What is your role at Yale?
I’m a 4th year postdoc associate in Dr. Josephine Hoh’s lab at the Yale School of Public Health. As a postdoc, I’m a member in Yale Postdoctoral Association (YPA), an organization that helps postdocs get together. I have also involved in ANY from the beginning of my time at Yale. I joined the ANY steering committee last summer.
What brought you to New Haven?
While I had nearly finished my PhD training in China, I started to search for postdoctoral opportunities in the United States. One day I found a position posted on “Nature Jobs,” which matches part of my background. However, there was no information about the institute of this position. Two or three weeks later, I received an email from Josephine, and it was from Yale! After a long and dramatic interview process, I got this position!
Would you share with us a favorite memory from living in Beijing?
It’s a little bit hard for me to answer this question (smile). I spent 4 years in Suzhou, a beautiful city near to Shanghai to finish my college education. I had so many wonderful memories there. After graduation I moved back to Beijing and completed my PhD training. During my PhD, I was too busy with my project to explore Beijing, which has developed so fast after the 2008 Olympic Games. There is one recommendation I can provide: during a snowy day, you should visit some historic places, such as the Forbidden City or the Temple of Heaven. You will feel that you have jumped 200-300 years into history. However, as Beijing is now a metropolis, it’s a little bit hard to see snow during the winter in Beijing.
What were some of the surprises of living in the United States? Any from living in New Haven?
My transition from Beijing to New Haven was smooth. Because New Haven is a planned city, I easily reached my destination following the navigational instructions. I also found a wonderful apartment before I moved here. I feel the public transportation is not as convenient in New Haven compared to Beijing or New York City. Biking in New Haven is not that convenient, either. However, I’m enjoying living in a small city because every place I need to go to is close. The location of New Haven is my favorite: close to New York City and Boston. Thanks to New England, we can enjoy the beach in the summer and go skiing in the winter. And the sightseeing on Green Mountains and White Mountains is so beautiful during fall season.
I’ve heard you talk about the differences in the various international professional networking groups like the Yale Postdocs Association (YPA), the Association of Chinese Students and Scholars at Yale (ACSSY), and Asian Network at Yale. How do these groups strengthen the community culture at Yale, thinking of students, faculty, researchers, and staff?
After starting my postdoc training at Yale, I found that there were so many groups or “sub-communities” that could help us network. Some of their membership has the same professional background, such as YPA, Graduate Student Assembly (GSA) and Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS). Some of them share some background, like ACSSY, all of Yale affiliation groups and “Italiani a Yale”, an Italian networking group includes students, postdocs, faculties and staff. We could also find some groups aimed at professional development, such as Career Network for Student Scientists and Postdocs at Yale (CNSPY) and Emerging Biomedical Scholars at Yale (EBSY, a networking group includes students, postdocs, junior faculties at Yale Med School).
In these groups, we can first make a lot of new friends who share similar background and/or professional aims. We will have opportunities to explore different cultures. ANY hosts a lot of events to introduce different food and entertainment in Asia. The Italian group hosted a “pasta making workshop,” which got wonderful feedback. Also, we can attend some events to get different professionals together. The mentorship committee of YPA just hosted a “lunch with PI” event. Postdocs sit with faculty members in academia or industry field, have lunch together and discuss various professional or personal interests. Not only do postdocs like this kind of event; the faculty also told us they are willing to help young professionals.
What drew you to join the steering committee for the Asian Network at Yale?
I joined the YPA steering committee in my third month at Yale. During the last three years, I have learned a lot about postdoc needs and how to build the Yale postdoc community. After attending an ANY open house event last summer, I thought I should also join the ANY steering committee. First, I can make connections between ANY and postdoc community (we have a huge number of Asian postdocs). Second, I have interest in getting some experience in how other groups operate. I was also willing to volunteer in community events. For example, I participated in “Lunarfest” with Yale-China Association. I’m so happy we had so many attendees!
What is one of your hopes for strengthening diversity at Yale?
I’m so grateful about the diversity and inclusive environment at Yale. I’m also happy to see there is a strong interest in different cultures throughout the whole Yale community. However, we have to restrict the attendee number of some events because of the size of room we use. I think it will be wonderful if all the diversity groups have a bigger “living room” including a kitchen. We can host a cultural event for 30-40 people.
Would you be willing to share a piece of home that you miss?
I don’t miss the Chinese food (smile)! Thanks to the convenient Asian markets around New Haven, I can cook all kinds of plate I want to try. I also have a lot of friends here so I don’t feel lonely at all. I hope my family will have a chance to visit me, and we can visit some wonderful place in New England together.
How do you help make Yale a home for others not from New Haven?
Join in some groups. We will get together and make new friends. Then we will not feel lonely.
What is your favorite eatery in New Haven?
I’m living in the Wooster Square neighborhood, which helps me take advantage in tasting Frank Pepe and Sally’s pizzas, although my first bite at Pepe’s was in my second year here and my first try in Sally was just a few month ago. Compared to take-out pizza, their dine-in is totally different. I believe that’s why customers are so patient that they wait for hours to have a seat. I think Sally has thinner crust but Pepe has better mozzarella-tomato sauce combination. And the white clam pie in Pepe is my favorite one.