Personal Profile
Qi is the Master's student in Management Science and Engineering, Class of 2021, admitted to the Ph.D. program in Finance at the University of Alabama with a full scholarship. He achieved the highest academic performance in the class during graduate studies. Recipient of the National Scholarship, Tencent Talent Fund, and the Excellent Graduate Student Leader Scholarship. Awarded third place in the 8th "China Financial Futures Exchange Cup" National College Student Financial Knowledge Competition and third place in the Southern Region of the SAS 2022 China China Data Analytics Championship. Led a team to receive a National Excellence Award in the 2nd Meituan Business Analysis Elite Competition. Accumulated 188 hours of volunteer service during graduate studies through the Volunteer Shenzhen and the Guangdong iVolunteer System
Jinke Youxue: Qi Zhenyan: Attempt, Choose, Persist!
1. If you were to summarize your three years of graduate life in one sentence or three keywords, how would you describe it? Attempt, Choose, Persist.
2. Please provide a systematic overview of your three years of life.
The advantageous environment at Shenzhen University provided abundant resources, allowing me to engage with and attempt new experiences continually. For instance, I performed in a cross-dressing role at the welcome party for the first time, played badminton for three to four hours with classmates at the sports square for the first time, rushed to the Technology Building at four in the morning for the first time to meet a deadline, participated in planning and organizing large-scale events for the first time, embarked on an impromptu night hike with my roommate for the first time, asked questions at an academic seminar for the first time, and published a paper for the first time.
Making choices is a challenging task, especially for someone like me who suffers from severe indecisiveness (often contemplating what to eat for lunch and dinner). Throughout my three years in graduate school, I was constantly reflecting on and choosing between whether to work or continue my studies. Bothoptions have their advantages and disadvantages; in reality, there is no right or wrong choice. Fortunately, I eventually made a decision that was relatively more suitable for me and persisted in it, striving to overcome a series of challenges encountered along the way.
3. Looking back on your graduate experience, do you have any unforgettable memories?
Since I have always been introverted, I generally avoid opportunities to perform on stage. However, during my graduate studies, I participated in two performances involving cross-dressing. One was at the welcome party for new students at the graduate school, and the other was during a social event for new and returning members of the Graduate Student Union. Reflecting on these experiences now, I find them particularly joyful and meaningful.
4. How did you courageously participate in these two activities?
At that time, I wanted to challenge myself and thought the activity seemed quite interesting. Performing with others helped break the ice during the early stage of getting to know my classmates, so I decided to try it.
2021 Graduate Student Union New and Returning Members Social Event Performance
5. Congratulations on securing a full scholarship for the Ph.D. program in Finance at the University of Alabama. Could you share the circumstances that led you to pursue a doctorate and apply to this university?
The reasons for choosing to pursue a doctorate are quite complex. Firstly, it stems from my interests; through extensive reading and developing ideas for research, I discovered that I genuinely enjoy these processes. I am passionate about exploring the causal relationships between phenomena and strongly desire to investigate issues from unique perspectives. Additionally, my characteristics align well with doctoral studies. I possess a strong inner resilience, enabling me to remain composed and optimistic while also being diligent in my work.
The University of Alabama is a renowned public university, ranked 29th in the latest U.S. News & World Report for the best public business schools in the United States. It boasts robust research capabilities, and I consider their business school's research strength to be impressive,
With high-quality journal publications. The city where the university is located also possesses a unique charm.
6. Were there any obstacles during the application process? How did you overcome them?
Language proficiency was a significant hurdle during the application process. It would have been a regrettable limitation if I had not met the language requirements of some desired schools. Therefore, improving language scores as much as possible is essential.
Due to the learning environment for language acquisition, I encountered some challenges during my initial exposure to purely English interviews, such as difficulties in keeping pace with the conversation or problems with verbal expression. Consequently, it is crucial to strengthen listening and speaking practice regularly.
7. What are your research interests and the topic of your thesis?
I am keenly interested in corporate Finance and asset pricing; however, my thesis focuses on asset pricing. Specifically, I studied the impact of disseminating macro and micro information in the stock market on the risk-return relationship of stocks in the Chinese market.
8. I heard you published high-quality academic papers in international journals during your studies. What inspired your paper, and what assistance and insights did you gain during the writing process?
The inspiration for my paper came from Professor Li Jingjing's course "Experimental Economics and Behavioral Finance." In this course, I realized that investors' irrational behaviours could manifest in many intriguing phenomena, such as the disposition effect, mental accounting, and overconfidence. This realization sparked my interest in exploring investor behavior further.
In the later stages, my advisor, Professor Zhu Zhaobo, provided substantial assistance based on the existing foundation. He suggested that I extend the concept from home bias to familiarity bias while expanding ideas. Additionally, he meticulously guided me in writing sections such as the introduction and ensuring the logical coherence of the entire paper. I am profoundly grateful to both professors!
10. What has been your greatest achievement during the three years of graduate school?
Aside from enhancing my various personal abilities, my most outstanding achievement has been establishing meaningful relationships. Throughout my three years in graduate school, I have developed strong bonds with my professors, classmates, and friends I met through various circumstances. These connections will serve as a valuable spiritual asset in my life.
Class photo of all students at the Sifang Building on Lihu Campus in 2021.
11. What is your relationship like with your advisor?
The advisor is our guide during the graduate phase. My relationship with my advisor, Professor Zhu Zhaobo, is characterized by close interaction and frequent communication. At the beginning of my studies, Professor Zhu developed a tailored training plan based on my circumstances and encouraged me to fully utilize my initiative for personal growth. He has been the person who helped me the most during my graduate studies.
Professor Zhu has an extensive academic background and is very approachable. I actively communicated with him when I encountered challenges during my graduate studies.
During my academic research, Professor Zhu thoroughly analyzed the underlying factors and proposed solutions whenever I faced issues I could not resolve independently. He also helped me adjust my mindset, avoiding unnecessary pitfalls. Additionally, he frequently shares high-quality journal articles and relevant resources to help broaden my academic perspective. Based on his experience, he actively assisted me during my doctoral application process in analyzing the advantages of pursuing a doctorate, selecting schools, and preparing for interviews.
12. Is there anything you would like to do before graduation? I hope to utilize the sports funding fully
and embark on a graduation trip with my classmates.
13. Is there anything you’d like to say to the juniors?
Graduate school is not the end; it is a new beginning. It is essential to clearly define your life goals and maintain long-term, stable, and consistent efforts. Embrace challenges, persevere, and strive for greatness in your unique way!
