Hong Li, 2006 Alumna (China)
Hong Li, originally from China, studied polymer materials at Sorbonne University. After graduating, she worked as an engineer at L'Oréal in France for 12 years, before joining Harvard University in the United States, where she is now a laboratory manager.
“I came to France through ParisTech's 9+9 programme, motivated by the desire to study science while also learning the beautiful French language. I was also looking forward to making good friends and to immerse myself in the rich history of France, and more broadly of Europe.”
What inspired you to choose Sorbonne University and France for your studies?
After two years studying engineering at the ESPCI, I wanted to deepen my knowledge of polymers. The research master's degree in Polymer Materials at Sorbonne University was an ideal choice: it offered me both high-level theoretical modules and the opportunity to do a research internship in an industrial setting.
I came to France through ParisTech's 9+9 programme, motivated by the desire to study science while also learning the beautiful French language. I was also looking forward to making good friends and to immerse myself in the rich history of France, and more broadly of Europe. I did my end-of-studies internship with L'Oréal Recherche Avancée, within Sorbonne University. The success of this internship enabled me to go straight into a permanent position at L'Oréal.
What is a memory or experience that stuck with you from your time at Sorbonne University?
I'm very grateful to my tutor during my end-of-studies internship at Sorbonne University. In addition to my internship supervisor at L'Oréal, Sorbonne University assigned me a professor who followed my work closely. He possessed vast knowledge and remarkable professional expertise. Very kind and supportive, he was always giving me pertinent advice, to the point that even my colleagues at L'Oréal were impressed.
What was your greatest challenge settling in and how did you overcome it?
The French language was my biggest challenge, as I'd only had about 100 hours of basic French lessons. I made sure to practise the language in all kinds of situations: in class, on the metro, listening to the radio, with friends, etc. After 5 or 6 months, I ended up understanding French without any difficulty!
