Words from Winner - Haidong Cai (PhD in Finance):

About research experience, I would like to share three points.

Firstly, actively participating in academic activities and following the guidance of supervisors are important. Because I didn't apply for a PhD immediately after my master's degree, almost everything was tough during the first year of my PhD life. At this stage, the compulsory taught modules, PGR training and research seminars have helped me through the difficulties. I have learned a tremendous amount of knowledge and gained a better understanding of research after attending the research activities. Additionally, the guidance of my supervisors has helped me to avoid distractions in research.

Secondly, attending academic conferences and social activities vigorously is recommended. Better knowledge comes from the flow and collision of knowledge. I attended about 70 group reading sessions held by my supervisors Xiaoquan and Ying, and I presented ten academic papers to other students in the reading group. The experience not only helped me but also my peers to gain deeper knowledge and understanding of recent literature. Additionally, I delivered a professional presentation and discussion in three conferences: the 31st Australian Finance & Banking Conference, the 7th International Conference on Futures and Other Derivatives and the 4th NUBS China Research Conference. In these conferences, I learned better presentation skills and more importantly, the comments from the participants helped me to better develop my studies.

Thirdly, research is not easy and strong efforts need to be made. I helped to host several well-known professors in finance during their academic visits to the UNNC. Whenever I asked them for advice on PhD life, most of them told me that it is not your talent but your effort that makes your achievements in research. 

Therefore, stay hungry and stay foolish. Research is a long road and we should persist and strive continuously.

Words from Winner - Murtaza Faruquee (PhD in Marketing):

My last year at UNNC was valuable in developing my research ability. The environment here at UNNC is very researcher-friendly. The University does provide every possible support for an amateur researcher like me and helps us to grow into the skilled academic. 

I believe the first year of a PhD is the most exciting yet highly challenging period for any researcher. To me, it is a yearlong adrenaline rush. The credit-bearing courses of NUBS China, compulsory training from the Graduate School, the looking for a worthwhile research gap and adjusting to a new lifestyle, hardly left any time to relax. I guess at that point I first realised what it means when my supervisor told me "PhD is a journey to grow as a person, not a degree to pass." 

I was lucky enough to get through the review without any corrections and received amazing feedback. But at that moment I was on the vantage point where I could see how far I came and how much I have changed as a person. Based on the skills I have learned, currently, I am working on 4 additional research projects at different stages. I believe I will learn a lot more through the experience of publications and conferences in the coming year. Another important part of a PhD is working as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. This is a valuable experience and a great opportunity to learn key skills to succeed in an academic career. 

I am working with different departments to make PGR students’ life a little better both academically and socially. Overall, I try to be an active and engaging member of the UNNC PhD community. To me, the PGR community is like a village; where we all need to contribute to evolve together.