Mahomet (Institut d’Optique) did an internship at USTC in China

Introduce yourself

My name is Mahomet BOUMARD and I'm an engineering student at Institut d'Optique Graduate School (class of 2025) at Université Paris Saclay. My school specializes in the sciences of light: photonics. I'm also enrolled in the Entrepreneurship track.

Why did you come to China?

Between May and August 2024, I was lucky enough to do an internship at the NRSL (National Radiation Synchrotron Laboratory) in Hefei, in the Anhui province of China. This is a huge particle accelerator. My internship was under the supervision of Professor Song Li, as part of an international team of engineers and researchers.

I had already been to the USTC (University of Science and Technology of China) in Hefei for a Summer Camp one year earlier, which had given me an insight into Chinese life.

Why did you choose China?

I really enjoy travelling and discovering other cultures. I had a feeling of incompleteness after the Summer Camp because I  did’nt have worked directly in a team, it was more a period of discovery. I wanted to immerse myself in Chinese life and learn more about the way they think and work together.

Can you tell us more about your internship

This is an introductory internship on the characterization of 2D materials using Raman Spectroscopy. First a bibliographical phase to understand the particle accelerator, then how the spectrometer works. This was followed by a collaboration with our internship supervisor's international team to gain a better understanding of how to prepare our samples for analysis. Finally, the actual analysis and report writing.

What is different between studying in China and in France?

I really appreciated the “à la carte” aspect of my internship in China. Our supervisor didn't try to impose research on us, but rather to see what interested us most among the wealth of applications of his team's work. He sent us a lot of bibliography and gave us invaluable advice on how best to acclimatize to his team.

The USTC campus is also magnificent, with lots of activities. It's a real small town, with everything a student needs to flourish: leisure activities, a wide range of canteens for different diets...

What can you say about student life in China?

We had arts and sports activities organized by USTC's International College. Small in-school festivals and performances could be organized. I remember the student orchestra, which was wonderful to listen to on stage. I could go to the gym for a while, and the school invites students to participate in events: for example, some international students sang at Graduation Day...

Tell us about your life in China

In China, the phone plays an important role in daily life, and installing certain applications can be indispensable:

- Alipay for payments: several restaurant chains let you choose your menu in a section dedicated to them on the app. Several integrated mini-apps, such as Didi, let you order a cab in total security.

- WeChat: same use for payments, with the added possibility of communicating. You'll often be asked for your WeChat on the street or at festivities when they notice you're a foreigner! Chinese people are very welcoming and amused when they meet foreigners. Don't misinterpret the looks, some are just not used to seeing other hair textures or skin colors. Children, and even adults, will ask you for photos with goodwill and curiosity.

- Trip hotels and trains are always booked 2 weeks in advance.

The climate around mid-July is very hot and humid, which can be disruptive if you're not used to it.

Transportation (buses, subways) is extremely clean and well-maintained.

You can have fun and meet Chinese people by sharing a good time at KTV. These karaoke evenings are less popular in France, but they create incredible moments that bring us closer together.

What advice would you give to students from ParisTech schools who wish to come to China as part of their studies?

First of all, don't hesitate to apply. It's a great way to get a change of scenery and, above all, to learn about other cultures. We always see a country in a biased way before we've been there. Working in international teams is fundamental in today's society, as it boosts the acquisition of new skills and opens the door to many interesting reflections and discussions.

At first, I was reluctant because I was afraid of the financial cost of moving to China. However, I was lucky enough to benefit from a scholarship from the Optics Institute and USTC which covered my expenses. Don't censor yourself and apply, find out about the various grants available. There are lots of job opportunities in Asia. You have to be inquisitive to find them, or even create them!

As far as USTC is concerned, the school offers a plethora of opportunities for international students in all fields.