Deng Qiyu is a 2019 graduate of the Mechanical Design, Manufacturing and Automation program (with a double degree in Business Administration) from the College of Engineering, Shantou University, and a recipient of the 2019 Shantou University Medal. After graduation, he was recommended for graduate studies at Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) without examination and is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Hong Kong. As first author, he has published research findings in Nature Communications and Advanced Materials (cover paper). His collaborative research has been published in top-tier international journals including Science, Science Advances, Nature Communications, and PNAS. He holds over 20 authorized patents and received the National First Prize in the 8th National College Mechanical Innovation Design Competition, exemplifying a young scholar with both strong research capabilities and comprehensive qualities.

Carrying Forward a Pure Academic Passion

Looking back on his undergraduate years, Deng Qiyu is filled with gratitude. He specifically mentioned two mentors who profoundly influenced him: Professor Niu Xiaodong and Professor Chen Shaoke.

"Professor Niu Xiaodong was not only a transmitter of knowledge but also a guide on my research journey," said Deng Qiyu. From defining research directions to screening scientific questions, Professor Niu always provided patient guidance and encouraged him to "read more good papers and publish more good papers." This advice instilled in him the habit of regularly reading top-tier journals such as Nature and Science, and established his research creed of "pursuing impactful work." Professor Chen Shaoke, who was approaching retirement, held multiple weekly meetings with students and even stayed up late with young people in their twenties to tackle research challenges. "That pure academic passion deeply moved me."

Beyond the mentorship of his professors, Shantou University's "mentor-student culture" also greatly benefited Deng Qiyu. Thanks to the selfless guidance from senior students, he avoided many detours. Today, he has become a "lamp-lighter" himself—guiding junior team members in successfully applying for Guangdong Province's "Climbing Plan" key project (receiving 60,000 RMB in funding) and actively recommending outstanding Shantou University students to his Ph.D. supervisor. Following his influence, many junior students have pursued further studies along the path of "Shantou University - SUSTech - overseas Ph.D.," forming a close-knit academic legacy chain.

Choosing a More Challenging Path

Deng Qiyu's academic journey has not been a straightforward line but a brave curve marked by conscious choices at critical crossroads.

After undergraduate studies, he was recommended for graduate studies at SUSTech. Upon completing his master's degree, faced with the dilemma of "continuing for a Ph.D." or "joining a prestigious company," he received an offer from a leading manufacturing enterprise with excellent platforms and generous compensation. However, after receiving a Ph.D. admission offer from the University of Hong Kong, he made the deliberate decision to resign and pursue his doctorate at HKU.

"When faced with difficult choices, it is often better to choose the more challenging path," Deng Qiyu reflected. This decision proved to be the right one, allowing him to continue his exploration and publish major results as first author in Nature Communications and Advanced Materials (cover paper) during his Ph.D., marking his transformation from an outstanding graduate to a young scholar.

Staying Committed to a Truly Beloved Direction

As a researcher deeply engaged in the field of mechanics, Deng Qiyu holds unique insights into the industry.

"Rather than blindly chasing so-called 'industry trends,' it is better to find a direction you are truly passionate about," he said, recalling childhood experiences of taking apart alarm clocks and getting shocked by licking telephone wires. He believes it is this original curiosity and passion that has sustained him to this day. "An outstanding painter can achieve fame, and an excellent singer can excel as well. What truly matters is doing one thing to perfection and making your research the 'trend' itself."

In his view, mechanical engineering, as the "heart of industry," may not be as prominent as some hot sectors, but its foundational role is irreplaceable. He advises junior students not to be swept up by external distractions but to maintain sensitivity and curiosity toward technology while building a solid professional foundation, because true "trends" often arise from long-term focus and accumulation.

Three Life Lessons

Throughout his years of study and research, Deng Qiyu has distilled three life lessons:

First, pursue truth. Maintain independent thinking and curiosity, avoid blind conformity and impatience, and explore the fundamental laws of things.

Second, hold on to passion. When facing difficulties and uncertainties, only genuine passion can provide a continuous source of motivation.

Third, remain kind. Amid competition and growth, remain willing to selflessly help others, passing on warmth and resources.

Integrating Personal Aspirations into National Development

When thinking of the College of Engineering at Shantou University, Deng Qiyu's first memory is the "CDIO Center." "That place holds the youth memories of many of us," he said affectionately. It was there that they first machined parts on lathes, first did 3D printing, first soldered circuit boards, and turned their wildest ideas into tangible creations.

He especially emphasized the importance of aligning personal development with national needs: "Success is not only the result of personal effort but also a gift of the times' choices. Like pioneers Deng Jiaxian and Yu Min, integrating personal aspirations into national development is the path to steady and lasting progress." For junior students currently experiencing uncertainty, he offered this sincere advice: "University is a process of continuous trial and error and exploration. Try as many things as possible. Once you find what you truly love, have the courage to commit to it long-term; if you find something is not for you, have the decisiveness to cut losses and adjust your direction."

From the lathe at the foot of Sangpu Mountain to the laboratories at the University of Hong Kong, and onto the covers of international top-tier journals, Deng Qiyu's journey proves that only passion can withstand the test of time, and only perseverance can create ripples of one's own in the currents of the era.

"Shantou Engineering Imprint"

The "Shantou Engineering Imprint" alumni campaign is an important initiative by the College of Engineering, Shantou University, to preserve its spiritual heritage and consolidate development momentum. Since the university's founding in 1981, College of Engineering graduates have been making their mark across various industries—overcoming challenges at the forefront of engineering projects, pushing boundaries in research, and contributing quietly at the grassroots level, embodying the engineering spirit of "dedication, rigor, and innovation" through practical action. Through the "Shantou Engineering Imprint," the College connects these scattered stories, turning the journeys of senior alumni into guiding lights for new generations, and helping current students find their direction by learning from the growth trajectories of role models.

At the same time, "Shantou Engineering Imprint" serves as an emotional bond between the College and its alumni. The campaign not only allows alumni to feel the care and recognition of their alma mater but also builds a platform for resource sharing—alumni enterprises can engage in industry-university-research collaboration with the College, transforming research outcomes into industrial drivers; entrepreneurial alumni can provide internship opportunities and entrepreneurial guidance to students, facilitating the transmission of experience. This two-way interaction both supports alumni career development and injects new vitality into the College's disciplinary construction and talent cultivation.

Furthermore, "Shantou Engineering Imprint" serves as a window showcasing the College's educational achievements and enhancing its social influence. When alumni take on major responsibilities in significant engineering projects or earn honors in technological innovation, their accomplishments become the best testament to the quality of the College's talent cultivation. Through promoting these achievements, the College can attract high-caliber students, expand cooperation resources, further advance the implementation of its "dual-college synergy" and "five-pronged education" talent cultivation system, and contribute more high-quality engineering talents to the industrial development of Shantou and the nation as a whole.