Zheng Wei's Attachment in Peking University - Part III

(Adopted from UoN Blog: Graduate School Blog)

As the autumn breeze sets in, I am preparing this final blogpost to recount my research experience. The downright depressing weather did not help ameliorate the sad reality that I am about to leave this place.

During the weeks leading to my departure, I worked diligently with the available resources and facilities nearby to fully utilise my time over here, but the outcome wasn’t as great as I expected it would be. The sizes of magnetic nanoparticles that were freshly prepared (in batches) appeared inconsistent, and there was significant precipitation and separation in the solvent. Aside from that, the preparation of gold seed was incomplete mostly due to time constraint. The molecular work that I performed here didn’t fare any better. Given more time, I would definitely be able to troubleshoot these setbacks and yield better quality results. Anyway, this is research and at the very least, I was able to wrap up my work to continue when I return to Notts.

On a brighter note, I finally met up with Prof Hou Yanglong, (supposed) supervisor at Peking University, and we had a great chat about his research, my research, and our future endeavours. When I left, he bestowed me with two key elements that made this attachment more valuable; a comprehensive guide to magnetic nanoparticles that served as supplementary information to everything that I have picked up thus far like cherries atop a cake, as well as the motivation and encouragement to pursue research as a meaningful feat, rather than an expedient one.

Outside the confines of the lab, I attended the Peking University International Culture Festival 2019, which was held on campus grounds. This splendid event featured over 80 nations, all with their respective cultural representations; songs and dances, delicacies and games, as well as cultural outfits and photo booths. In spite of all my research complications, I had a memorable time here watching the Japanese students distributing candies and sake shots, Russian students handing out cookies and snacks, Singaporeans sharing boba milk tea and card games, and my fellow Malaysians with the local kuih and a game of congkak. All in all, my heartstrings were tugged as I realised I was homebound.

That said, I spent the last days here saying my goodbyes and expressing my gratitude to everyone who had helped made this journey relatively smooth-sailing. First off, I am grateful for the time and guidance provided by Wang Zhiyi, the postdoctorate researcher who I was associated with. He showed me how the magnetic nanomaterials were prepared and characterised, provided advice regarding my future feats, and taught me their way of research, among others.

Off campus, the host of my accommodation, Chen, made my stay as stress-free and comfortable as it could possibly get.

Back in Malaysia, I am in debt to the support and guidance provided by Dr New Siu Yee and Ms Vimaleswari Danapal. Last but not least, just to mention that the IRCA has made this research experience possible and a relatively fruitful one indeed.

To end this blogpost, I would just say heavy-heartedly that I will miss this place; to leave behind the lab that I was in, the brief research works that I were attached to, the emotional bonds that I have developed, the community as well as culture, and moving forward with the knowledge imparted to me and the unforgettable memories that I have created. I will end this blog with the (famous) three words, that I have always been told here: Beijing welcomes you!

Featured image: (From left) Wong Zheng Wei and Prof Hou Yanglong