At noon on December 14, 2024, the School of Materials Science and Engineering (PKU) held the “Face-to-Face Dialogue with Alumni Mentors on Student Career Development” seminar and the “Red Avenue Series Scholarship” award ceremony in Room 137 of the Comprehensive Research Building.The event featured Ms. Zhang Ning, one of the first alumni mentors for student career development at Peking University, an honorary trustee of Peking University, an alumna of the School of Materials Science and Engineering, and the Chairwoman of Red Avenue New Materials Group Co., Ltd., as the keynote speaker. She engaged in in-depth discussions with students on topics such asunderstanding of the discipline, industry development, and careerguidance. More than 20 undergraduate and graduate students from various years participated in the event.
To further enhance the quality of student employment services, strengthen career education, and leverage the exemplary influence and professional expertise of alumni, the school has appointed Ms. Zhang Ning as a “Student Career Development Alumni Mentor” with the support of the Peking University Student Career Center. This initiative aims to help students broaden their understanding and improve their skills in career planning, industry exploration, and job search strategies.
At the beginning of the event, Zou Ruqiang presented Ms. Zhang Ning with the appointment certificate as a “Peking University Student Career Development Mentor” anddelivered a welcome address on behalf of the School.Ms. Zhang Ning emphasized that universities servedisseminate knowledge and incubateinnovation, while enterprises provide a platform for practice and the validation of ideas. She highlighted that theory and application are two complementary aspects of new engineering education. Students must build a solid theoretical foundation to guide their experiments and learn toapply knowledge to develop real-world products and solutions, honing their skills to meet industry development needs.
Following this, Ms. Zhang Ning presented certificates to the outstanding student representatives who received this year’s Red Avenue Series Scholarship, recognizing and encouraging their achievements.During the discussion session, Ms. Zhang Ning warmly shared her experiences in academia and entrepreneurship. From an entrepreneur’s perspective, she explained how to successfully integrate research logic, product logic, and market logic when bridging scientific research with industry. SheShe distilled her insights into four key principles:“finding and staying true to one’s passion,” “developing logical thinking skills,” “expanding career and industry perspectives,” and “upholding ethical principles,” encouraging students to carve out their own paths for growth.As a seasoned professional in the advanced materials field, Ms. Zhang Ning shared her insights on industry trends and market prospects, addressing students’ concerns and offering valuable guidance to help them gain a more comprehensive understanding of the discipline and industry. Shevoiced strong confidence in the promising future of the new materials and renewable energy industries, advising students to make full use of Peking University’s resources in new engineering education and talent development. She encouraged them to stay at the forefront of scientific advancements through the platform of the School of Materials Science and Engineering while maintaining a balance between ambition and pragmatism. She urged students to focus on identifying real-world problems, strengthen their awareness of the “research loop,” gradually prepare for entering the workforce, and establish a solid industry value system from the very beginning of their careers.
During the Q&A session, students sought Ms. Zhang Ning’s insights on topics such as “What opportunities and challenges will the emergence of the AI for Science research paradigm bring to the materials industry?”Ms. Zhang Ning answered each question in detail, emphasizing that the advancement of AI is an undeniable trend that is profoundly reshaping various industries, including materials science. She highlighted that AI, with its powerful data processing capabilities and machine learning algorithms, provides unprecedented tools and methodologies for materials research. AI not only accelerates the development of new materials but also enhances performance prediction and optimization. Through high-throughput computatingand simulations, AI enables therapid identification of numerous promising material candidatesin a short time.She advised that materials science researchers who can effectively leverage AI will significantly enhance their efficiency and productivity. However, she also cautioned against the potential negative impacts of AI,emphasizing the need to master AI tools rather than be governed by themand encouraging students to actively develop irreplaceable core competencies to ensure they remain competitive in an AI-driven era.
To concludethe event, Ms. Zhang Ning joined all faculty members and students for a group photo.The“Face-to-Face Alumni Mentor Exchange on Student Career Development”seminar provided students with a valuable platform to engage with distinguished alumni.By drawing on the mentorship, role modeling, and industry expertise of distinguished alumni, the event helped studentsgain a deeper understanding of their interests and strengths, stay informed about industry trends, and clarify their career goals. Thus, itinspired them to strive for excellence in both academia and industry.
Further Reading:
To address the evolving needs of graduate employment, meet students’ growing demands for career exploration, and enhance the role of academic departments in leveraging subject expertise and alumni networks,Peking University Student Career Center launched the Departmental Career Development Alumni Mentor Program in the spring semester of 2024.
