HKUST is a young world-class university, which provides high-quality education to nurture students to be outstanding academics and pillars of society. I am delighted to be one of the members in this family and pursue both my BEng and PhD degrees here. Currently, my research is mainly about soil-plant interaction focusing Chinese medicinal plants. Although it is sometimes challenging, I do enjoy the research process. Through overcoming challenges, I have better equipped myself for future research, which may create greater impacts for the society.

I get to wear many hats at HKUST, each of which is very interesting in its own right. As a student, I learn and appreciate the work of scholars; as a Teaching Assistant, I present and communicate knowledge to keen learners; as a Hall Tutor, I interact with youthful and creative minds; and as a Researcher, I solve problems and hopefully, in due course, create new knowledge.

With a passion for exploring the unexplored, I began my research journey during my undergraduate studies at HKUST. I have been focusing on identifying the exposure pathways in the etiology of Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) and finding solutions for the outstanding contamination. The project is in collaboration with a Serbian researcher and one of our publications was awarded the 2016 JAFC Research Article of the Year Award Lectureship (AGRO division).

HKUST is a world-class university where you can meet people from different backgrounds and conduct high quality research at the well-equipped research facilities. There are abundant conference opportunities for RPg students. As well, research travel grants provide financial support for students to broaden their horizons and connect with researchers in different countries. Apart from studying, you can also have fun on campus: there are many sports facilities that we can use in our leisure time. Besides, Hong Kong offers plenty of interesting places to visit and delicious food to eat.

Competent and diligent students, the acceptance and tolerance of diversified views, as well as its zooming and booming status, have made HKUST fertile soil for the nourishment and nurture of young scholars. All these are important factors that have allowed me to survive and thrive in the academia, and so I can proudly say I would never trade my years at HKUST for anything.

"Doing RPg studies in HKUST has opened the door for me to do scientific research." As a PhD student, Joyce is becoming ever better equipped to engage in research studies in this ever-changing scientific world. In addition to gaining hands-on experience through conducting daily laboratory work, she is learning to communicate more effectively by making regular presentations. By attending divisional and IAS seminars, she keeps up with the latest trends in the life science, exchanges ideas with scientists from around the world, and develops critical thinking skills.

The supportive learning environment offered at HKUST has allowed me to explore knowledge and to apply it in order to improve the lives of ordinary people. It gives me great satisfaction, a feeling beyond words. I hope everyone who reads this can follow their dreams as I have!