Chapter 46: Chapter 44 Tian Liangwei
USTC, as a member of Huaxia’s C9 League, ranks absolutely in the top tier in both education and research in the country, with no shortage of high-end laboratories and scientific talents.
For instance, cold atom physics, the quantum communication lab led by the most handsome person in USTC, Marshal Pan, and then there’s...
Biomedical sciences.
Central District of Ke Da, Medical Center Building.
Although a few years ago, USTC moved the School of Life Sciences to the West District, and even relocated the accelerator there slightly to accommodate the various related facilities.
However, in terms of research foundation, the Medical Center in the Central District is still more profound than the one in the West District.
The Medical Center Building is next to Building No. 8, next to which there is an old Sichuan restaurant, where the Mao Xue Wang is simply the best at USTC and priced friendly, making its business quite booming.
Behind it is the Shuimu Hotel, where every weekend a bunch of couples would... cough cough, let’s not digress.
The USTC Medical Center is an independent research module, orange and brown on the outside. It’s rumored that there’s always a bunch of Viet Cong-like security personnel hidden around, and you never know which tree or trash can is actually a human cosplayer; however, unfortunately, it seems no one has ever truly seen them.
Upon entering the main entrance, Xu Yun proactively walked to the reception desk:
"Hello, access code USTCXXXX....."
Today is the weekend, and working at the reception desk was a part-time student worker, a petite yet sweet-looking girl wearing glasses, appearing to be a quiet and shy young lady.
She expertly tapped on the keyboard a few times, then glanced at Xu Yun for a facial recognition check:
"Identity verified, senior. Can you briefly state your intention of visit? I need to make a record."
"The immunology research lab on the fourth floor, I have something to discuss with Dean Tian."
"Oh dear.. cough cough, OK, senior, you may go up."
".... Thank you."
After completing the necessary information record, Xu Yun walked to the elevator and pressed the button for 4.
The elevator ascended slowly and soon reached the fourth floor.
After leaving the elevator, Xu Yun proceeded to the left for about ten meters, stopped at an office door, and raised his hand.
Knock, knock, knock——
In less than a moment, a male voice came from inside:
"Please come in."
Xu Yun smoothly pushed the door open and entered.
This was a small office, about twenty square meters.
Opposite the entrance was a desk, with a row of bookshelves beside it. On the left side of the entrance was an L-shaped small sofa and a set of coffee tables, making up a small reception area.
Sitting at the desk was an elderly man looking to be in his fifties, round face with short hair, appearing very amiable.
This person was the Dean Tian Liangwei of Keda Life Science College, an academician of the Huaxia Academy of Engineering and also Xu Yun’s doctoral advisor.
Physics has Marshal Pan, biology has God Tian. This perfect combination of advisors was achieved after Xu Yun spent a lot of effort in degree pursuit.
Capable, willing to support juniors, and not greedy for credit, such advisors are indeed hard to find.
Of course.
The relationship between mentors and students is often mutual; students long for a good mentor, and mentors equally hope to receive good students.
And Xu Yun obviously fitted the latter’s criteria. Therefore, seeing Xu Yun enter, Tian Liangwei’s already amiable round face became even softer:
"Xiaoxu, shouldn’t you be focusing on your doctoral defense instead of coming here? You’re not planning to ask me for the identities of the external committee members and take shortcuts, are you?"
Students who have participated in doctoral defenses should know that the reviewers are generally 5-6 people, with at least two being experts from outside institutions, which is a tougher hurdle to pass.
Therefore, many doctoral students seek to understand the reviewers’ identities beforehand, preparing tailored defense strategies, a more common practice abroad.
But obviously, Tian Liangwei’s words were a joke. Given Xu Yun’s capability, taking such extra measures for the doctoral defense is unnecessary.
Xu Yun walked to the desk, familiarly pouring a glass of water for both Tian Liangwei and himself, downing it in a gulp:
"You’re joking, teacher. Can’t it be that this student just wanted to check on your health, sparing weekend blanket time to visit you?"
Hearing this, Tian Liangwei exaggeratedly raised both hands to his forehead, as if reverencing a god:
"Oh my, oh my, I must oblige. God Xu has spoken; how can this Mortal not believe?"
Then he gestured towards the window with his chin, striking a seasoned pose:
"Also, I have a suggestion for you. Next time you visit, go downstairs to the fruit shop and buy a four-yuan box of dragon fruit. Mention this, and it might just add some persuasion. Oh, make sure it’s White Fire Dragon Fruit, the Red Fire Dragon Fruit is heretical."
Without a thought, Xu Yun blurted out:
"Can I expense it as part of my research funding? If possible, I’ll buy two more boxes next time."
Tian Liangwei: "..."
Then he coughed lightly, ceased the joking, and asked:
"Alright, on a serious note, what brings you here today?"
Seeing Tian Liangwei becoming serious, Xu Yun also straightened his expression and brought up the real issue:
"Teacher, yesterday while writing my thesis, I suddenly thought of something. I spent a night on a simple calculation and derivation, and it seems somewhat feasible, so I came to you today for assistance."
"Oh? What is it?"
"Are you familiar with Imidacloprid?"
"Imidacloprid?"
Tian Liangwei nodded. Although his main research focuses on immunity and chronic diseases, being one of the academicians of the Huaxia Academy of Engineering, he was naturally not unfamiliar with the neurotoxic insecticide that has been around for over thirty years.
"It’s the first-generation neonicotinoid insecticide, now independently optimized to the third generation. Over the years, its broad-spectrum efficacy has gradually weakened, and it’s even lagging in some aspects. Why, do you have some ideas?"
Xu Yun did not directly answer the question but continued asking:
"Teacher, do you think Imidacloprid still has research prospects?"
"It’s hard to say. Most institutions domestically and abroad are still working on it, but progress has been very slow."
Tian Liangwei shook his head, pointing his index finger to the floor:
"For example, our Creative Intelligence Laboratory on the third floor has been studying this kind of issue, but there hasn’t been much progress. Unless Imidacloprid can be independently optimized to the fourth generation, the current market will only shrink."
Saying this, knowing Xu Yun somewhat well, Tian Liangwei faintly sensed something, and asked:
"Xiaoxu, do you have any new ideas regarding Imidacloprid?"
Xu Yun nodded, pulling out a paper with notes and summaries from his pocket:
"I have a bit of a shallow idea, teacher. Please take a look at this."
Tian Liangwei took the paper, spread it flat, slightly shook it, and picked up a pair of reading glasses from the desk, reviewing it seriously.
After a while, his pupils slightly contracted, and he looked up sharply at Xu Yun:
"Pheromones?"
....
Note:
Some readers were concerned about the mol form in the last Chapter revealing something, so here’s an explanation, consider it an Easter egg. It’s actually the mol formula of a digestive tablet... but slightly modified.
Also, after checking, a sore throat caused by inflammation of the tonsils.