Hello, everyone. My name is Chen Zhi, and I am a proud alumnus of Shimane University. I graduated with a PhD degree in 2020 from this prestigious institution. Today, I am very honored and grateful to share my story with you as a former student of Shimane University.
   When I contributed my first essay in 2020 after I completed the Ph.D. program, I introduced my research and life at Shimane University. After graduating, I returned to China and joined Shenzhen University (ranked sixth in the world by the most recent US News on the subject of “Optics”) as a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Optical Engineering. This has been a great challenge for me. I started a new research project on integrating optical and electrochemical sensing techniques with CRISPR gene editing technology and developed a series of highly sensitive, specific, and amplification-free nucleic acid detection platforms, which have been published in several high-impact journals (National Science Review, Nano-micro Letters, Advanced Science, Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, etc.).
   After finishing my postdoctoral training, I became a Research Associate at Shenzhen University. Shenzhen University has a Tokyo campus, which serves as a bridge for academic exchange and collaboration between China and Japan. I hope to maintain close contact with Shimane University and contribute to the friendship and cooperation between our two universities.
   I hope this essay can inspire some of you who are interested in studying or working abroad. It is not easy to leave your home country and adapt to a new environment, but it is also rewarding. You can learn new things, meet new people, see new perspectives, and discover new possibilities. You can also share your own culture and values with others, and make positive contributions to the global community.
   In conclusion, I would like to express my gratitude to Shimane University for providing me with a solid foundation for my academic and professional development. I would also like to thank you for reading my essay and giving me this opportunity to share my story with you. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at chenzhi@szu.edu.cn. I would love to hear from you.

by Chen Zhi, May 2023