Time flies and the second cohort of students graduate from Guangdong Technion - Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT) this year. In the series of interviews with the graduates from the Class of 2022, we will show their stories at GTIIT in the past four years.

Here is the story of Wang Xiuqi, a student of the Class of 2022 from the Biotechnology and Food Engineering Program.

High school: Shantou Jinshan High School

Awards: GTIIT Chancellor's Scholarship, GTIIT Academic Excellence Scholarship, GTIIT Dean's List

Received offer from: European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) 

We can see the professional and rational insights about his major, Biotechnology and Food Engineering, and feel his careful observation of the environment and life from Xiuqi. He knows how to work hard and fulfils his spare time. He has his own ideas and moves forward on the track he determined.

Wait for a chance with the "niche" area

Many people flocked to popular programs like IT and finance while avoiding biology, chemistry, environmental science, and materials science after the college entrance examination. However, Xiuqi thought that when most people focused on the so-called "mainstream track", if he could think out of the box and work hard in the "niche" area of his interest, he would have more chances.

Four years ago, Xiuqi was attracted by GTIIT's vision of "promoting innovative research, environmental protection and social prosperity", which coincided with his interest in "sustainable development". Finally, he started his new journey at GTIIT.

Food is so important for people that Xiuqi was very determined about his choosing biotechnology and food engineering program. "Food is probably the industry that's closest to daily life. Meanwhile, it is also enduring. The current boom in the food sector offers a wide scope for biotechnology students to grow. Artificial meat, alternative proteins, precision nutrition - one industrial windfall after another is emerging," shared Xiuqi. "I feel lucky to be able to witness and be part of this dramatic industrial innovation."

"Many internet giants had layouts in the agri-food sector. When the 'niche' meets the 'mainstream' , the competition within the latter is often extremely fierce. If you take an alternative path, you could break through with unique insights, and the cross energy between the two can propel you to a higher level."

"Don't worry if you are studying a currently unpopular program. Being mainstream or not is not perpetual," said Xiuqi. He suggested the students learn more, find out their own competitiveness, and wait for the opportunity to overtake others.

Humanistic thinking from the non-typical science student

Xiuqi loves wandering around the food market in Shantou in his spare time. "I think students who study food or biology program are fortunate because what we learn is closely related to daily life, which gives me a very realistic sense of reward. There is a category of food sociology in food studies. Although my program was more technically oriented, I gradually cultivated a sense of mission in the connection of market vendors, food and cooking. I think about how I can change the food system I'm exposed to and serve society through my knowledge."

"Sustainability is a big concept and promise. I hope to keep working on it in academic and in real life. I often think about in the age of abundance, what does diet mean to people? How will the food industry change with the times?" In his opinion, the taste of food means a lot to people. It bears the imprint of culture and the memory of a certain period. "Wine making, for example, is a romantic discipline. Condensing a period of time into a glass of liquid is a story in itself, while the people who drink it will have a more unique interpretation of the flavour in combination with their own experiences. It's a fantastic connection."

Xiuqi said that Biotechnology and Food Engineering was a program that combined both rationality and sensibility. "Food is a subject that often leads to emotional thinking on the basis of science. Your local complex, your understanding of food culture and social structure push you to think about this industry with more than scientific thinking. How to make technology really benefit people's lives is a topic worth exploring for a lifetime."

Xiuqi (left 5) with members of the lab

Be firm in his goal 

Xiuqi lives an easy life in his spare time, cooking, reading and travelling; while makes great performance in academic, scientific research and internship. He got the GPA 92/100 and full scores in courses like immunology and food chemistry. He worked as a research assistant in the Laboratory of Sustainable Food Systems and Genomics, participated in research projects and fund applications. He participated in the 2020 Guangdong University Research Findings Commercialization Roadshow Contest on behalf of the laboratory; published academic papers on a famous international journal as the co-author; worked as an intern in the Agri-food Department of Plug & Play... He worked hard on the identified track at his own pace.

Four years later, Xiuqi chose a more interesting master's program. In the next two years, he will study in the University of Hohenheim in Germany, the University of Turin in Italy and Aarhus University in Denmark under the program of European Institute of Innovation & Technology. "It may not be the best choice in the eyes of others, but the universities ranked top among the areas of agriculture and food, and the academic network will give me access to more start-ups and food companies in Europe. I believe there will be more possibilities waiting for me in the future, so I don't regret my choice."

文/图：王修齐、GTIIT传媒与公共事务部