Zhong Chen

What made you come to the U.S.?
I just graduated from college. I want to get a PhD degree. I think USA has the best PhD program that's why I came here.

Where are you from?
I'm from Hunan province, in central part of China.

Is that difficult for you to travel to the U.S.?
I actually get admission into a US university was not that hard for me. I was in the top university in China and I also got very high GRE and Toefl scores. I think the most difficult part is actually go to the US Embassy in Beijing and get a visa because that time my English was not very good and the officer actually have a very difficult questions for us and they are a lot of people try to get a visa. We were waiting in line for hours and then we facing the officer, we are really nervous and there's some tough question for us, is very high pressure if their officer didn't like us they won't give us Visa. They don't need to give us any reason for reject us. They just said I cannot give you visa today and then I'll just wasted.

I remember one of the question is this school is paying you almost US$40,000 tuition plus fellowship, why do you think you were worth in that much. I thought that was a really difficult question I just keep very confident face that because I'm worth it I'm really have lots of talents I'm really good at what I do. But in my heart I think it is just is my answer good enough, I have no idea.

Did you get a job in the U.S.?
I did and after I graduate get my PhD degree I did… I think a two year post doc and then I got a job at 3M. I went to Cornell university for my PhD degree. Then I moved to University of Georgia and did my Post Doc then I moved to Minnesota and get a job at 3M.

What is your occupations?
I am research scientist in 3M that develops adhesives… basically stick stuff together. You have a lot of stuff 3M produced maybe I developed maybe in your cellphone in your laptop and in the car you drive.