Honghong Chen
In August this year, Honghong Chen, a 2022-cohort doctoral student collaboratively trained by the Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, received funding from the 23rd
"Outstanding Young Doctoral Talent Program" of the Shanghai Tongji Gao Tingyao Environmental Science & Technology Development Foundation.
The scholarship established under this program, Peking University's "Tang Xiaoyan Environmental Science Innovation Scholarship," and Tsinghua University's "Qian Yi Environmental Award" are known as the three most representative scholarships in China's environmental field. Behind this honor lies her perseverance in dedicated research and the good fortune of having a good mentor to guide her.
Honghong Chen (second from left) at the award ceremony
Research Published in Nature Health
Chen is supervised by Professor Chunmiao Zheng, Vice President and Chair Professor at EIT. Her research focuses on pollutants and environmental health.
The key work supporting this award was her research on microplastics and human intestinal tumors, published this year in Nature Health, with her as a co-first author.
Honghong Chen
She worked on this project for more than two years. Detecting micro- and nanoplastics is time-consuming and labor-intensive; nanoscale plastic particles, in particular, are difficult to separate and identify effectively, and their accurate quantification remains a major challenge for current analytical techniques.
To overcome this challenge, she conducted experiments on campus while regularly taking fixed, processed samples to Wuhan, where she used high-resolution instruments in a local laboratory for collaborative measurements.
"I had to learn to operate almost all the instruments from scratch. At first, I could only figure things out little by little on my own; the process was quite agonizing," Chen candidly admitted. Immersing herself in laboratory work, she gained experience through repeated tests and ultimately achieved high-precision detection, which became a major innovation in the paper.
A Good Mentor Takes You Further
In Chen's words, Professor Chunmiao Zheng is a mentor "with great personal charisma."
After earning her master's degree, she joined Professor Zheng's team as a research assistant, where she completed her first paper, which was published in Environmental Science & Technology.
"At the time, the team had an exceptionally strong research culture, and everyone held Professor Zheng in high regard." Immersed in such a genuinely research-focused environment, she resolved to pursue a doctorate under Professor Zheng and came to EIT.
Her doctoral journey was not always smooth; it brought both rewards and anxiety. "For much of the time, I followed the research direction set by my advisor, and I worried that I would not be able to conduct research independently." Even with solid achievements, Chen remained uncertain about her career prospects after graduation.
Professor Zheng's Research Group
This spring, after a group meeting, Professor Zheng took the entire team boating on Dongqian Lake. After the boat docked, Chen and her advisor walked a long stretch along the lakeshore, talking not about papers but about the future.
"Professor Zheng is naturally encouraging. He always affirmed my research and helped me clarify my plans for the future." As the March breeze swept across the lake, stirring layer upon layer of ripples, the uncertainty that had lingered in her mind gradually dissipated.
When it comes to her plans after graduation, Chen is clear and resolute: she will continue conducting research and steadily explore the field of pollutants and environmental health.
Shanghai Tongji Gao Tingyao Environmental Science & Technology Development Foundation
Co-founded by Tongji University and Shanghai Environmental Protection (Group) Co., Ltd., the foundation is named after Professor Tingyao Gao, former president of Tongji University and a highly respected senior figure in China's environmental protection community. Established in 2003, it is Shanghai's first non-profit, non-governmental foundation dedicated to funding and advancing environmental science and technology.
The program is awarded annually. It encourages young doctoral students in environmental disciplines and related fields to produce outstanding research, fosters their innovative capacity, and enhances the foundation's role in nurturing and supporting early-career researchers
