Report about research stay by Chunxia Jiang
1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. Why do you want to be scientist?
My name is Chunxia Jiang, a master student from Hainan University, China. I am now in a short-term exchange period for two months in Ecological Biogeochemistry group at ZMT. I am mainly engaged in research on pollution ecology, and I hope that my work will contribute to the health of the ecosystem.
I believe that interest is the best teacher for us. When I was a child, I was curious about the environment we lived in. There are always a lot of problems in the brain, and often I don’t know the answer. I think this is one of the main motivations for my commitment to ecological research. In addition, the most important thing is the encouragement and support from Prof. Xiaoping Diao and PD. Dr. Tim Jennerjahn, which makes me more confident in scientific research.
2) Can you tell us a bit about your work at the Hainan University, China?
During my master’s study in Hainan university, I have been mainly engaged in the study of the characteristics of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in sediments of Hainan`s mangrove areas. Meanwhile, I’m also concerned about the relationship between ARGs and environmental microbial community.
3) Why did you decide to travel to Germany? Why did you choose the ZMT?
Germany is a highly developed country with a reputation in the world. Its high-quality education attracts students and scientists from all over the world. At the same time, Germany’s basic science and applied research is very developed. Here is a great place for ecological researchers.
As a member of the Leibniz Association, ZMT is a world-famous institute, which investigates tropical and subtropical coastal and marine ecosystems. In 2017, the researchers of the ECOLOC project went to Hainan for sampling, and I met many colleagues of ZMT. Their enthusiasm and rigor for research have made me unforgettable.
4) What exactly have you done at the ZMT in Bremen?
During the research at ZMT, I was mainly involved in the analysis of organic matter and stable isotopes in sediments and waters of the Indian Barnard Estuary. This is different from my previous research. I have gradually learned about this research direction in the past two months of study. At the same time, I also participated in some courses, which is very useful for my future research.
5) What troubles did you have preparing your research stay abroad?
Fortunately, everything went smoothly throughout the preparation process. However, it is worth noting that if you encounter any problems during the preparation of the visa application, you should contact the visa office in time to avoid the troubles that can be avoided.
6) Do you have any advice for students who are considering a research stay in China/Germany?
First of all, going to a foreign country is a very valuable experience in life. During this time, you can experience different cultures and different lifestyles. These may be a challenge for you, but then you will become more independent and brave. Second, collisions in different research areas will bring you more in
spiration to your work.
7) What surprised you about life in Germany?
Absolutely, there are countless. The first is the beautiful environment here, I feel like I am coming to a resort when I am out of the airport……. Secondly, it is the people here, they are always friendly and kind, so that I can accommodating myself in here very quickly. Again, it’s work at ZMT. Every Tuesday morning, all the staff at ZMT gather and update their work for the past week, which made the interaction among the groups more closely.……I am surprised by so many things and can’t mention all here.
8) How do you like life at ZMT in Bremen?
I really enjoy everything here. I would like to sincerely thank PD. Dr. Tim Jennerjahn, Dr. Inga Nordhaus, Dr. Jialin Zhang and other colleagues (Esther, Marco, Jule, Raika, Dorothee, Nan Xiang and so on) for their help in the research and life. They are always friendly and enthusiastic.
9) What are your plans for the future?
After graduating next year, I will continue to pursue Ph.D in future. All along, I have a lofty awe of the ocean. I am very fascinated by everything about it. In recent years, antibiotic resistance genes in the environment have become a problem that plagues people. I hope to carry out research around antibiotic resistance genes in the ocean and devote myself to protecting the ocean in future.
