[1998] The hardest part of PhD was not the research itself, it was the depression when a few months' hard work lead to absolutely nothing; the loneliness of spending long nights in the lab; the exhaustness after 12 hours running around doing thousands of chores...

I have to admit, however, this has been my dream all along. I was born on a beautiful Dong-Pu Island, where the Chinese Academy of Sciences is located. Both my parents work there as senior scientists, I still remember those nights I slept in the labs while they working hard with their experiments. Their dedication has gradually cultivated my interest in natural science and built my mind to become a scientist after I grew up. Like every parent, they contributed enormous love to my life, taking care of every little detail. All I had to do was swimming in the rivers and playing in the woods of the idyllic rural mid-east China. We had a small yet cozy apartment in the west suburbs of Hefei City which was always my warm nest until the year I turned sixteen.

Then I left home for college in Nanjing University, it was so miserable the first time in my life living away from home, away from my dear mom. It was actually no that far from Hefei, nevertheless I was still desperately homesick at that moment.

Four years of college life had eventually made me strong and independent, I learned to take care of everything on my own. The best part is I got to know so many wonderful friends. I miss them a lot, we were so young back then and had so much fun together! <Link to sweet memory photos>

At early age, I set a goal to travel as much as I can, I love to go around the world and learn about different cultures. After graduation from college, I came to America for PhD study. The past years has taken me to many exotic destinations and led me to interesting people. I took lots of pictures wherever I go, they have piled up fast in my drawers and now my homepages, going through those sweet memories always makes me wish to have yesterday once more although I understand tomorrow is going to be even better.

Great things happened after I came to US: A lot of wonderful friends, my first little Camry, the most caring host family Dick & Donna, a most successful diet (finally)... Above all, and indeed the best, was Michael! We have been friends since Junior high, and over these many years, he has finally become my sweet fiancé!

Michael is talented, caring and romantic. I enjoy doing anything with him, either going out for a road trip or just spending a quiet afternoon at home is equally fun. He loves photography, with me being his exclusive "model", you probably figured why I have so many photos. He is my support whenever I feel down, he is my love forever I live.

Beside my PhD dream, I love dancing. Not really expecting to go professional, I just found myself enjoy the seamless correlation of music and body movements. It helps relax and balance my mood when research is not going exactly where it supposed to.