"Our goal is to serve ETH alumni in Shenzhen and promote the presence of ETH in this area."
- Alumni Portraits
- Chapter Shenzhen Alumni
The ETH Alumni Association has another affiliate organisation in China: Claire Zhang and Hanyu Qin founded the Chapter Shenzhen Alumni. Claire graduated with a Master’s in Energy Science and Technology; Hanyu completed his PhD in the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering. They now both live in Shenzhen, the innovation and technology hub of China. They talk to us about their careers and what motivated them to found the Chapter Shenzhen.
When you were kids, what did you want to be?
Claire Zhang: In my case, I wanted to be a scientist when I was 6. And later I got interested in social justice and therefore switched my teenage dream to becoming a lawyer. I believe that one thing has never changed: I still care about social welfare and want to make a positive impact on society.
Hanyu Qin: This is a common question I always got asked in elementary school. I can still recall the scene now – pupils sitting in a classroom and the teacher asking us about our career aspirations one by one. To be a scientist, I always answered in the same way.
Why did you decide to continue your studies at ETH?
Claire Zhang: I did a Master’s in Energy Science and Technology at ETH. When I was on my bachelor exchange program in KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden, I heard about the prestige of ETH in science and engineering. After I graduated from Tsinghua University in Beijing, I decided to further pursue energy studies at ETH as I firmly believe that renewable energy technology and the advanced energy market mechanism will accelerate energy transition globally.
Hanyu Qin: I did my PhD in the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering at ETH with Prof. Dr. Periklis Pantazis. When I was working on my master’s thesis at Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, I became very interested in bioimaging, especially quantitative intravital microscopy. When I had finished my master's studies and wanted to further my research and education by way of pursuing a PhD, I started to look for laboratories specialised in this field and that’s why I came to ETH.
What do you currently do?
Claire Zhang: Currently I work as an investment manager in a venture capital firm. I focus on high-tech start-ups, especially in semiconductors, energy, artificial intelligence (AI), internet of things for example. I learn a lot about cutting-edge technology, market and management skills through networking with start-up founders and experts in industry. If you are an ETH alumnus or alumna and want to start your own business in Shenzhen, feel free to contact me!
Hanyu Qin: Currently I work in an AI-empowered biopharmaceutical start-up company, Artivila in Shenzhen, where I am director of business development. Our company focuses on developing targeted small molecule drugs for cancer, autoimmune diseases and neurodegenerative diseases.
You now live in Shenzhen and are the presidents of the newly created Chapter Shenzhen Alumni. What is your goal?
Claire Zhang & Hanyu Qin: The city of Shenzhen shares many similar interests and fundamental values with Switzerland and ETH Zurich, including the entrepreneurial spirit of innovation, open-mindedness and pragmatism. As the innovation and technology hub of China, Shenzhen is a hotbed of entrepreneurship, energy and diligence. Our goal is to serve ETH alumni in Shenzhen and promote the presence of ETH in this area. ETH and Shenzhen have natural reasons to work together; for instance, there are ongoing strategic collaborations between ETH and Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), which set up the Institute of Risk Analysis, Prediction and Management (Risks-X), a pilot collaborative institute established with ETH Zurich. The Risks-X Institute is kindly supporting our Alumni Chapter with an office and event spaces, connections to the local academic and entrepreneurial community and other necessary resources. We foresee enormous opportunities for the future.
Who can join the chapter?
Claire Zhang & Hanyu Qin: We have connected with around 40 ETH alumni in Shenzhen and the surrounding region. It is still a small number. In the spirit of inclusivity and alliance, "associate membership" could also be granted to alumni from other Swiss universities that have a strong partnership with ETH Zurich like the University of Zurich, EPFL, University of St. Gallen. We warmly welcome people who have a Swiss education or working experience to join all our activities except the management events.
