2022)
广以学业优秀奖学金二等奖(2022)
广以Dean's List (2023)
广以Dean's List (2024)
录取院校：
苏黎世联邦理工学院
康奈尔大学
西北大学
初见永昕，他语速极快，思维活跃。时光荏苒，步履不歇，四年的努力让他收获了苏黎世联邦理工学院，康奈尔大学和西北大学的offer，即将在世界顶尖学府继续展翅翱翔。今天让我们走进材料科学与工程专业毕业生虞永昕，一起聆听他的广以故事。
勇于提问，把握机遇
“我一直非常喜欢自由开放的教学氛围，并且计划未来出国留学，因此中外合办大学成为了我的首选。”高考后，永昕参与了多场宣讲会并认真收集相关信息，拥有国际化师资团队、专注理工科办学的广东以色列理工学院成为了他的首选。“广以是我的第一志愿，四年的学习让我更加坚定了之前的选择。”而与材料科学与工程专业结缘，则是来源于他长期以来对物理和工程类学科的兴趣。在他看来，兴趣是最好的老师，选择一个自己真正感兴趣的专业，才能在漫漫科研路上拥有无限动力。
虞永昕（右二）与好友
怀揣着对理工科的兴趣，永昕踏上了在广以的求学历程。初到广以，全英教学的环境成为了他面临的第一个挑战。“一开始确实会有部分听不懂，但这反而激发了我课后自主学习的动力。”预备学期的课程设置，让他有充足的预习和复习时间，在反复练习下，他快速克服了这一困难。
“自主学习”是永昕在采访中反复提到的字眼，也是他保持高分的秘诀之一。“自主学习并不是指单纯埋头苦学，而是对自己的学习有所规划。广以为自主学习提供了非常多的保障。这里独特的office hour 时间，浓厚的小组学习氛围，都在为自主学习保驾护航。”在修读“物理2”期间，永昕每周都会在课后的office hour向老师请教问题。“要想取得好成绩，仅仅在课堂上认真听讲是不足够的，还需要在课后积极练习，带着问题请教老师，这也是老师们一直鼓励大家做的事。”
“广以在选课上也给了我们很大的自主权，在学有余力时，我们可以提前学习高年级课程。”在强大的时间管理能力下，永昕仅用了三年的时间，就修读完了大部分的课程。“大三上学期我选了超过30个学分，学习压力非常大，中间一度焦虑到失眠。但平时一起学习讨论的同学们帮我找回了学习节奏，让我顺利完成了学习任务。”他坦言，超前学习确实会让自己面临很大的挑战，但也极大提高了他的学习效率，那段紧张繁忙的日子也成为了大学阶段难忘的回忆。
投身科研，圆梦世界
进入科研课题组是永昕在读大学前就定下的目标，在大一暑假他把握机会，加入了徐新鹏老师的课题组。“当时才入学不久，很感谢徐老师给了什么都不太懂的我一个接触科研的机会。”在课题组，他度过了大一暑期的时光，也在老师和课题组师兄师姐的指导下了解了科研的基本流程。
虞永昕（左一）在2021中国创新创业成果交易会中介绍广以的科研成果
大二上学期，繁忙的学习并没有让永昕放弃对科研的追求，他加入了谢作提老师的课题组，从事分子电子学相关领域的研究。这段经历也让他真正摸到了一点科研的“门道”。两年的时间，他从跟着师兄师姐学习数据处理方法的“小萌新”成长为老师的“左膀右臂”，协助指导师弟师妹进行研究。这段经历让他快速成长的同时也教会了他坚持的重要性。“测量数据不会总是一帆风顺，分子的个体不稳定，有时候连测三四个小时都没有收获，这就需要你拥有继续坚持的信念。有时只需要多坚持20分钟，就会豁然开朗。”
虞永昕同学在谢作提老师和课题组研究生的帮助下于美国化学会旗下期刊Langmuir以共同作者的身份发表了题为“使用炔基和巯基锚定基团的烷基链CP-AFM分子结，尽管现象相似，但微观上却不同”的文章
课题组的经历，为永昕打下了扎实的科研基础。大三这一年，他凭借“基于饱和非共轭分子的纳米电子学器件的工作机理研究”这一课题，获得了广以2万元的“创新种子”公益基金，并在谢老师的推荐下，在暑假期间前往清华大学相关课题组进行交换学习。在清华，他在学习中改进了以往成功率较低的测量方法，也更加坚定了未来继续投身科研的决心。
虞永昕（右一）与好友
虞永昕（左一）与好友
另外虞永昕也在积极探索不同的科研方向。同年，他加入了Amitesh Paul博士的课题组进行关于稀土元素和铁磁性元素间的磁学相互作用的研究。作为共同作者完成的文章已经发表于美国物理学会旗下期刊Physical Review B。
时光荏苒，新的旅程即将开启。关于未来，永昕希望继续追随自己内心，前往美国西北大学进行材料科学领域的深造，在同样广阔开放的学术平台不断“打磨”自己，实现科研之梦。
Tips
永昕对师弟师妹的建议：
重视习题课，要把课堂上讲的题搞懂吃透。课下练习和考前复习时，不要一个人钻牛角尖，找志同道合的同学们一起学习讨论，从不同角度查缺补漏，才能事半功倍。
Graduates Interview
This summer, the Class of 2024 will graduate from Guangdong Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT). Despite the COVID-19 Pandemic and the running difficulty of Sino-foreign university co-operation in the year they entered GTIIT, the determined students keep moving forward with the motto of "Dream it, do it". They write one and another encouraging stories upon the path of scientific dreams. Let's follow the interview series of 2024 graduates to uncover more in their pursuit of future.
