Receiving the prestigious 2020 CAS President’s International Fellowship Initiative (PIFI) scholarship has been an excellent opportunity to continue the fruitful collaboration already established during my doctoral studies at the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology during a successful Chinese-Austrian research program. Therefore, it was a prompt decision to move to Beijing and study photonic crystals at the Key Laboratory of Green Printing, Institute of Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). When arriving in China, I knew it would take some time to become accustomed to living in a new environment far from my old friends and family. But luckily, I quickly adapted to my new home with the help of my supervisor, Professor Li Mingzhu, and all the group members who warm-heartedly welcomed and supported me throughout my stay.

The collaboration with highly specialized groups inside the research institute and my supervisor’s extensive network with other universities enabled efficient research progress. I was introduced to cutting-edge research methods and honored to meet several outstanding scientists. My personal research project, funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) Research Fund for International Young Scientists, was accompanied by several closely related topics. In the research group, I studied the optical properties of photonic crystals, self-assembled nanostructures, and whispering-gallery resonators. Overall, the postdoc phase in China strengthened my scientific competencies and helped me pursue my professional objectives.

Besides the scientific tasks, I had the opportunity to participate in many social and cultural activities. For example, I was invited to celebrate Chinese New Year with a family in Beijing, where I enjoyed the famous Chinese hospitality. During the summer vacation, I traveled with a friend to Inner Mongolia to visit his hometown and meet his friends and family. There, I saw a desert for the first time, wandered the vast grasslands, and enjoyed local dishes. My trips continued to local attractions like the famous Great Wall, beautiful parks in Beijing, the charming Hutongs, and the Forbidden City. Especially in autumn, the atmosphere in the parks is stunning because of the colorful leaves on the trees. Falling in love with the art of Chinese calligraphy, I attended introductory workshops. Additionally, I began collecting handcrafted seals made from stone with personal engravings from a local artisan. All these activities were accompanied by delicious meals in restaurants with specialties from all over China. In particular, I enjoyed Beijing hot pot. Close to the university campus, I quickly found my favorite coffee shop to study, read books, and write letters to my family. After some time, the shop owner already knew me, and we happily chatted about our daily lives.

In summary, my time in China significantly enriched my scientific and personal life in many ways, and I can wholeheartedly recommend coming to Beijing to experience the rich culture and modern comforts. Hence, I am looking forward to continuing the scientific collaboration with the group of Professor Li, and I am deeply grateful for the chance to have this marvelous experience. I will remember and cherish the new friendships established over the last two years.

Source: Florian Vogelbacher,

Institute of Chemistry,

Chinese Academy of Sciences