The top student must be diligent.

Chapter 194 Interview
"First of all, thank you for applying for our Science Island Laboratory."

"Now please enter the venue in an orderly manner and prepare for the exam."
Xiao Yi said.

There was also a staff member nearby who opened the door of the examination room.

Naturally, there was no place to provide an examination room in the Science Island Laboratory, so Xiao Yi borrowed a classroom from USTC, and even the staff were from USTC.

Anyway, the relationship between Science Island Laboratory and HKUST is very close, so HKUST will naturally not refuse this. Not to mention that there are many professors in HKUST who also serve as researchers at Science Island Laboratory and can borrow the laboratory.
Of course, these part-time workers are naturally different from the full-time researchers currently being recruited.

Full-time researchers are truly our own people.

……

Soon, these applicants entered their respective examination rooms according to the different directions they applied for. They were mainly divided into four fields: pure mathematics, mathematical physics, condensed matter and materials.

Although pure mathematics was not included in the original research scope of the laboratory, Xiao Yi recruited both, considering that there is basically not much difference between pure mathematics and mathematical physics.

After all, he is a Fields Medal winner. If his laboratory does not even have pure mathematics, wouldn't it seem unprofessional?

Of course, probably because of his status as a Fields Medal winner, this recruitment attracted the most people majoring in mathematics and mathematical physics. For example, among the three outstanding young scientists who were attracted, two of them were studying pure mathematics and mathematical physics respectively. They probably also wanted to communicate with Xiao Yi when conducting research projects in the future and give them some guidance.

The four test papers were also set by Xiao Yi, and basically covered the basic issues in these four areas.

Of course, when faced with these basic questions, the scores of full or associate researchers may not be as high as those of postdoctoral fellows. After all, postdoctoral fellows may have more solid basic knowledge than them.

However, whether or not one can be hired in the end still depends on the follow-up interview. Similarly, their past achievements are also of reference value.

Just like that, the morning exam ended and the afternoon interview began.

Of course, it would take more than one afternoon to interview 100 people.

Xiao Yi personally interviews all the first batch of applicants to ensure that the people finally hired are motivated first of all. As for how good their past achievements are, they are secondary.

Rather lack rather than abuse.

……

The first people to be interviewed were three outstanding young people, and the three of them were interviewed together.

The three outstanding young scientists are Sun Chongyun, Hu Yi and Qian Wanli.

The first two were engaged in pure mathematics and mathematical physics respectively, while Qian Wanli specialized in materials.

Those who are able to be selected as Young Elite Scientists are naturally considered the top talents in the country, and can bring a lot of resources to their Science Island Laboratory. Although the resources that Science Island Laboratory can obtain every year are considered top-notch among the laboratories of major research institutes, resources are something that can be obtained as much as possible.

So Xiao Yi didn't treat the three people too coldly. He entertained them well and then started the interview.

The purpose of the interview was mainly to ask about their plans for future projects, what their next goals were, and how many projects they expected to complete each year.

For Sun Chongyun and Hu Yi, who study pure mathematics and mathematical physics, this question is really difficult to answer. Mathematics is something that requires one to act spontaneously.

Xiao Yi smiled and didn't make it too difficult for them. He said, "Don't worry about completing the tasks every year. After all, I am also a mathematician, so I am familiar with our situation."

"Just focus on your research. Our lab doesn't have any teaching tasks. Of course, if you want to enjoy teaching, I think HKUST is still willing to give you the status of distinguished professor."

Xiao Yi said: "Of course, we don't want to go on without any results. Let's take five years as the time. I think five years should be quite ample for you."

"If you have any questions about your research, you can come to me. I think this is why you came to the Science Island Laboratory."

“There’s nothing else.”

When it comes to this kind of basic theoretical research, Xiao Yi is well aware that not everyone can produce results as easily as he does.

So in this regard, he referred to the methods of foreign mathematical powers and prepared to create an environment for scholars in these fields where they would not be disturbed by various trivial matters, and would not be troubled by funding or performance appraisals, so that they could conduct their own research.

These problems are also the key reason why there have been few top talents in basic theory in China. The performance appraisal alone is enough to make it difficult for many people to persist, not to mention the troubles of various trivial matters. Those who can persist are basically either geniuses or people who are not worried about pressure at all.

When Sun Chongyun and Hu Yi heard what Xiao Yi said, their eyes widened.

"Director Xiao, is this true or false?"

"Is it true?"

Xiao Yi smiled and said, "Of course it's true. Why would I lie to you? It won't matter if I write it in the contract."

What else could Sun Chongyun and Hu Yi say? If it were in ancient times, they would have to bow their heads in worship.

"Thank you Director Xiao!"

"We came to the right place this time."

If they haven't produced any significant results in five years, they would be embarrassed to stay any longer.

Afterwards, Xiao Yi looked at Qian Wanli again and asked curiously, "Professor Qian, I'm most curious about why you chose to come to our Science Island Laboratory. I heard that you're doing pretty well at Shanghai Jiaotong University, aren't you?"

