Shaolin ZHANG: My doctoral research training at UM has enabled me to blaze a new trail through brambles on my academic path

Chose UM to pursue his dream

Shaolin ZHANG is the first PhD graduate from FHS of UM. He determined to specialise in pharmaceutical research when he was pursuing his master’s degree at Southwestern University. To experience the academic atmosphere of different regions and expand his international horizon, he targeted universities in Singapore, Hong Kong and Macao for his doctoral studies. On one occasion, he met Prof. Kin Yip TAM of FHS, whose research interest is drug development, and got a grip on the teaching mode and the characteristics of the curriculum of FHS. Then, he gained full confidence in the teaching and research of FHS. Finally, he decided to pursue his doctoral studies at UM, and joined Prof. Tam’s research team

Developed his resilience in UM

Shaolin is currently an associate professor of the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Chongqing University. He said that the experiences he obtained during his doctoral studies empowered him to transform pressure at work into motivation. He recalled that the biggest challenge he faced when he was a PhD student was the pressure from his studies. In the early stage of the establishment of FHS when the laboratories were not fully equipped, he had encountered lots of problems in conducting research. He confronted the problems and solved them instead of just complaining, and tried his best to get the research done despite difficulties. He is glad that he has grown up hand in hand with FHS, and partaken in the entire construction of the laboratories in FHS from scratch.

The key to his success: Think outside the Box

As a new academic, apart from the heavy teaching load, the biggest challenge for Shaolin now is to apply for research funding. He is grateful for Prof. Tam who has guided him to adjust his thinking pattern when he encountered a bottleneck period in his PhD study. He said that Prof. Tam corrected his misconceptions and directed him to leave aside any existing limitations or known conclusions and rethink from the original point, and this led him to find the unexpected answers. This experience inspired him to think outside the box while designing his research topics and content, and eventually his research projects got funded successfully out of numerous competitive applications.

His encouragement for juniors

He encouraged the students in FHS to stay positive when coming across dilemma. “Even though we may not be able to solve problems immediately, we will always find a new way out later. It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.” After graduation, Shaolin stays connected with his alma mater. He says, “FHS is my second home, and I wish FHS every success in its efforts to scale new heights and continue to cultivate more talents.”