From top student in college to scientific research powerhouse

Chapter 41 Short-term plan? Of course, it's training!
The office is full of young teachers, mostly between thirty-five and forty years old.

Some have already been promoted to associate professors, while others are still on "publish or perish" contracts, which, to put it bluntly, are just interns in the university teaching staff.

As the group walked out of the laboratory building, their excitement was quickly dissipated by the wind.

Some immediately stopped in their tracks, saying, "We can't do it alone; we need to find other professors!"

The others also calmed down.

Yang Xuewen is the vice president, vice secretary, and director of the Faculty of Science. He oversees large-scale national projects and is only lacking the academician title compared to Tan Yanming.

He is younger than Tan Yanming.

Many people believe that he is already a 'pre-selected academician,' and it's only a matter of time before he is officially elected.

They are all young teachers, a dime a dozen in universities. They have no prestige or influence, and their words have no effect. They need to find an authoritative professor to take the lead.

Someone immediately returned to the Science Department's laboratory building and went to Professor Zhu Bin's office on the first floor.

Zhu Bin had just heard the news.

He was talking with two other professors, and he couldn't help but smile.

Zhang Minghao was his graduate student; Xue Kun was also his friend.

They made such a significant discovery.

This discovery also confirms that Zhang Minghao's experiment at Donggang University was real.

"OK……"

"very nice!"

When some young teachers came over to chat, the topic immediately turned to Yang Xuewen.

Zhu Bin was equally furious, "They were originally talented people from our school, but Yang Xuewen made them go to other universities!"

"Go and talk to him!"

Zhu Bin and two other professors led a large group of people to the Faculty of Science building. Along the way, they encountered other professors, and the group grew even larger.

These people went along not just because of Zhang Minghao and Xue Kun.

Yang Xuewen is known for his bureaucratic manner and serious bureaucratic style in his speech and work, which has earned him a bad reputation among young faculty members and professors who are focused on academic pursuits.

Of course, he has his own circle.

As soon as the group entered the main building, they saw Cui Guowen, the administrative director, rushing upstairs.

Someone whispered, "He's Yang Xuewen's number one lackey!"

"Is this to deliver a message?"

Zhu Bin immediately grabbed Cui Guowen, "Going to find Yang Xuewen? Perfect, let's go together!"

"You're also looking for Director Yang?"

Cui Guowen said awkwardly, his heart filled with anxiety. He had come after receiving the news, but he didn't expect to run into Zhu Bin and his large group of people.

What are these people up to?
He had no choice but to go upstairs with Zhu Bin.

The group quickly climbed to the second floor, and just as they turned the corner of the stairs, they saw Yang Xuewen standing at the office door in the distance.

Zhu Bin immediately went over to question him.

The other professors who came along also said a few words, all revolving around Xue Kun and Zhang Minghao, with some directly stating that they would not allow him to apply for a promotion and mentioning the "conclusion of the academic investigation committee."

Yang Xuewen listened patiently, a smile playing on his lips, seemingly unconcerned.

After a while, he pressed his hands down and said in an official tone, "I understand everything."

"I fully understand everyone's feelings, and I also understand your criticisms and questions about me personally."

"As school leaders, we must be willing to accept criticism and questioning, and we must admit our mistakes. But we should also be reasonable, right?"

"The facts are right in front of us, what logic is there to argue about?" Zhu Bin immediately retorted.

"Professor Zhu Bin, don't be anxious. Listen to what I'm saying and see if it makes sense?"

Yang Xuewen said calmly, "You mainly mentioned two points. One is Professor Xue Kun. I admit that I had an argument with Professor Xue Kun about applying for professional titles, but it didn't escalate to the point of settling personal scores, and I would never do that."

"As everyone knows, the number of positions for professional title evaluation is limited; it's not that you can get an evaluation just because you meet the requirements."

“There are only so many slots each year. If I don’t apply to anyone, they will come to me. If I don’t apply, it will be considered ‘settling personal scores,’ and the work will not be able to proceed.”

The group of people listened in silence.

How can this be refuted?

The other party was clearly settling a personal score, but when it came to reasoning, they just couldn't make sense of it. Did they think that those professors who got promoted were inferior to Xue Kun?

After thinking for a while, Zhu Bin simply changed the subject, "What about Zhang Minghao's matter?"

"A groundbreaking experiment that discovered a new phenomenon, and you fired him..."

Yang Xuewen immediately straightened his face and said sincerely, "I admit that the academic committee made a wrong judgment. What was clearly a major discovery was treated as data fabrication."

Then, changing the subject, he added, "But, ask yourselves honestly, who believes this experiment is real?"

"Let alone back then, even yesterday, did any of you believe the experiment was real?"

"Fake experiments, incorrect data, and published papers—according to the school's rules and regulations, this involves academic misconduct. What's wrong with expelling them?"

The group fell silent again.

Yang Xuewen's words are impossible to refute.

The professors were all scholars focused on pure academic research, and their verbal skills were nowhere near Yang Xuewen's level.

They could only gradually disperse.

Yang Xuewen returned to his office.

Cui Guowen followed him in, giving a high thumbs-up, his eyes full of admiration, "Director Yang, you're really something! A few words left them speechless!"

Yang Xuewen was in a bad mood. He sighed deeply, his face full of worry.

"how……"

Cui Guowen was somewhat confused.

Yang Xuewen shook his head. “‘A gentleman can be deceived by reason’ is because a gentleman is reasonable.”

"The news is everywhere now!"

"This physics discovery may have an increasingly significant impact in the future, and Zhang Minghao and Xue Kun will become even more famous."

"People online can be unreasonable..."

Jiangzhou University, Applied Electromagnetism Laboratory.

The main entrance, which used to be deserted, is now bustling with people coming and going.

