Date: April 16, 2020
Source: Institute for Economic and Social Research, JNU
Author: Xu Mengyao

Yan Yu, who transferred into the international innovation major in JNU's Institute for Economic and Social Research in 2017, is the first graduate of this major. In February, she qualified for the Ph.D. program in the Department of Finance in the National University of Singapore’s Business School. In the last four years, Yan has won the Wong Lo Kat Scholarship; first prize in the Best Paper Competition of the Chicago-Jinan Joint Initiative on the Study of Human Development; and the honorary titles JNU Academic Star and JNU Outstanding Student. She has also participated in several scientific research projects; was selected as the key project leader of special funds for scientific and technological innovation cultivation of Guangdong college students (known as the special funds for the Climbing Project); and won the national second prize in the 16th Challenge Cup.      

In her four years of college, Yan said, her most fulfilling moments have been winning the national second prize in the Challenge Cup and qualifying for the Ph.D. program.
 

(Yan Yu and her teammate Long XuKun at the 16th Challenge Cup national finals)

During her two years of research, she has always remained enthusiastic and participated actively in various academic activities held by the Research Institute.

In addition to completing her undergraduate studies with high scores, she took graduate and doctoral-level.

Meanwhile, she is accumulating her own research experiences. Apart from reading valuable journals, magazines and articles from WeChat, and participating in research competitions, Yan has assisted teachers in their research.
 

(Prof. Steven Durlauf from the University of Chicago awarding Yan Yu first prize in the Best Paper Competition of the Chicago-Jinan Joint Initiative on the Study of Human Development)

Moreover, she has a wide range of hobbies: playing sports, watching movies and talk shows, making up jokes to amuse herself and enjoying traditional Chinese culture. She also likes playing pipa, a traditional Chinese stringed instrument, and reading ancient Chinese poetry.
 

(Yan Yu at the defense stage of the 8th JNU 5A Academic Star)

She said she believed the greatest wealth she had harvested in her years at JNU was her precious relationships with her tutors and her friends; her reflection on research approaches and ideas; and the constant reshaping of her thinking.

I hope I can graduate successfully from JNU and then continue to be focused on research in the field I like, taking improving people's lives as my final career goal, she said. And also, I want to help those who are interested in academic research in a way just like the way my tutors helped me. Those sincere wishes show her passion for academic research and passing down academic spirit.