In June 2020, Yue graduated from Hohai University majoring in environmental science. She received offers from several universities and institutions in the Netherlands with world-leading environmental science programmes. However, she chose a different path and embarked on a stimulating gap year. Yue travelled to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region as an intern, where she assisted in reviewing the environmental assessment reports of the applied projects, organising project review meetings, and participating in field trips to river and lake projects. She took the initiative to communicate with UNNC's related research supervisors, explained her research direction, and finally received the admission offer for the MRes programme at UNNC. During her undergraduate studies, she participated in the university innovation training program and began to join the NSFC Project on the research of the movement characteristics of the confluence of river currents and the law of pollutant transport from her second year. As well as learning theoretical knowledge, she also carried out further scientific research practice. She said, "The scientific research experience also allowed me to clarify my future research fields and directions. During my postgraduate study, I focused on the study of single river courses hydrodynamic and water quality characteristics of estuaries.” 

In September 2021, Yue arrived at UNNC and officially became a MRes student reading environmental science and engineering. After more than a year of high-intensity study and research, Yue successfully graduated with honours. Immediately afterwards, she started her PhD study here with UNNC’s High Flyer Scholarship. "I am especially grateful to my supervisors, Dr. Feng Meili, Assistant Professor of Geographical Sciences, and Dr Zhu Fangfang, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, for their guidance and encouragement, who gave me ample space for development and allowed me to continue my beloved scientific research and learning journey on this international professional platform. Great thanks also to Dr Faith Chan, FoSE Master Programmers Officer, and the staff in the Faculty Office of Science and Engnieering, their support made everything run successfully and the various students’ activities they organised led to a lot of fun outside of our studies, too. My experience on the MRes further confirmed my direction of travel, that is to say, to engage in scientific research and its related work. And UNNC, as a diverse, open, and inclusive platform, gives us abundant learning and research resources." said Yue.

Environmental science is an interdisciplinary field that requires students to have a comprehensive range of professional knowledge, covering mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, geography, and more. Zhu Yue  is a serious learner, constantly striving to discover more and building on her solid scientific research foundation experience. 

The BorgWarner Scholarship aims to cultivate innovative talents with solid knowledge, outstanding professional ability, and and international perspective. Zhu Yue has grown steadily and progressed in her scientific field, commenting: "I am honoured to receive the BorgWarner Scholarship, which is an affirmation and encouragement for my past work and study experience, and it also makes me more confident and motivated during my postgraduate studies."