I’m Yuying Chen!

Hi everyone! I am Yuying Chen. I am a PhD student from the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences. My research focuses on the energy metabolism and carbon cycle in extreme glacier environments. Now I am doing my visiting PhD at Aarhus University in Denmark.

Microorganisms are so interesting! Although we can't see them, they're everywhere, even in low temperatures and intense radiation extreme places like glaciers. We were curious about how these microbes adapted to the cold and strong radiation and their roles in the carbon cycle in glacier environments. This is the driving force behind our study of microbes in glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau, Arctic and Antarctic.

My favourite part of my research was going to fieldwork, climbing glaciers and sampling from lakes. Sampling on Mount Everest is my most unforgettable experience.

I hope I can keep doing more exciting research to uncover the veil of microbes!

I like hiking, playing badminton, walking the dog, fishing, and swimming during my spare time. I also enjoy reading science fiction and fantasy detectives, which gave me a lot of inspiration.

My first polar exploration was in 2016. It was in Tibetan Plateau, the third pole. We went to Nam Co to do some field tests and collect water samples. Nam Co is renowned as one of the most beautiful places in Tibet. The altitude is more than 4000 meters, which makes me a little plateau response. Fortunately, after a few days of rest, I basically adapted to the hypoxic environment. While enjoying the view, I also learned a lot about microbiological experiments.

My parents are usually very supportive of my polar expeditions. However, they were worried about my safety.

I hope I can continue to do work related to polar research in the future and continue to deal with those interesting microorganisms.

I think it was my teacher in university who inspired me. He has been to the Arctic and also he showed us pictures of the North Pole. That endless white snow cover captured my heart. Some jobs can be boring and frustrating once you start, so keep your curiosity about the world and your passion for the job at your fingertips. Also, be sure to exercise well.

Twitter: @Yuying_Chen96