I was born on May 4th,1969 from a family of academics. My parents are all researchers of Ocean Petrol Exploring & Developing Research Center. Their assiduously seeking after science has big impact on me from my early childhood. And that led to my dream of being a scientific researcher in the first time.
As I grew up, it seemed I was developing as what my parents exoected. As a young girl at high school, I won regional second place of 1985 National Mathematics Contest. My undergraduate study was also very successful and my overall GPA was among top 2% in my class. This made me one of the three Excellent Students of the university at the provincial level in June, 1990.
During my college years, I became more and more interested in Food Engineering. Besides studying hard on the demanded courses, I enthusiastically employed my knowledge in the practical operation.
Being an assistant, I took part in the project of Technological Analysis of Imitation Sharkfin. When we eventually made sharkfin from our own-made machine, I was more than excited. This important experience gave me the start in the long road of being a scientific researcher. From then on, I was inured to apply my theoretical knowledge to practices, whether in a laboratory, or in a factory. On the other hand, practical experience provided me significant knowledge that is some kind of different from books. One week in a freezing company got me the knowledge of how important of temperature control to product quality. During another 9 weeks in canning factory, I understood every detailed process of making can. These experiences also gave me the incentive to further my studies in this field, since I gradually felt what I short is advanced and systematic knowledge of food technology. Because of my outstanding grades and academic performance, I was awarded consecutive scholarships for all four years in college and thus strongly recommended to graduate study in 1990.
At that year, I was admitted by South China University of Technology to pursue a Master's degree in Food Engineering. During the two and half years' graduate study, I got very extensive and intensive education. I worked so hard on my thesis project, Study on Concentration of Pineapple Juice to Extract Bromelain by Ultrafiltration Membrane, which involved making a set of machine in the laboratory to complete the research, that when I finally finished it, I got all A from the evaluating team. Moreover, this thesis is published on Membrance Science and Technology, Vol.14, No. 3, Sept.1994.
I also involved myself actively in some research plans, because I believe that one could learn as much from a variety of experiences as from books. In the first year of my graduate study, I took part in the designing of a beverage factory whose main product is guava juice. This project encompassed the design of the technological process, layout of this plant, processing equipment, quality control and hygienic management. Although it lasted for only two months, I obtained precious experience complementary to my school learning.
After graduation, I was assigned by government to serve in the Technical Department of a state-owned food company, where I was mainly responsible for the nutrition analysis of the food of senior and junior school students. Two years later, this company announced its bankruptcy.
Because of the disappointed experience in the state-owned company, I decided to find some great companies to meet new challenge. After strict examination and interview, I joined Wal-Mart China Co. Ltd. in 1995 and have been working there since then. It was an important experience to me for I grew to be a mature, independent person and I have got used to working under high pressure and increasing understanding of American culture. With four years English environment, I am very fluent in use of English language in all ways. Here I have to mention that I don't think my low GRE verbal score(450) could mean anything. I never got verbal score below 600 when I took simulated test. I am not sure if the terrible fever affected me on the testing day. Actually I have been a concurrent interpreter in Wal-Mart all long for these years. Starting from an assistant of International Fresh (food) Merchandiser (who is from states), to a senior manager of Merchandising Department, I not only developed my English competence, but also broadened my perspective of the outside world. My job has provided me with some opportunities to contact with many associations from US In one of the videos they offer us, I was deeply impressed by American food processing techniques. The more I collect such information, the more I feel how China's food techniques lag behind west.
On the other hand, in accordance with the growth in economy in China, people are expecting an even higher standard of food quality and production. Especially when China joins WTO, local products should have to be competitive to meet people's requirements.
To fulfill this expectation, it requires more and more knowledgeable people. Having majored in Food Engineering for more than six years, I consider myself one with such a responsibility. Bearing this in mind and with persistent interest in scientific research since childhood, I intend to do advanced research in the field of Food Processing and Engineering.
I am confident that with your distinguished faculty and recognized facilities, my potential will develop into knowledge and experience beneficial to both the United States and China.