A large group of people were crowded in the lobby on the first floor.

Zhu Bingkun spent the morning exchanging pleasantries with various visitors.

Professors from various colleges, directors of various departments, and two vice presidents came. Deans Tan Yanming and Zhao Jianyang also came over to offer their congratulations.

Now, an even bigger figure has arrived: Shi Chengqian, the university's elusive and rarely seen president.

When Shi Chengqian arrived at the laboratory and saw Zhang Minghao, he immediately exclaimed, "Zhang Minghao, it's great to finally meet you!"

"I only knew you were good at math before, but Professor Du Bin from Capital University has praised you highly!"

"It's great that we've made such a significant discovery this time..."

Zhang Minghao was immediately confused.

Who is Du Bin?

Shi Chengqian didn't elaborate, but continued, "I know about your work. The experiments you conducted at Donggang University were full of confidence and determination. You dared to confront public opinion and all the doubts, and you continued to persevere in your research..."

He looked around as he spoke, saying, "This spirit is something we should all learn from!"

A round of enthusiastic applause immediately filled the hall.

"The school should organize activities to learn from Zhang Minghao's spirit of perseverance."

"The electromagnetic laboratory is also quite good; it actively explores unknown areas and dares to conduct entirely new research..."

"Ura ura~~"

Shi Chengqian went on and on. He is also a top scholar in the field of mathematics, but after serving as a leader for so many years, he naturally couldn't help but use official jargon.

After a long string of platitudes, the important point was finally revealed: "In light of this significant discovery, the university has decided in a meeting to award Zhang Minghao, Professor Zhu Bingkun, and Professor Xue Kun each a reward of 500,000 yuan!"

"Hulala..."

Another round of applause followed.

This time, Zhang Minghao clapped enthusiastically, and his gaze toward Shi Chengqian was full of respect.

Before Shi Chengqian could finish speaking, he pressed his hands down and continued, "The school and the Provincial Department of Science and Technology have communicated and decided to raise two million yuan for the Applied Electromagnetism Laboratory to support the purchase of laboratory equipment or to carry out self-declared experimental research projects."

"In addition, there is Zhang Minghao, who has been granted 500,000 yuan in special funding by the school, which can be used for other research he conducts personally."

"Crash..."

Applause rang out again.

Zhang Minghao's hands were red from clapping, and he looked at Shi Chengqian with even more respect.

The lab's two million yuan funding and his personal five hundred thousand yuan funding are at his disposal.

Whether it's buying research equipment, purchasing office supplies, or even renovating an office, you can apply for funding to use it.

With his personal 500,000 yuan grant, he can do whatever research he wants, except he can't transfer it to his account for personal expenses; otherwise, there are no restrictions.

Shi Chengqian is a very honest person!

After announcing the school's awards, Shi Chengqian did not leave, but went to the large office next door and sat down with a few people to chat.

He asked Zhu Bingkun, "Do you have any follow-up research plans regarding this discovery?"

Zhu Bingkun said, "Now I'm thinking of applying for another project to do further research."

“Applying for projects is easy, but applying for big projects is difficult,” Shi Chengqian said thoughtfully. “The field of metamaterials requires too much funding, and your lab’s conditions are not suitable for such high-end research.”

"Unless it receives key national support to build a metamaterials research and development center, then it will no longer be an applied electromagnetics laboratory."

"Or, do you have any feasible plans for your research that can show everyone the prospects of the research and development?"

Shi Chengqian didn't say it outright, but in reality, Zhu Bingkun and Xue Kun were both less qualified and less capable.

Zhu Bingkun and Xue Kun are conducting experimental research on the fundamental properties of metamaterials.

They can discover new physical phenomena through experiments, but the question is, what happens next?
To secure a large project, you need to study the feasibility plan; a newly discovered physical phenomenon may not have much theoretical support.

What's the next step?
This is an issue that must be considered.

Of course, it's still possible to apply for a research project worth several million based on experimental findings.

Shi Chengqian spoke with Zhu Bingkun and Xue Kun, then turned to Zhang Minghao, who was standing to the side, and asked with a smile, "Zhang Minghao, what are your thoughts on this discovery?"

“I hope to replicate the experiment at Donggang University,” Zhang Minghao answered very directly.

Shi Chengqian laughed and said, "I also downloaded your paper and took a look. The two findings should be the same phenomenon. The method of replicating experiments is indeed good."

He then said to Zhu Bingkun and Xue Kun, "Your project could be in this direction."

After saying that, he looked at Zhang Minghao again and asked, "Do you have any other ideas in the short term? For example, have you thought about your doctoral dissertation...?"

Shi Chengqian offered a brief reminder.

He hoped that Zhang Minghao could finish his graduation thesis as soon as possible so that the school could make a special exception and allow him to directly defend it.

Then, you can graduate.

As soon as you graduate, sign a contract to stay at the university. Otherwise, as a PhD student, you're a free agent and might get poached by other universities.

Zhang Minghao didn't understand. He shook his head and said, "I haven't thought about the thesis yet."

"But if I had to talk about short-term plans... I'd exercise!"

"exercise?"

Shi Chengqian looked completely bewildered.

Everyone else looked over, not quite understanding what Zhang Minghao meant.

"To exercise!"

As he spoke, Zhang Minghao stretched his arms and legs, and even stood up and jumped a few times. "I've always wanted to exercise more, build more muscle, improve my physique, and become healthier."

The middle-aged people around all lowered their heads.

Some looked down at their bellies, while others pinched the fat on their bodies before looking up at Zhang Minghao, who had a perfect figure and exuded youthful energy.

Shi Chengqian grabbed a handful of the fat around his waist, feeling a little defensive. He forced a smile and said, "Zhang Minghao, you really know how to joke..."

(End of this chapter)