THE FIRST DOCTORAL STUDENT FROM CHINA DEFENDED HER PHD THESIS IN ESTONIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES

A doctoral student from China, Zhihong Sun defended her PhD thesis „Isoprene emission from aspen (Populus sp.) in relation to environmental drivers“ at Estonian University of Life Sciences last week. Her research will help creating more accurate climate change models in the future.

As she commented on her research, she pointed out that during the five years she spent at Estonian University of life Sciences (EMÜ), she had great opportunities to develop her research: „I obtained not only scientific knowledge, but also high independent work ability with high quality science literacy – I published three papers on high-ranked journals, like Global Change Biology, New Phytologist and Springer.“ She did her PhD studies at the Department of Plant Physiology under the supervision of Prof. Ülo Niinemets.

She also appreciates that she acquired new friends in Estonia and in Tartu and learned more about different cultures, especially Estonian: „It is small country compared to China, but it also is a great country with its special charming culture, customs, natural beauty and social environments. When it comes to Tartu, it’s a lovely small city with peaceful and convenient living, I like it.“

When asked about the study environment in general, she said that she would not hesitate to recommend experiencing the different academic atmosphere and the different cultural life in Estonia.
Zhihong’s studies were supported by European Social Fund’s Doctoral Studies and Internationalisation Programme DoRa that is carried out by Archimedes Foundation.

Zhihong Sun is originally from China’s Shandong province. She got her bachelor’s degree from Shandong Agricultural University and her masters degree from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

11 Jun 2013