Zhang Yongxing, a 2021 Master’s graduate in Mechanical Engineering from Shantou University and holder of a PhD in Engineering, is currently a lecturer at the School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Guangdong Polytechnic Normal University. His research mainly focuses on marine renewable energy utilization and integrated equipment development. As the first author, he has published a series of high-quality papers in top journals including Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews (IF=16.9), Energy Conversion and Management (IF=10.1), Renewable Energy (IF=9.0), and Ocean Engineering (IF=5.5). One of his papers was selected as an ESI Highly Cited Paper (top 1% globally). He also holds several authorized national invention patents, and his related achievements won the 2023 Award for Most Transformable Value and Intellectual Property of Guangdong Universities.
1. Meticulous Guidance from Mentor Lays a Solid Research Foundation
Looking back on his master’s studies at Shantou University, Zhang describes it as a period not only for building his knowledge system but also for transforming from a “tech novice” to a “new researcher”. When he first entered the lab, he felt confused and overwhelmed by complex mechanical structures and advanced theories.
“Poor technical foundation and insufficient knowledge reserve were real challenges for me,” Zhang recalled frankly.
Fortunately, he met Professor Zhao Yongjie, who changed his academic path. Professor Zhao was rigorous in scholarship and devoted enormous care to his students. Zhang still clearly remembers the weekly group meetings every Thursday — they were not just progress briefings but “problem-solving sessions” for teachers and students to tackle difficulties together. No matter how busy he was, Professor Zhao patiently explained technical bottlenecks, from theoretical derivation to experimental design, in meticulous detail.
“Whenever I felt lost, he offered insightful and constructive guidance, guiding me forward like a lighthouse.”
Under Professor Zhao’s careful supervision, Zhang gradually found his way in research. He not only made up for his weaknesses but also achieved an academic breakthrough: publishing a top-tier SCI Zone 1 paper in Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews — Ocean wave energy converters: technical principle, device realization, and performance evaluation — with an impact factor of 16.7. This experience laid a solid foundation for his later PhD admission to South China University of Technology.
2. Deep Research in Marine Energy, Scaling Academic Peaks
Building on the strength he gained at Shantou University, Zhang pursued his doctoral studies at South China University of Technology, focusing on marine renewable energy utilization and integrated equipment development. Faced with complex fluid dynamics models and repeated experimental verification, he maintained the rigorous work ethic formed during his master’s and devoted himself fully to research.
After four years of persistent effort, he published five SCI Zone 1 top papers in authoritative journals such as Energy Conversion and Management, Renewable Energy, and Ocean Engineering, with one paper listed as an ESI Highly Cited Paper (top 1% globally). He achieved a series of high-level academic results in the configuration design, performance optimization of multi-degree-of-freedom wave energy devices, and their integrated application with offshore floating platforms.
After obtaining his PhD in 2025, Zhang joined Guangdong Polytechnic Normal University as a lecturer, completing the transition from student to teacher.
“This shift has deepened my understanding of ‘responsibility’,” he said.
In his teaching, he actively integrates theory with practice, participates in multiple horizontal research projects, and strives to translate research findings into real-world applications. He also dedicates himself to cultivating students’ hands-on skills and innovative thinking, passing on the spirit of engineering to the next generation.
3. Focusing on Green Energy, Cultivating Interdisciplinary Talents
In Zhang’s view, with the accelerating global energy transition, marine renewable energy — as a key part of clean energy — is facing unprecedented development opportunities.
“Especially in offshore wind power, wave energy, and tidal energy, higher requirements are put forward for the integration, stability, and efficiency of equipment,” he noted.
Regarding the future of the industry, Zhang believes that large-scale, intelligent equipment and interdisciplinary integration will be the core trends. Accordingly, the industry demands interdisciplinary talents with both solid theoretical foundations and outstanding engineering practice capabilities.
“Practitioners need to master not only mechanical design but also materials, control, and fluid mechanics, along with systematic thinking to solve complex engineering problems.”
4. Gratitude and Persistence, Realizing Self-Value
Reflecting on his journey from study to teaching, Zhang deeply believes: “No step in life is wasted; every step counts.”
From laying foundations at Shantou University to scaling academic peaks at South China University of Technology, and now to becoming a teacher, gratitude and perseverance have always been the cornerstones of his success.
“Self-fulfillment lies not in sudden breakthroughs but in daily accumulation,” Zhang said.
When facing setbacks in research and teaching, he stays calm and treats every difficulty as a chance to grow. Amid his busy schedule, he balances life and academia, maintains a lifelong learning habit, and continuously improves his professional competence and comprehensive qualities.
5. Cherishing Memories of STU and Mentors, Encouraging Junior Students
Years after graduation, Zhang still cares deeply about the College of Engineering at Shantou University. He is grateful for the careful cultivation of his alma mater and the earnest guidance of his mentors, saying that the rigorous, pragmatic academic atmosphere and practice-oriented education philosophy shaped his down-to-earth, excellence-seeking work attitude.
“The college’s focus on basic abilities, engineering thinking, and practical training aligns perfectly with industry demands for engineering talents,” he said sincerely.
To current students at his alma mater, Zhang sent sincere advice:
“Cherish your precious campus time, master professional theoretical knowledge solidly, and take the initiative to enter laboratories and participate in research practice to turn theory into practical ability. Stay curious and eager to learn about your major, develop self-study, reflection, and teamwork skills, and be brave to try without fear of mistakes. In career planning, identify your professional direction, deepen your expertise in a specific field, and accumulate experience steadily. For your future careers, set clear development goals while keeping a calm mindset, and face challenges with solid professional competence.”
From an STU student to a young core teacher at a university, Zhang has embodied the spirit of Shantou University’s College of Engineering through more than ten years of dedication and perseverance. His story inspires fellow engineering students to stay grounded, pursue excellence in their professional fields, and write a brilliant life through technological innovation.
