PhD Graduate, First-Year Professor…
It has been three months since I started my faculty job, and I’m slowly getting used to this new role. I initially wanted to stay low-key, like my advisor, but I realized that writing things down actually gives me energy. And if any of this helps even one person, that’s already enough.
These are some thoughts about research and about getting a PhD. I’m also writing them as reminders for my future self — so that even if I eventually become a “professor,” I won’t forget where I started, or the heart that carried me here.
1. Focus, Focus, Focus
At the end of my defense, I quoted an old Chinese poem:
“莫听穿林打叶声，何妨吟啸且徐行“
“Do not listen to the sound of leaves beaten through the forest; why not sing and stroll slowly?”
This is truly the most important thing I learned during my PhD.
Stay focused — on yourself, on the work you’re doing. Everything else is noise.
Don’t listen to “who just got another top-tier paper.” Don’t listen to “who received a huge offer.”
Just don’t.
Finishing one thing well — even if imperfect — already puts you ahead of most people. And when life hits its low points, double down. Play your own cards. There will be a day when the hand you’re holding turns out to be the winning one.
2. Protect Your Health
Research is… honestly a job where you can’t be happy all the time. This is built into the work itself. Especially in academia — everyone is smart, diligent, analytical, critical. Lack of positive feedback is normal.
So you need multiple “anchors” in your life: eat well, sleep well, find hobbies, build a support system. And talk to someone you trust when you need to.
3. Be Serious About Science
Remember, we are doing research… hopefully generating new knowledge.
Maybe it’s the more traditional academic training I received, but I’ve always believed that every symbol, every sentence, and every notation deserves to be taken seriously. Our work might shape how people after us understand the world — it may even become part of their foundation. And I truly believe that the difference between excellent work and mediocre work is often in the details (even though I am personally not very good at this).
Ultimately, this is about responsibility — to knowledge, to future readers, and to yourself.
4. Perfectionism Is a Trap — Be Brave
Perfectionism makes us afraid to start, afraid to be wrong, afraid of not being good enough — and in the end, we finish nothing.
So just do it. Be brave.
Failing is totally fine — you’ll simply take another path, and nothing will collapse. Keep your mind sensitive, but let your heart be strong enough to protect that sensitivity.
5. Talk to People
I used to think my work was too hard to explain, that everyone understood the problem differentl ... talking to people was a waste of time.
Later I realized almost all of my ideas — except the ones from the shower — were born from conversations. Talking also made the loneliness easier to carry.
“Allow people closer. Their flaws won’t break you. Let trust grow where fear used to be.”
6. But You Must Also Be a One-Person Team
(My advisor repeated this so many times…) Everyone must become an independent researcher —find a question, solve the question, prove it, describe the method, build the simulation, run real-world tests —all independently.
Only recently did I finally realize how important this ability is. Along the way, you will unknowingly build the habits and instincts a scientist should have. Most importantly, this gives you a solid belief in your own strength — that you can do things independently. And you will also realize someone has always been supporting and trusting you.
7. Diligence and Perseverance (Yes, I Know…)
For most people, climbing to the top of knowledge won’t be easy. You will face confusion, crazy problems, unreadable equations, a chain of deadlines, sleepless nights… But your resilience and your courage will always be bigger than you think.
I hope you hold on a little more, push a little further, and do the difficult things with enthusiasm.
8. Kindness is the Most Important Thing — Always
“Kindness” is hard to define precisely. For me, kindness means holding onto your own principles even in corners no one else can see. It means not forgetting empathy, dignity, and respect when you have power or advantage.
If a person loses this inner sense of goodness and integrity, it becomes very difficult to accomplish anything truly meaningful. What really determines how far you can go is not cleverness, ambition, or skill — but whether you can keep a clear and warm heart through complexity, pressure, and loneliness.
I am writing this also to remind myself: be honest with my work, responsible to collaborators, supportive of my students, and to keep a sincere heart. I hope I can become someone who is trusted, someone who can be entrusted with things.
Finally, I hope everyone can enjoy the journey of academia — it is a difficult but precious part of life.
Just enjoy.
And everything will be fine.
