While YK Pao School has said farewell to its 8th cohort, many of its 1st and 2nd cohort students are working towards their PhD’s. As these students advance in their respective fields, they continue to demonstrate the priority of education in their lives.
Victoria Liu
Class of 2017
Victoria Liu, who graduated from Pao School in 2017, received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Reed College. She then served as a research assistant at the University of Pennsylvania in the field of Psychology. Currently, she is pursuing a PhD in Management Psychology at Northwestern University in the United States of America.
Victoria joined Pao School in sixth grade, shortly after the school’s Songjiang campus was founded. She recalls there being roughly 70 students in her cohort, with only half of the campus open, which fostered very close relationships among classmates and between students and teachers. The students had actively contributed to the cultural development of the campus in various ways, such as by optimizing the operation of the Prefect system. "There was a feeling that we were growing together with the school," she reflected.
Victoria delivered a speech at the 2017 graduation ceremony
Victoria’s interactions with foreign teachers in high school had already familiarized her with different teaching styles, setting her apart from other Chinese classmates.
Victoria found the courses at the College of Arts and Sciences initially challenging, but her previous experience with the International Baccalaureate (IB) program gave her an edge in university settings. For example, the Extended Essay (EE) requirement for a 4000-word paper composed over a year prepared her for university-level demands.
The diversity of cultural backgrounds among her teachers was a memorable aspect of Victoria's school experience. She especially recalls Peter Retundo, her drama and English teacher. During a school event, the drama club performance faced a low turnout due to scheduling conflicts. Mr. Retundo, enthusiastic about the show, rallied a few main actors to promote it in the gym, inviting everyone to attend. Though hesitant about this at first, Victoria was surprised by the enthusiastic response, which brought in a large audience.
Victoria with her friends
"This incident left a lasting impression on me. Whenever I feel scared or hesitant about pursuing something, I recall Mr. Retundo's supportive and passionate demeanor and his strong belief in our capabilities,” she said.
Victoria’s experiences at Pao School influenced her choices during the university application process, both directly and indirectly. Her admiration for Mr. Retundo and for her history teacher, both of whom attended liberal arts universities, led her to believe that she would "find a group of like-minded people" there, influencing her decision to apply only to liberal arts schools.
Being exposed to psychology during her undergrad influenced her decision to pursue a more in-depth study of this field at an advanced level. She is currently focusing on the industrial-organizational psychology, which addresses workplace issues by studying employee behavior, organizational structure, and human resource management.
Victoria participates in activities related to SPSP
Victoria mentioned that after graduation, she intends to either pursue a teaching role or join a company as a researcher. She hopes to continue delving deeper into her field of research, which she is deeply passionate about.
Moomin Jia
Alumni
Moomin, from the 2018 cohort, attended Pao Primary School before moving abroad to England to continue her studies. She remembers being a shy child when beginning at Primary Pao School, but her teacher imparted a valuable lesson about the importance of making eye contact while speaking—a lesson that remains with her to this day. Moving abroad to England for further studies presented its own set of challenges. She struggled with homesickness and the difficulties of adapting to a different language. However, Moomin credits Pao School for an early exposure to cultural diversity, which offered her a glimpse into a world beyond her own, easing her transition into a new cultural environment.
Even though she departed China at a young age, Moomin maintains a deep pride in her cultural heritage, as evidenced by her continued practice of cooking Chinese cuisine and observing Chinese holidays. For instance, during the Moon Festival, she shared her native traditions with coworkers by giving them mooncakes. Her spiritual connection to her roots endured, overcoming physical distance.
At Pao School, Moomin's early involvement in science activities sparked a deep curiosity within her. She has always been fascinated by how things work, both in the broader universe and in the small details of daily life. This drew her to the sciences in her higher education choices. She received her Master of Science in Astrophysics and Cosmology from King’s College London in the United Kingdom. Currently, she is a PhD candidate in Experimental Quantum Physics at Universität Innsbruck in Austria.
Quantum physics explores the smallest building blocks of the universe, studying the behavior of particles such as electrons and photons, which are considerably smaller than atoms. In the quantum world, these particles can simultaneously exist in multiple places, and instantly influence each other, even when they are far apart and have never met. Moomin explained that when looking at the world from a quantum perspective, things like light and energy can exist in discrete quantified amounts as well as continuous waves. These concepts are essential for understanding fundamental aspects of the universe and for shaping technologies such as LED lights, providing the theoretical basis for the development of quantum networks.
Embarking on her PhD was no small feat. Moomin's academic background initially centred upon astrophysics, which was the topic of both her bachelor's and master's studies. During her master's program project work, she delved into experimental physics, focusing on laser-microparticle interactions. Through these experiences she forged valuable connections within the scientific community and stumbled upon a project focused on quantum networking—a venture with the ambitious goal of establishing a quantum network accessible to individuals across the globe.
During the initial stages of her PhD, Moomin encountered challenges with the setup, which is over 20 years old and complex. This year, it finally broke down, prompting a decision on whether to repair or rebuild it. Recently, a new setup with all components in place has been designed. Despite setbacks, which included the departure of one team member, Moomin took on the task of redesigning and building the setup. The project costs over 100,000 euros and represents a significant endeavor. She has found its progress, which is now nearing completion of the design and ordering stage, deeply satisfying. She feels a strong sense of accomplishment, having almost single-handedly completed the design.
Moomin’s PhD is set to last 4.5 years, but due to the complexity of experimental projects, this estimate is uncertain. The time required to complete such scientific research doctorates can sometimes extend up to 8 years. She wants to take the project to its completion. In her work on quantum networks and related quantum technology, Moomin is specifically focused on developing quantum network processing nodes that can generate, manipulate, and distribute quantum information. The goal of her work is to create a quantum internet that enables quantum communication between any two points on Earth, laying the foundation for a future where the strangeness of quantum entanglement is accessible to everyone.
