At the beautiful campus of Guangdong Technion - Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT), there is a group of students who have studied and grown here from their bachelor's to master's to PhDs, witnessing the changes and development of GTIIT.

Chen Ri is one of these students. Graduating from Shantou Jinshan High School and joining GTIIT since 2017, she remains committed to her aspiration and is now chasing her PhD at GTIIT. Let's get into her story.

Major in passion, progress at GTIIT

Chen loved biology in high school and was excited to learn that GTIIT offered Biotechnology and Food Engineering (BFE) Program, which, as she mentioned, provides students with rich practical experience and brings tangible benefits to their further studies or career path. In 2017, she was admitted to GTIIT BFE program as one of the first cohort of undergraduate students.

Chen considered her undergraduate studies in GT as "intense but fulfilling". "Usually, people believe universities come with less academic load, however, things are quite the opposite at GTIIT. Everyone here is working very hard, and I naturally got used to the fast pace here.”

After graduation in 2021, Chen chose to stay at GTIIT to pursue a Technion master's degree and successfully transitioned to PhD track in 2023.

GTIIT's graduate program awards students with degrees by the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, adopts an international admission application system and provides students with generous scholarship, but that's not the only reason why Chen stayed here.

GTIIT provides undergraduate students with abundant opportunities to conduct research. Same as many other students, Chen took lab courses and joined a research group in her sophomore year. Familiarity with the facilities and environment at GTIIT labs allowed her to quickly adapt to her postgraduate research.

Moreover, GTIIT's labs are equipped with advanced equipment, which are relatively accessible due to fewer users. "Whenever I have a new idea, I can immediately reserve the equipment and verify my thoughts. This greatly improves my working efficiency," Chen said.

She also pointed out that GTIIT undergraduates have advantages when applying for graduate programs here, with more space to explore their interests and more opportunities to discuss with professors. "It's a process of mutual understanding. Through conversations, the professors get to know you better, which also helps when applying to research groups."

Another feature of GTIIT's graduate programs is the dual-advisor system. Students will have two advisors, one from GTIIT and one from the Technion. Chen's advisors are Prof. Harold Corke and Prof. Dganit Danino. "Prof. Corke has rich experience in food industry, so he guides the framework of my research; Prof. Danino is a top expert in microstructure, helping me conduct experiments more scientifically and accurately."

She mentioned that supervised by two advisors from different research fields, students could attain more resources, perspectives and innovative inspiration.

Grow together, with the Alma Mater

Being a fertile ground for nurturing innovative talents, GTIIT adopts a research-oriented teaching approach, encouraging students to give presentations and delve into laboratories during their undergraduate studies. Through hands-on research, students can elevate their learning outcomes.

Chen shared that when she first joined the research group as an undergraduate, her advisor assigned her a research direction. As she progressed, the professor encouraged more independent thinking and creative ideas. During her graduate studies, she began to design her own experiment plans and participated more in the overall planning of a project. The training in GTIIT has equipped her with the skills to conduct independent research during her doctorate.

From undergraduate to doctoral studies, Chen has persisted for seven years in the field of BFE. Staying focused in one direction has allowed her to go deeper and further in this field.

Currently, her research focuses on the multi-scale structure of starch, and she has published three SCI papers as the first or co-first author in top international journals including "Food Chemistry". 

When talking about her research, Chen was very proud: "My research has practical application and is of great significance for improving food texture and nutritional value. Understanding the changes in starch structure can help develop low glycemic index (low GI) food and be applied to produce more stable food ingredients. For the food industry, especially brands focusing on nutrition and health, this research can help address specific market needs."

With steady progress, Chen has grown from a freshman to a graduate student dedicated to research. Over her seven years at GTIIT, she has grown with her alma mater and witnessed every significant moment: the first undergraduate opening ceremony, GTIIT's inclusion in the "Guangdong High Level University Development Program", the inauguration of GTIIT's "Academician Chancellor", the graduation of its first cohort, the launch of new undergraduate programs, and the official opening of GTIIT South Campus...

Chen would like to send a message to all the GTIIT students: GTIIT is a great platform for learning and personal achieving. I hope everyone can cherish your time here, explore bravely with great curiosity, and find your interest in your academic career!

Text/Photos: GTIIT News & Public Affairs, provided by Chen