With a passion and determination,Rainiehas carved out her own space at the University of Queensland (UQ) and on broader platforms.Rainie (Yunan Ye)from Nantong, China, came to the sunny city of Brisbane in2014to study at the University of Queensland. At the beginning of her studies,Rainiecompleted the university's preparatory course, then earned a first-class honors bachelor's degree in biomedical science and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree.From research on the formation of life, to winning scholarships, to receiving awards in public speaking,Rainiehas always been an outstanding representative of the international student community at the University of Queensland.Why choose Brisbane?Brisbane's relaxed lifestyle and pleasant climate fascinatedRainie, for her, Brisbane is not just a place for study, but also a destination for life and personal development.“Sunny days always make people feel great, the warm-hearted people of Brisbane are the best proof,” she said.Adapting to a new culture is not easy, butRainiecontinues to push herself to embrace new life experiences. Now she considers Brisbane her second home.“There's always something new to try here, markets, cafes, festival celebrations,UQ's extracurricular activities and various events in different parts of Brisbane... In this friendly and active environment, it's easy to resonate with people.”Rainiesaid.Opportunities brought byUQAs a top 50 global university and its world-renowned biotechnology and biomedical courses, the University of Queensland immediately becameRainie's first choice.AlthoughRainiehas always had a strong interest in human anatomy, she never considered pursuing research before studying atUQ. However, in her first year, she was inspired by her mentors and their practical teaching.“My mentors not only teach theoretical knowledge well, but they always touch on their real-time research with other researchers,”Rainieexplained, “They are also very friendly in private and often encourage students, we drink coffee together like friends.”Summer Research ScholarshipWith the practical advice and encouragement from her mentors,Rainiegradually gained enough confidence to make her own contribution in the field of research. In her second year of study, she received aUQSummer Research Scholarship and joined the Queensland Brain Institute, a leading neuroscience research institution.The Summer Research Scholarship aims to enhance participants' academic and professional skills and provide them with networking opportunities. With this scholarship, students can use world-class research facilities, gain valuable experience, and improve their professional skills and employability.ForRainie, the opportunity to do research in a real laboratory with hundreds of other researchers was a milestone in her academic journey. “It's still incredible to me that I had the opportunity to do research in a real laboratory at such a young age, to be paid while learning techniques, attending conferences, and publishing papers.”The Path to a PhDCurrently pursuing her PhD,Rainiefocuses on exploring the mysteries of life formation and why problems often occur in the early stages of critical cell division. Using time-lapse imaging to observe the cell division process, she hopes this research will help improve the success rate of in vitro fertilization (IVF).“Why is life so difficult from the very beginning?”Rainie iscurious, “Unraveling this question will not only improve the success rate of IVF treatments for infertile couples, but also make everyone better understand how lucky it is to have life.”Three Minute Thesis Competition(3MT)Rainie's personal goal was to boost her confidence and English skills, and now, to say she has achieved this goal would be an understatement.Rainiesaid that when she first arrived in Australia, she was even afraid to answer the phone because she often couldn't understand what the other person was saying. Fast forward to 2022,Rainiehas just won first place in the “Three Minute Thesis Competition(3MT)” speech competition. (Read more:Congratulations to UQ PhD student Yunan Ye for winning the 'Three Minute Thesis Competition'!)The Three Minute Thesis Competition(3MT)was originally initiated by the University of Queensland and is now held at 900 universities in 85 countries worldwide. The competition tests doctoral researchers to share their research findings in three minutes in a language that non-specialist audiences can digest.“After several rounds of competition, I have indeed gained a lot of valuable feedback, communication skills, and confidence,”Rainiesaid, “It felt difficult at first because no one is born a great speaker, let alone someone with English as a second language! But, by participating in speaking groups, learning from past winners, trial and error, and countless practices, it all paid off in the end.”The Path to the Dream JobUpon graduation with her PhD,Rainiehopes to “wear multiple hats”, developing both academically and practically.“Whether it's helping patients realize their wishes through IVF in a hospital, or making new discoveries through research in a laboratory, it's equally meaningful to me,” she shared, “Therefore, my dream job is to become an academic embryologist who can do both. I think my love for embryo research has kept me in this field longer, but I also believe that the various skills I have gained along the way are transferable to any industry.”Advice for International Students“My advice is to step out of your comfort zone, seize new opportunities, once you take this first step, the growth that follows will be immeasurable,”Rainiesaid, “I really think that the participation in various extracurricular activities has been crucial to where I am today, because you can gain various skills from them, such as the undergraduate research project that initially gave me research experience.”“The University of Queensland also has many entrepreneurship programs, encouraging entrepreneurial ideas, internships, bids, and collaborations. Especially useful for business students. Even for research students like me, I have gained an entrepreneurial mindset and good communication skills, which have increased my confidence. So, pay more attention to projects outside the classroom, in some opportunities, you will gain unexpected growth and resources, which can greatly broaden your career horizons.”Interested inRainie's academic journey? Check out our Bachelor of Biomedical Science and Doctor of Philosophy(PhD) degrees (copy the link to your browser to open):https://study.uq.edu.au/study-options/programs/bachelor-biomedical-science-2415https://study.uq.edu.au/study-options/programs/doctor-philosophy-7501
