I received my bachelor’s and master’s degree in biology from the University of Helsinki in Finland. Previously I have conducted cancer research at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Canada. My major research interest is the development of novel, effective and clinically applicable therapies for the treatment of cancer. I am currently participating in a collaborative Ph.D. program between The Methodist Hospital Research Institute (TMHRI) in USA and the National Center for Nanosciences and Technology (NCNST) in China, under the mentorship of Professors Mauro Ferrari and Yuliang Zhao.

During the last few years the number of scientific publications originating from China has grown at an exponential rate. Currently, China is one of the leading countries in nanotechnology. Hence, it is a very exciting time to be in China! The NCNST is one of three national centers for nanotechnology. The center is cofounded by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tsinghua University and Peking University, the two latter ranking among the top 50 universities in the world. The NCNST puts great emphasis on international collaboration. The center organizes weekly seminars given by renowned scientists from around the world. These seminars present a great opportunity for networking and establishing international contacts and collaborative research projects.

The center offers a variety of courses in the field of nanotechnology that are taught in English, such as cancer nanotechnology, nanotechnology for solar energy utilization and nanofabrication. These courses are interactive and include debates, individual presentations and site visits. The Ph.D. program also includes courses that introduce students to Chinese culture and teaches them spoken and written Chinese. Learning to communicate in the most widely spoken language in the world will definitely be beneficial in any career path.

In a time of globalization, it is evident that the greatest scientific discoveries will arise through international collaboration and inter-institutional partnerships. The combined expertise from institutes around the world will foster excellence in research. The extensive knowledge of nanotechnology at NCNST makes them a very attractive scientific collaborator. In addition to scientific expertise, there are many other things we can learn from the faculty and students at NCNST. Among these, their hard work, team spirit, good manners and hospitality never fail to impress me.