“This   child is so outstanding that I cannot get away from him in research,” said   Dr. Shi Huancong, an associate professor from School of Environment and   Architecture, who tutored Cui Mingqi，a USST student from Henan Province majoring in Environmental   Engineering since 2015. This year, he was admitted into Zhejiang University   to study the same major, topping the graduate entrance examination with a   high score of 404 points. During his undergraduate period, he published 3 SCI   high-level papers, one of which was published on “Separation and Purification   Technology” IF (impact factor) > 5.

“With   the hope and curiosity for campus life in a large city, I was recruited to   USST for undergraduate study. In the beginning, I am a bit confused about the   future” Cui Mingqi said. However, as a rookie student at the university, he   quickly adapted himself to university life and joined in various club   activities, thereby expanding the his social circle by making on-campus   friends. In the second year, he was clear about his academic direction and   set up his goal to pursue a graduate studies. Practicing what he had   preached, he devoted himself to professional study and major curriculum.   “When Cui was a sophomore, I taught him one of his professional courses. He   is quite different from other students in my class and was invited to help   with my research project,” said Shi with a smile. It was lucky for Cui to   meet such a good judge of talent. Afterwards Cui gradually tapped his   potential in academic research, and drew a lot of attention from others. “He   set definite goals for his work and life, and kept improving his professional   ability and academic quality,” said one of his roommates.    

     During four years of study at USST, Cui Mingqi always stayed focus on his   learning and was never slackened in his academic research. He accumulated   consolidated and massive knowledge in Math, English and knowledge in   Environmental Engineering. At the same time, he led in grade points (GPA) in   his class. Skilled experimental experiences also enhanced his confidence for   graduate study. “I am sure of being a graduate student in future,” he often   encouraged himself. “He always keeps calm, prudent, and concentrates on   professional learning and academic research.” It is Shi Huancong who   heartened Cui to join in the graduate entrance examination, and encouraged   him to maintain his enthusiasm for scientific research.

After   making up his mind to be a graduate student, he targeted two prestigious   universities: Tongji University and Zhejiang University, and collected some   materials for the graduate entrance examination of both universities. While   Cui was preparing for the examination, he insisted on the principle of   high-efficient and cheerful learning. He never laid too much pressure on   himself, and regularly controlled time and energy distribution properly. He   always made specific plans for every-day tasks, such as work breakdown   structure (WBS). “I can stay in the library from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. like many   other students. However，in   order to support my graduate entrance examination with a healthy mental and   physical state, I seldom stayed in the library the whole day or burned the   midnight oil. And yet for all that, I’m sure that I acquired more knowledge   than anyone else.” “Only by refraining from anxiety and fear, can someone be   fit to be a graduate student,” Cui told us. The silence and calmness of Cui   armed him with personal weapons in preparation for the graduate entrance   examination. At the same time, Shi Huancong also offered Cui a lot of help.   After they pondered over the difficulty in the graduate entrance examination   and the concentration of graduate study at Zhejiang University and Tongji   University as well as Cui’s academic purpose, Zhejiang University became his   final target university. Following the plan for attending Zhejiang   University, Cui systematically reviewed some materials prepared before.   Finally, Cui was successfully admitted to Zhejiang University for graduate   study in Environmental Engineering. To impart some experiences in the   graduate entrance examination from Cui, and stimulate other students’   willingness to be graduate students, Shi specially organized a mini-class   called “Graduate Entrance Examination Stories Told by Xiao Cui” at the School   of Environment and Architecture. 

     Cui was also involved in the R & D of apparatus which would be   exhibited in Shanghai Education Exposition in 2019. It was used to absorb and   desorb CO2, and can simulate the industrial amine scrubbing process of carbon   capture which is more energy-efficient than previous apparatus. This process   is helpful to industrial transfer (conversion) of research results. “I am   about to start my academic years and exert more strength and potential as a   graduate student,” said Cui confidently.