Zhenlu Qin - ECE PhD Student of the Month - October 2024
Zhenlu Qin joined the Department of Computer Science at Auburn University at Montgomery as an Assistant Professor in August 2024 after obtaining his Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from NJIT in May 2024. He started his Ph.D. study in 2018 and was advised by Dr. Qing Liu. His research focuses on high-performance computing (HPC), data compression and reduction, and I/O performance.
Compared to industrial jobs, academia jobs come with particular benefits, especially for international students. Along your PhD study, when did you decide to give it a try? What major efforts did you take after having made the decision?
I decided to pursue a career in academia shortly after choosing the Ph.D. path. I appreciate the research flexibility it offers. The winter and summer breaks are a big bonus that gives me time and freedom to study topics that I have the most passion for. Other than building my academic credentials, I have been working on changing my mindset. I kept reminding myself to do research as if I want to be funded by industrial or government sponsors for what I am interested in. In addition, I took the chance of serving as a TA to practice my teaching and advising skills. I have managed to build a greater patience in both my research and teaching, which allows me to carry out more rigorous and sophisticated reasoning as well as tackle greater challenges.
You managed to land a faculty position right after obtaining your PhD degree, which is a great achievement. Now you are addressed not only as Dr. Qin but also Prof. Qin. How does it feel when suddenly find yourself on the other side of the educator-student relationship?
At this point, I don’t really feel that title has much impact on me, though it certainly reflects my new duties and responsibilities. To say the least, I am now on the stage instead of the audience side, which requires me to own my work to a much bigger extent than when I was a student.
The job market in the US has changed drastically over recent years. As a result, more and more PhD students are interested in faculty jobs. What suggestions do you have to current PhD students to do if they would like to pursue a faculty job in the future?
I believe that having the right mindset is crucial. It facilitates our ability to be both brave and patient when facing changes and unexpected challenges. At the same time, one should consider career paths and job choices from multiple perspectives to make more comprehensive decisions. Finally, the job market is indeed brutal, and it is important to find, try and seize every opportunity!