Moreover, the conditions in the Shanghai Stock Exchange are much better than those in Feicheng.

There are not many scholars willing to move from Shanghai to the mainland.

At the same time, Qian Wanli was selected as an outstanding young scientist at the age of 35, which makes him relatively young among the outstanding young scientists. He is only 37 years old this year. If he stays in the Shanghai Stock Exchange, let’s not talk about his future. In terms of financial prospects, the Shanghai Stock Exchange is obviously better, especially for an outstanding young scientist like him who is good at materials research, and there are even more ways to make money.

However, Qian Wanli just shook his head and said, "I'm not afraid, Professor Xiao. You know, I have a rival over there, and it is estimated that he will be elected as an academician this year. In order to prevent him from pointing fingers at me in the future, I will leave early."

Xiao Yi raised his eyebrows, but before he could say anything, Sun Chongyun and Hu Yi beside him had already started gossiping: "Oh? Who is it that makes you, Professor Qian, avoid him?"

"It's Zhao Chuanbei, I don't know if you know him." Qian Wanli didn't hesitate to say it directly.

"So it's him." Sun Chongyun immediately knew who this Zhao Chuan was. He shook his head and said, "That's true. That group of people..."

Qian Wanli nodded, then smiled and said to Xiao Yi: "I'm afraid Director Xiao will not want me because of this matter."

Xiao Yi laughed. Although he didn't know who "that group of people" were, he thought, "Don't you worry about who wrote those six words outside our laboratory?"

The background of their Science Island Laboratory is not just at the provincial level.

There is absolutely no fear of offending people.

Afterwards, Xiao Yi briefly discussed the rest of the situation with Qian Wanli, and finally stopped asking any more questions, allowing the three of them to transfer from their original units to work at the Science Island Laboratory at any time.

After all, these three still have some unfinished business in their original units, such as students and research projects. What's more, maybe they are just here for an interview, and even if they get the offer letter, they may not necessarily come.

The next interview is the most important thing.

Just like that, after these three outstanding young people said goodbye, Xiao Yi began to interview other full researchers and associate researchers.

Among these people there are also cutting-edge talents who have been awarded national-level titles such as Outstanding Young Scholars.

Xiao Yi also expressed his welcome to these people.

In this way, it took about a day to complete the interviews with these researchers and associate researchers, and then came the assistant researchers and postdoctoral/intern researchers.

As for these applicants, Xiao Yi pays more attention to them.

These are all young people with strong plasticity, and once they are trained, their loyalty to the laboratory will obviously be higher.

Maybe it will become the mainstay of Science Island Laboratory in the future.

The most important thing is that Xiao Yi is also a young man, so he obviously prefers to communicate with young people.

……

"Please briefly introduce yourself."

Looking at the young man in front of him, Xiao Yi opened the resume in his hand and took a quick look through it.

This is the first interviewee at the assistant researcher, postdoctoral/intern researcher level.

The name is...Liu Xiaodong.

A postdoctoral fellow from the School of Materials Science and Engineering of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Hmm?
Another person from Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Xiao Yi couldn't help but wonder, would Shanghai Jiaotong University come to trouble him then?

However, he smiled silently instead.
Why consider this thing?

At this moment, Liu Xiaodong was looking at Xiao Yi who was right in front of him, and needless to say, he was very excited and nervous.

He took a deep breath and then began to introduce himself.

I mainly introduced the school where I graduated from and the achievements I had made.
It has to be said that his achievements, both during his undergraduate and graduate studies, can be considered quite fruitful. He had published SCI papers during his undergraduate studies, and was even the first author of an SNC journal during his master's and doctoral studies. He was almost awarded the opportunity to study abroad at government expense, and even his supervisor during his graduate studies recommended him to study abroad.

It can be said that he is a very talented person.

Xiao Yi, who was looking at his resume, was also quite surprised.

I didn’t expect that the first interviewer would be such a high-level person.

The School of Materials Science and Engineering of Shanghai Jiao Tong University is a treasure.

However, Liu Xiaodong's postdoctoral resume seems a little mediocre. In one and a half years, he only published one independent first-tier paper. Although his other achievements were also top-level, they were mostly second-authored or even third-authored. This is much weaker than his average annual output of two independent papers during his four years of doctoral studies.

After Liu Xiaodong finished introducing himself, Xiao Yi nodded and asked a question as usual: "Why do you want to come to Science Island Laboratory? You have been a postdoctoral fellow at Jiaotong University for a year and a half. You should be able to stay on after half a year, right?"

Hearing this question, Liu Xiaodong grunted. When Xiao Yi looked up in confusion, he said, "It's mainly because I feel the pressure there is a bit too great, and the cost of living in Shanghai is also a bit high, so I want to find a place where I can relax."

Hearing his answer, Xiao Yi raised his eyebrows, then shook his head and said, "Easy? Well, the requirements of the Science Island Laboratory are indeed not too high, but if you just want to take it easy, then it is definitely not suitable for you."

