As one of the first seven women to undertake postgraduate study at College,
Dr Wang Qin Chen feels deeply indebted to Corpus for the training, support, and encouragement she received while earning her doctorate in physics at the Cavendish Laboratory.

After completing the postgraduate program, she worked briefly at the Graduate School of the Science Academy of China in Beijing, before venturing to the United States where she accepted a position to work on a protein modelling project at the California Institute of Technology. Later, she participated in the Human Genome Project under the direction of Professor Lee Hood and, although she trained as a physicist, both projects focused on biology, she believes her studies at Cambridge and time at Corpus laid a solid foundation that enabled her to tackle any academic subject. “At Corpus, I learned that I could face problems that seemed impossible, even within complicated social circumstances,” she reveals.

Among her fondest memories are the Silver Night dinners at Leckhampton House. “The comradeship at these postgraduate student events eased my homesickness and helped me persevere through the challenge of writing my thesis. I will never forget the tasty English cuisine I was offered at High Table. I also recall how the frigid water of the small pool on the west side of campus would refresh my body and my soul.”

She recalls that a visit to Corpus in the summer of 2014 was like a homecoming. “I was treated with the utmost hospitality. Several Fellows graciously updated me on changes and improvements at the College and graduate student quarters. These memories have accompanied me through the years, reinforcing the knowledge that no matter how difficult the challenge, I would always do my best because I am a Corpus student.”