A team led by Prof. Changgan Zeng of the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) published their research on magnetic-field tuning of the Casimir force in the journal Nature Physics. Five undergraduate students of the School of the Gifted Young (SGY) contributed to this article. They are Yichi Zhang (first author, Class of 2018), Yiheng Wang (2021), Yuchen Liu (2019), Shu Li (2019), and Chuang Fan (2019).

We interviewed Prof. Zeng and Yichi Zhang, currently a Ph.D. student at Cornell University. Both reflected on the development of this work, and shared their perspectives on undergraduate research practice and training.

I. Begins with interest, ends with persistence

Around 2017, Prof. Zeng helped establish the "Blue Atom Geek Center" project team. Since most participants were lower-grade undergraduates, he aimed to initiate research projects that were simple in experiment, but interesting in physics. This has gradually become one of his guiding principles for supervising undergraduate research.

 Prof. Changgan Zeng discussing with SGY students.

 At the beginning, the team lacked their own dedicated instruments to do experiments and had to book public instruments instead. Later, they acquired an atomic force microscope, but it required various hardware and software modifications to suit their needs. The students were simultaneously engaged in modifying the equipment and conducting experiments, enjoying the process of exploration and advancement.

Yichi Zhang (SGY Class of 2018) is currently a Ph.D. student at Cornell University

Yichi Zhang found the most challenging time was when he initially set up the equipment. "Because we had no experience with AFM measurements of the Casimir force, and there was no one else in the lab working in this area, we had to discuss all the problems with the professor and then solve them on our own", Zhang said.

Prof. Zeng expressed his high praise for the undergraduates in his lab. "We overcame many difficulties. The students did solid work, truly impressive. They also worked really hard besides taking regular classes and participating in numerous other activities", Zeng said.

Yuchen Liu (SGY Class of 2019) observed graphene in the laboratory. He is currently a graduate student at Tsinghua University.

Such persistence over several years brought pleasant experimental results. More importantly, through the solid experimental training, the students gained knowledge on basic principles of physics, perseverance required in experimental science, and courage in facing the ever changing unknown.

II. Integration of Research and Education – A Tradition of USTC

"Integration of research and education" has been a long-standing tradition at USTC, dating back to the very beginning of the University in the 1960’s, when Prof. Xuesen Qian lead a team of undergraduate students to do research and development of rockets. They used rockets to produce artificial rain for farmers, achieving practical applications.

Prof. Changgan Zeng mentioned that he also participated in laboratory research as an undergraduate at USTC, so this tradition of integrating research and education gradually became a subliminal perception. Like his teachers back then, he welcomes undergraduates to join his lab. He enjoys interacting with undergraduates, " Communicating and colliding thoughts with students gives you joy and a sense of youthfulness, the feeling that every day there are new challenges and new knowledge." And it gives him immense pride and fulfillment as a teacher to witness students growing and surpassing him.

Dinner celebration. Prof. Changgan Zeng (6^th from right), Yuchen Liu (1^st from left, SGY 2019), Yiheng Wang (SGY 2021) and fellow laboratory colleagues

The renowned mathematician Shiing-Shen Chern once wrote to advise SGY students: "Do not aim to be number one in exams." Similarly, Prof. Zeng believes that if students have extra time and energy, it is more beneficial to spend it in the laboratory rather than focusing on improving their grades by a few more points.

Academician Shiing-Shen Chern's writing for the School of the Gifted Young (1985) 

So, what can undergraduates do in the lab? Prof. Zeng emphasizes that the answer to this question varies from person to person. Since the undergraduate period is primarily about building a solid foundation, especially in mastering knowledge in core courses, students should tailor their lab activities to their own circumstances. In the lab, observing, asking questions, learning, and performing tasks within their capabilities provides students with valuable exposure to scientific research, which helps them “smell science”and enables them to make a smoother transition into research activities when they become graduate students.

He encourages undergraduates to maintain a broad interest in research. He also hopes that undergraduates do not choose their labs with too much utilitarian purpose, but instead, try more, fit in more, and focus on learning both the technical skills and personal development. "A more relaxed state will allow you to perform better," he says.

III. Integration of Theory and Practice - SGY Students Writing a New Chapter

As the motto of the USTC, " Integration of Theory and Practice" has always been a guiding principle. In 1995, SGY introduced a mandatory course, "Scientific Research Practice," for fourth-year students (the program was five years long at that time), requiring all students to participate in relevant on-campus scientific research groups, engage in systematic scientific research activities, and complete their research projects in the form of a paper or a report. This approach was later extended to the entire University as the "Undergraduate Research Program", which provides comprehensive research training opportunities for undergraduates.

SGY emphasizes the cultivation of the student's research and innovation ability, guides the student towards the frontier of scientific research, and helps the student find a direction that matches one’s interests. Yichi Zhang, who is currently pursuing his Ph.D. at Cornell University, joined Prof. Zeng's lab in the second semester of his freshman year. Reflecting on his undergraduate research experience, Zhang sincerely believes that early exposure to research and completing a project from start to finish on his own have greatly benefited his subsequent research path. "Of course, it is crucial to organize your time wisely because undergraduate courses are very heavy. Additionally, when choosing a lab, one should focus more on gaining research training rather than struggling too much about choosing a specific direction, because you will have to learn a lot more in order to decide on what you are going to do in the future," he advises.

Tianyi Ruan (SGY 2022) aligning a scanning Casimir force microscope.

Yuan Cao (SGY 2010) is currently an Assistant Professor at UC Berkeley

In recent years, SGY has meticulously developed several activities, such as the "Talent Scouts Scout Talents", "Lab is here", "SGY Forum", and "Visit a Lab", to guide undergraduates towards conducting research and setting career goals, and to build bridges for the students to effectively connect with research mentors.

"Talent Scouts Scout Talents", a SGY activity for mentors to meet-and-greet students

In 2020, SGY established the Robot Innovation Workshop, and invited professional instructors to provide hardware support for students to conduct research. In 2024, with the support of the Rose Development Fund, SGY initiated the Lotus Scholarship to encourage students to participate in scientific research.

An engineer provided training and guidance on 3D printing at the Robot Innovation Workshop

Under the guiding principles of "Integration of Theory and Practice" and "Integration of Research and Education", SGY will continue to implement measures to help students grow and sail into the vast ocean of scientific research.