Yu Yongxin
High School:
Guangdong Zhongyuan High School
Program:
Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)
Awards:
GTIIT Chancellor's List (2021)
GTIIT Vice Chancellor's List (2022)
Second Class Academic Excellence Scholarship (Top 7.5%) (2022)
GTIIT Dean's List (2023)
GTIIT Dean's List (2024)
Offers:
ETH Zurich
Cornell University
Northwestern University
Upon first meeting Yu Yongxin, one would be impressed by his fast speech pace and active thinking. After four years of hard work, he received offers from ETH Zurich, Cornell University and Northwestern University, and will continue his study in a world leading university. Today, let’s listen to the story of this MSE graduate.
Be bold to ask questions
Seize opportunities
“I have always been fond of a free and open teaching atmosphere and planned to study abroad, so a Sino-foreign university is my first alternative. After Gaokao, Yongxin participated in many info sessions of various universities and carefully collected information. GTIIT, with an international faculty team and a focus on STEM education, became his top choice. “GTIIT is my first choice and four years of study made me more determined in this decision.” His choice of MSE resulted from his love for physics and engineering. In his view, interest is the best teacher. Choosing a program that one is truly interested in will provide unlimited motivation on scientific research.
Yongxin (right2) with his friends
With the passion for STEM, Yongxin came to GTIIT. Upon his arrival, the first challenge is the pure English teaching mode. “At the beginning, there were indeed some parts that I couldn’t understand, but this actually motivated me to study independently after class.” The course arrangement during the preparatory semester provided him enough time for previewing and reviewing. Through repeated practices, he quickly get used to it.
“Independent study” is what Yongxin repeatedly mentioned during the interview, which is also his secret of high grades. “Independent study” doesn’t mean simply studying alone, but rather planning your learning. GTIIT has provided much support for this such as the special office hour and strong group study atmosphere. During the ‘Physics 2’ course, Yongxin sought guidance from teachers during office hours every week. “If you want to get good grades, it is not enough to just be focused in class. It is necessary to practice after class and ask questions actively. This is also what teachers encouraged us to do.”
“GTIIT also gives us much autonomy in course selection. If you have enough time, it’s OK for you to learn advanced courses ahead of time.” With strong time arrangement, Yongxin completed most of his courses in three years. “In the first semester of my junior year, I took over 30 credits, which gave me a lot of pressure, and I couldn’t sleep well because of anxiety that time. However, peers in my study group helped me find back my study rhythm. Finally, I made it.” He admitted that studying ahead indeed posed significant challenges to him, but it also greatly improved his learning efficiency. That busy time remains unforgettable in his university.
Engage in scientific research
toward dream
Joining a research group was a goal that Yongxin set before entering university. During the summer holiday of his freshman year, he joined Prof. Xu Xinpeng’s research group. “At that time, I was a newcomer and didn’t know much. I am very grateful to Prof. Xu for giving me such an opportunity.” He spent his summer holiday in the group and gained a basic understanding of scientific research under the guidance of the team.
Yongxin（left1）took part in the China Innovation and Entrepreneurship 2021 and introduced GTIIT's projects
In the first semester of his sophomore year, despite the busy study schedule, Yongxin didn’t give up his pursuit of scientific research. He joined Prof. Xie Zuoti’s research group and engaged in the field of molecular electronics. This experience truly allowed him to open the door to scientific research and grow rapidly in two years. He became a capable assistant of his supervisor, giving hand to new team members in their research. He also gained a lot in perseverance. “In research, the measurement data is not always satisfying, as the individual molecules are unstable. Sometimes you will achieve nothing after three or four hours, yet you have to keep it up. Perhaps an extra 20 minutes will bring you the result.”
Under the guidance of Prof. Xie Zuoti and other graduate students in the research group, Yu Yongxin published as article as a co-author in the journal Langmuir, a journal under the American Chemical Society
The experience in the research group laid a solid foundation for Yongxin’s scientific research. In his third year, he got 20,000 RMB from GTIIT Innovation Seed Non-profit Foundation with a project named “Working Mechanism Study of Nanoelectronics Devices Based on Saturated Non-Conjugated Molecules”. Under the recommendation of Prof. Xie, he went to Tsinghua University for an exchange program during the summer holiday. At Tsinghua, he improved his previous measurement method with low success rate and further strengthened his determination to scientific research ahead.
Yongxin (right1) with his friends
Yongxin (left1) with his friends
In addition, Yu Yongxin actively explored different research directions. He joined Dr. Amitesh Paul’s research group to study the magnetic interactions between rare earth elements and ferromagnetic elements. He has published a relevant article in the journal Physical Review B under the American Physical Society as a co-author.
For Yongxin, a new journey is about to begin. He will continue study in the field of materials science at Northwestern University in the United Sates. He hoped that he could improve himself on an open academic platform to realize his scientific research dream.
Tips
Suggestions from Yongxin:
Pay more attention to tutorial courses and make sure you understand the assignments in class. Don’t work alone when you review the knowledge. Find some like-minded classmates and discuss together from different angles.
GTIIT
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文/图：GTIIT传媒与公共事务部
Text/Photos: GTIIT News & Public Affairs
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