After completing my PhD, it had been my top and strongest wish to be part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). I felt so excited that I could have the opportunity to join a top-quality institute of China. When I learned that I had been awarded a CAS PIFI postdoctoral fellowship, I was overjoyed and my desire to continue my research at CAS was further strengthened. I consider myself very blessed to have been given the opportunity to apply for the CAS PIFI postdoctoral program. Although there were some other opportunities for me to pursue a career in other countries, my strongest wish was to select CAS.

It has been amazing working with Professor Zhou Minghua. He is committed to driving out novel ideas and providing all the support needed for actualization, despite leading multidisciplinary studies. This provides a solid platform for gaining the diverse academic and professional experience required to work independently, as well as to be a smart leader and an efficient team member. From the very first day of communication to till today, Professor Zhou cooperated with me a lot in all matters in conducting research and collaborations. We have had many fantastic research results, some of which have resulted in high-quality research articles in high-quality journals. We communicated a lot and came up with many great ideas for future works during our fruitful discussions. Speaking of the research group of Professor Zhou, it is very much like a family. The atmosphere in this group is of mutual help, support and respect for both colleagues and Professor Zhou. In recent years, the research group has carried out numerous projects in fields relevant to my research interest and that is why I was so interested in working in his group.

My lab colleagues and my host Professor were always at hand to assist me in scientific and administrative tasks and were always very friendly. Working in an international environment with colleagues from different backgrounds has enabled me to come up with creative solutions, and to be more creative and more flexible in dealing with other people. I can feel the essence of academia when I share serious thoughts, discussions and consultations with our group. I can easily exchange ideas with other scientists about my research. These discussions have always inspired me and helped to boost my knowledge. Moreover, Chinese people are very friendly and helpful. This always reminds me of the sincere friendship of all of my coworkers. I am really happy to have been able to do research in such a well-established system. It has really helped me to effectively set myself up for my future life.

The food, culture, weather, and technology all are wonderful in China. If you want to know my opinion about the food; real, authentic Chinese cuisine can only be found in China. I had tried some Chinese dishes in my home country but the true flavor of Beijing duck, noodles, and sweet or spicy meat dishes can only be experienced by living in China. Transportation across the country, both inter- and intra-city, is exceptional. I like traveling by bullet train very much. There are still so many different beautiful and wonderful places to see in China. I walked on the Great Wall and visited ancient cultural heritages like the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven.

From my perspective, PIFI is moving in the right direction, and the attitude and the funding system for science and development are very impressive. I found my PIFI fellowship to be a memorable experience which has certainly provided me a suitable platform to explore my research expertise. When considering my future career after the completion of my PIFI fellowship, the reputation of CAS will certainly be helpful in helping me achieve my future goals.

Finally, I would like to express my gratitude for the opportunity and to thank everyone that has helped me throughout my journey at CAS. I strongly believe that China will always be an excellent place to study and do research if you want to create a story you will never forget.

Source: Muhammad Shaaban,

Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment,

Chinese Academy of Sciences