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Dr. Qi Wang has always been interested in the study of chemistry, initially drawn in by the appeal of unraveling the mysteries of ordinary, everyday items. 

“Even something you found interesting in the kitchen, a lot of those phenomena can be explained by chemistry,” she said. “I just really love the close relationship between chemistry and real life.” 

Finding a home at PC

The assistant professor of biochemistry has been at PC for just under two years now, though the Chemistry Department has felt like home to her since the beginning. 

“It’s hard to put into words, but it’s a feeling I have when I step into the chemistry department,” Wang said. “There can be a lot of difficulties or troubles, but everybody is so helpful, and we treat each other as family members. It’s really nice to be here.” 

Having received her doctorate two years ago, Wang feels extra grateful for her time spent at PC so far, and for the years yet to come. 

“I felt really lucky because I just received my Ph.D. last year, so I’m in the lucky group where I could find a job soon after graduation, so I feel very fortunate to have landed here,” she said. 

The journey to teaching

Wang wasn’t always sure that she wanted to teach. As a child, she wanted to be a teacher because she looked up to her own educators, but as she grew older, she began to think about other career paths. 

“When I got to graduate school, and I became a teaching assistant, that’s where I found out that teaching was the thing that I really wanted to do, and enjoyed doing,” she said. 

Wang knew from her own experience at a small graduate school that she eventually wanted to teach in a similar environment. 

“We had a small department with 50 students maximum, and six professors, so if we wanted, we could talk with each professor every day,” she said. “I really enjoyed those interactions.” 

Though Wang enjoys every aspect of teaching, her favorite part is the connections she makes with her students, and their ability to keep her young. 

“Teaching is the thing that makes me feel I’m still young,” she said. “I can’t be forever young, but I can always keep in touch with young people to make myself feel young on the inside.” 

Plans for the future

In the coming years, Wang looks forward to growing as a professor and experimenting with new teaching methods. “I want my classes to be vivid instead of me just talking and talking. I want us to have interesting discussions,” she said. “Everybody should be getting inspired and having fun. I don’t want there to be silence in the classroom.”