He couldn't help but wonder, could it be that Liu Xiaodong was in a bad state during his postdoctoral period because of this reason?

Liu Xiaodong realized that he had said the wrong thing, so he quickly said, "That's not what I meant. In fact, the main reason is... I like the free cooperation system of the Science Island Laboratory. I prefer to do research on my own, and I don't really like having... a mentor."

"I am probably the type of person who is more accustomed to independent research."

Hearing his words, Xiao Yi raised his eyebrows.

I took a look at the achievements listed on Liu Xiaodong's resume again.

Then, Xiao Yi started searching for his achievements directly on the computer.

Soon, he got information about these papers.

"Zhao Guoqing, is he your postdoctoral supervisor?"

Liu Xiaodong had been feeling uneasy because he hadn't heard Xiao Yi ask any questions for a long while. When he suddenly heard this question, he felt even colder in his heart.

Could it be that Xiao Yi knows Zhao Guoqing?
He nodded bitterly, thinking of this horrible thing, and said, "Yes... Professor Xiao, you don't know my mentor, do you?"

Fortunately, Xiao Yi shook his head and said, "I don't know him. I just took a look at your papers. Um... this one was published in Acta Materialia. The corresponding author and first author are both Zhao Guoqing."

"There is also this article in the Journal of Materials Science & Technology, which is also written by Zhao Guoqing as the corresponding author, but the first author is... someone else in your lab? This paper looks pretty good."

"But this article "CORROSION SCIENCE" that you completed independently is completely your own."

"I won't say anything else..."

Liu Xiaodong did not say anything. He had worked hard on all three papers. Not to mention the one published in Acta Materialia, although his contribution was at least 30% and he had a chance to be the co-first author. The one published in JMS&T was completed by him absolutely independently, and that was the one that was snatched away from him.

These three papers are the best three achievements of Liu Xiaodong during his one and a half years as a postdoctoral fellow. Xiao Yi found these three papers and took a look.

And soon, he narrowed his eyes.

In terms of wording and sentence structure, the three papers look very similar.

Of course, this does not mean we can infer anything from this. At most, it can only prove that the writing of these three papers was completed by Liu Xiaodong alone.

However, considering Liu Xiaodong's rather taboo attitude towards his mentor...

Xiao Yi thought that maybe he could ask around after he was done.

In any case, Liu Xiaodong's achievements during his graduate studies were exceptionally outstanding.

After writing down Liu Xiaodong's name, Xiao Yi continued to ask a few other questions, then let Liu Xiaodong leave and continued interviewing other people.

It took nearly two more days to complete the interviews of these 70 people, and Xiao Yi then told them to go back and wait for news.

…
The screening of full and associate researchers is relatively simple.

Finally, he selected 7 full researchers and 7 associate researchers, plus the three outstanding young scientists, a total of 17 people, and did not recruit the full 20 people.

As for the level of postdoctoral fellows and assistant researchers, Xiao Yi gave more consideration and even used his connections to find out the specific situations of some people he was more concerned about.

For example, people like Liu Xiaodong who showed special circumstances during the interview.

In the end, he selected 26 people, including 15 postdoctoral fellows/intern researchers and 11 assistant researchers.

Although there is no guarantee that all the selected people will accept the offer, no matter what, these people are the first batch of talents selected by him!

"Finally done."

At 10 o'clock late in the evening, Xiao Yi, who was still in the office, stretched himself. He finally got it done and sent out the emails.

“I hope they can all start work as soon as possible.”

Because of the exams during this period, he didn't even do a few of his projects.

"It's time to do the experiment tomorrow."

Xiao Yi thought, "Let's first try several solid-state battery materials that are most recognized by the academic community."

“Well, they mainly include oxides, sulfides and polymers, but the most critical thing is interface engineering.”

Xiao Yi began to think.

However, he only thought about it for about 10 minutes, and after noticing that it was already late, he gave up thinking about it and left the Science Island Laboratory.

……

Shanghai Jiao Tong University, postdoctoral apartment.

After the interview, Liu Xiaodong, who had actually traveled outside, returned to his apartment.

Suddenly, a notification popped up on his phone, which made him stunned. Finally, a feeling of ecstasy surged in his heart.

"I passed! I actually passed!"

He originally thought that his performance during the interview would most likely lead to failure.

But I never expected that I would still show it!

He immediately sent a message to Zhou He: [Xiao Shen is my father]

And just at this time, Zhao Guoqing sent him a message.

[Are you back? Don't forget to send me the remaining experiments and data. ]

Upon seeing this message, he immediately pouted and sent a message saying, "Sorry, Professor Zhao, I have come to my senses during my trip and I am ready to quit. Please find someone else to handle the remaining experiments!"

……

At the same time, everyone who received Xiao Yi's email was equally excited and happy.
No matter what, those who are willing to apply for the Science Island Laboratory are all attracted by Xiao Yi's name. Now, they will be able to work with Xiao Yi in the future.

In the end, everyone confirmed that they would go to the Science Island Laboratory.

(End of this chapter)