My research during the Tsinghua Global Fellows Programme involved the production of biodiesel from waste cooking oils, tying closely to both my PhD topic and to the theme of the programme: Global Climate Change and Energy. During my research placement I spent two weeks working with a research group in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Tsinghua University. The two weeks following the main programme provided me with the time to explore the campus/city and to experience the vastly different culture and the day-to-day life of a PhD student in China – typically including long lunch and dinner breaks full of a variety of amazing food, before returning back to the office.
Weekends provided a great chance to travel to places such as the Great Wall with friends made during the first week. The main programme was fairly intense, with many activities going on throughout the day but time in the evening to hang out with new friends, both from Imperial and Tsinghua. Overall, the Tsinghua Global Fellows Programme was a great opportunity in order to develop a variety of skills ranging from teamwork to communication, network with students and academics trying to tackle the same issue, and experience a place which was completely new and different. I would highly recommend the Global Fellows Programme to anybody.
"The two weeks following the main programme provided me with the time to explore the campus/city and to experience the vastly different culture and the day-to-day life of a PhD student in China "