Several years ago when I started as postdoc just immediately after my PhD, one interesting review turned my attention and I immediately wrote to the author about my interest. He promptly replied and asked whether I would be interested in a new postdoc at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) or not. I was in a dilemma, as the author (my group leader, Prof. Zhang Xiaoming) had recently shifted from the Institut Pasteur Paris to the Institut Pasteur of Shanghai (CAS). Meanwhile, in several conversations, he assured me of an independent, adaptable and comfortable research environment in CAS as well as in China. Six months later, I applied to CAS and several months later a smart and simple email from my present group leader arrived: “you have been selected for the position and let me know your plan for China”. Thus began the start of an amazing adventure that changed me to a new direction.

Shyamal Goswami at work in his lab at IPS-CAS. [Photo provided by Shyamal Goswami]

At the end of 2013, my journey began in IPS-CAS at Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences (SIBS) campus in Shanghai. I have honestly received a privileged cooperation experience with the CAS host institute and my current lab. My strongest impression from the last 3 years is the eagerness and enthusiasm to learn new technology shown by the attending young Chinese scientists and clinicians, which for me is a forecast of the outstanding development in Chinese science and technology that will follow.

A common query appears from other researchers: “Why did you choose China instead of Europe or the Americas?” Of course before the foreign nationals ratio was much smaller in China, but now it’s booming. It’s not that I was not entertained by other good labs in the USA or Europe, rather my curiosity about China’s glorious past and remarkable current economical acceleration made me say “let’s have a try”.

But professionally speaking, it was not a bad choice at all. The scientific environment in IPS (CAS) is very comfortable as assured by my group leader earlier. Moreover, Chinese scientists are really open to discussions and collaboration. Although language can be a source of misunderstanding, it is not a problem with most researchers; and we can really see the benefits of the long-term policy of doing a PhD and postdoc abroad (mainly the US but also Europe). I was also surprised by the high number of visiting foreign lecturers, many more than I saw in my previous lab. All of these factors make me feel like I’m in a lab in the US or Europe, or at least not as isolated as I expected. This is also probably due to the fact that in my Chinese lab all members are very friendly and accepted me from the beginning. It’s a young team, started five years ago when Professor Zhang Xiaoming came back from France. Now within a few years they have expanded quickly with a complete team of highly motivated, discussion loving, energetic people, always with an excuse for frequently going to a restaurant.

There are several very successful collaboration programs already initiated and I have been enlisted as responsible for several ongoing projects with adequate funding and cutting edge in house instrumental facilities.  As a consequence of Prof. Zhang’s excellent expertise in multicolor cytometric fields, we are fortunate to have made several crucial discoveries in human and murine immune networks especially in tumor immunology.  However, from my point of view, I tried to support Prof. Zhang’s potential with my competency by developing a most advanced multispectral imaging platform, and successful implementation of 8-plex tissue phenomics for the first time; expecting a breakthrough in targeted cancer therapy. Being a senior visiting researcher, I’m leading a group of seven clinical researchers in a dream to be excellent in the field beyond conventional concepts.

My other support system is my family and friends. I spend my free time with family, writing poetry, singing and exploring the city, and traveling throughout the country. That’s a great thing when people come to visit -- another reason to break the daily routine! It’s such a beautiful and culturally rich country; it’s always great to be reminded of it.

Living and working in China has been truly exciting, although sometimes there may be a few upsetting experiences. Sharing what I am seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting every day! I see blooming children filing into the school on my street, people meeting on the street with kisses -- left and  right, exotic maples, rarest Ginkgo, amazing fragrances of sweet-scented osmanthus, stinking Tofu, a hundred cats lolling in the sun, men at cafes, friendly oldies arguing in playing cards. I see red the National Flag in people’s squares symbolizing China's democratic centralism, road to socialism, and hold steadfast to the leadership of the Communist Party of China. I hear Chinese, Cantonese, Shanghainese, Minnan, English and dozens of other languages spoken in the streets. I smell the rivers, barbeque in street corners, and fresh dumpling baking in morning breakfast. I taste famous 'Dragon Well' longjing tea, Anji Bai Cha several times in a day, and occasionally floral teas, and make a traditional gesture of careful picking up roasted peanuts with chopsticks, a sign of hospitality. I enjoy afternoon teatime in Starbucks, weekend’s nights in favorite restaurants with mysterious aroma of Maotai and never-ending gossip of Chinese friends, never let me alone. In a true sense, beside the laboratory, a close attention to surroundings gives me extra wings in life.

There are circumstances when the life of a foreign researcher can seem rather more stressed than blessed. The top of the list of obstacles facing foreign researchers in China is the problem of communication. It’s most difficult for non-native speakers to master Chinese. Although the inability to make oneself understood can undoubtedly complicate day-to-day life, for many foreign scientists it causes surprisingly few problems in the lab.

Unfortunately the English-language is considered as the global medium of scientific exchange and although China is progressing the threshold level for smooth communication and especially for scientific understanding is too far away to reach. I personally tried to abolish the concept of feeling alien by raising uniform harmony; it was not easy in the beginning but time and Zhang’s positive attitude cleared away the obstacles to cheers together, cheers for all.

To celebrate the endless opportunities, CAS may consider investing on willing foreign expats with scientific as well as teaching opportunities in English to tie up conflicting cultural ideas about the value of lifelong learning in transnational contexts. In recruiting more talent from overseas it might select individuals who had made significant professional contributions to China for a long term to be given preference for better career opportunities and visa status. CAS-PIFI are literally great opportunities for foreigners, and I hope it will encourage scientists to consider research possibilities in China but personally I think CAS could add few more supporting facilities like health insurance and accommodation.

It has been a great honor and privilege for me to be invited to collaborate during a period of more than three years. Thanks to their excellent leadership, very high quality students have been attracted to our collaborative projects, hopefully resulting in high quality manuscripts in future careers. Also, I very much appreciate the warm friendship that has developed between Professor Zhang and me as a consequence of our long lasting foreign exchange.

Regardless of how that process turns out, however, I plan to stay with my current group leader to further emphasize my scientific skill and continue to be in a better and better place for doing science. I’m really happy with my decision to stay here and pursue my career.