On the afternoon of April 27, the symposium titled “Commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the National Postdoctoral System at the Postdoctoral Mobile Station of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Applied Electronics (EEA), Tsinghua University,” hosted by EEA Postdoctoral Alumni Association, was grandly held in Lecture Hall 3-503 of the West Main Building. This event gathered outstanding postdoctoral alumni, leaders, and faculty representatives from universities, research institutes, and industry enterprises. Over 80 participants joined both online and offline. The meeting was chaired by Zheng Zedong, Party Secretary of EEA, jointly reviewing the development history of the postdoctoral system and envisioning the future blueprint for disciplinary innovation and talent cultivation.

Group Photo of Attendees, Leaders, and Postdoctoral Alumni

Check-in Segment

On the event day, guests, leaders, and postdoctoral alumni arrived one after another, signing their names and taking group photos at the check-in point in Area 1 of the West Main Building. Wearing department anniversary badges, they happily reconnected with former classmates, old friends, and mentors, reminiscing about research experiences and discussing industry development.

Opening Remarks

Yu Xinjie, Director of the Tsinghua University Personnel Department, emphasized in his opening speech that the postdoctoral system is a crucial national strategy for cultivating high-level talent. Over the past 40 years since the system’s implementation, the Department of Electrical Engineering, as one of the first postdoctoral mobile station units, has continuously contributed a large number of talents to technological innovation and social progress. He highly praised the postdoctoral researchers as the main force in interdisciplinary research, talent training, and tackling scientific challenges. Looking ahead to the national “dual carbon” goals, he called for further deepening of university-industry joint training mechanisms and optimization of postdoctoral development pathways to inject smart energy into the new era of energy transformation.

Kang Chongqing, Department Dean, President of the EEA Alumni Association of Tsinghua University, and Director of the Postdoctoral Mobile Station, reviewed the 40-year development of the postdoctoral station. Since Professor Chen Yunping became the first postdoctoral fellow in 1986, over 400 alumni have graduated, among whom many distinguished postdocs have emerged. He highlighted that nearly 80% of the current postdoctoral population joined in the last 15 years. Kang emphasized the department’s strong commitment to postdoctoral work, adhering to the philosophy of “help them get started, support them along the way, and care for them throughout life,” providing an excellent platform for postdoctoral scholars. He concluded by encouraging all postdoctoral alumni to “come home often,” recommend more talents to join Tsinghua’s postdoctoral team, and help contribute to the nation’s new energy strategy through this talent network.

Issuing Certificates to the First Board of Directors

To better connect and support postdoctoral alumni, the department established the Postdoctoral Alumni Association. Zheng Zedong, Party Secretary and Vice President of the EEA Alumni Association, announced the first board members of the association. Professor Kang Chongqing serves as Chair; Researcher Luo Bing from China Southern Power Grid, Professor Wu Xiaojie from China University of Mining and Technology, Professor Xia Mingchao from Shenyang University of Technology, and Tsinghua Professors Zheng Zedong, Gao Wensheng, Yu Zhanqing, and Xiao Xi serve as Vice Chairs. Certificates were awarded to the attending board members by Professors Kang Chongqing and Yu Xinjie.

Outstanding Postdoctoral Alumni Sharing Session

Professor Mei Shengwei, a postdoctoral alumnus admitted in 1996, Vice President of Qinghai University and a professor in the department, shared his memorable experiences witnessing the 40-year development of the postdoctoral system. Drawing on his interdisciplinary research journey from control theory, motor speed regulation, and large grid control to new energy and compressed air energy storage, he emphasized the importance of multidisciplinary integration during the postdoctoral phase. He also highlighted the disruptive impact of artificial intelligence on electrical engineering, illustrating with examples how AI solves complex electrical problems. Professor Mei interpreted the Tsinghua motto, “Self-discipline and Social Commitment,” encouraging young postdocs to persist with diligence and face future challenges with unyielding spirit.

Wang Yang, a 2011 postdoctoral alumnus and current Chairman of Beijing Qingneng Interconnection Technology Co., Ltd., shared his journey from undergraduate at Tsinghua to entrepreneurship. During his doctorate, he focused on optimization scheduling research, gained practical experience at North China Power Grid, and eventually founded his company serving power market transactions and dispatch. He recounted three major career decisions, stressing the importance of self-awareness and finding one’s right frequency, expressing gratitude to his alma mater and department, and hoping to contribute more in future entrepreneurial and research endeavors.

Dr. Ran Zhaoyu, a current postdoc and “Zhengyan Scholar” of the department, shared her research experiences and reflections during her postdoctoral tenure. She noted participation in multiple projects related to high-voltage and insulation technologies and solving technical challenges through interdisciplinary cooperation. She stressed the vital role of the postdoctoral system in cultivating future scientific leaders and shared gains in grant applications and international exchanges. She concluded by quoting alumnus Zhu Rongji’s message at the department’s 60th anniversary, “Dare to turn the impossible into possible,” wishing all postdocs to navigate the journey of strengthening the nation through science with determination and academic rigor.

Open Discussion Session

During open discussion, postdoctoral alumni including Wang Yongzhen (Beijing Institute of Technology), Si Fangyuan (Beijing Jiaotong University), Fang Yujun (Tsinghua University), and Wu Xiaojie (China University of Mining and Technology) shared research experiences during their postdoc terms. The discussions reflected gratitude towards the alma mater and department, along with encouragement and advice for young postdocs. This session deepened alumni connections and offered valuable insights for early-career postdocs. Those unable to attend, including Vice President Xia Mingchao (Shenyang University of Technology) and Professor Wan Can (Zhejiang University), also sent congratulatory letters with heartfelt messages for the alma mater and disciplinary development.

Forty Years of Glory, Unwavering Commitment

Over four decades, the EEA Postdoctoral Mobile Station has always aligned with national needs, striving to build a world-class electrical engineering discipline and cultivate talents to meet the energy transition wave. This symposium marked both a summary of a glorious journey and the beginning of a new chapter. Moving forward, the department will continue to uphold the Tsinghua spirit of “Self-discipline and Social Commitment,” using the postdoctoral community as a bond to unite alumni efforts and contribute to the national “dual carbon” strategy and global sustainable energy development.

First Board Meeting of the EEA Postdoctoral Alumni Association

To further promote the construction and development of the Postdoctoral Alumni Association and better serve alumni needs, more than 20 board members and postdoctoral representatives convened in Meeting Room 3-102 of the West Main Building after the symposium. The meeting, chaired by Vice Chair Gao Wensheng, focused on the organization’s structure, innovation in activity formats, cooperation mechanisms, and support for postdoctoral development. The directors and representatives offered numerous constructive suggestions on building cross-regional and interdisciplinary communication platforms, uniting alumni strength to serve postdoctoral needs, and enhancing academic and career cohesion among postdocs. The meeting clarified the association’s service positioning and development path, laying a solid foundation for ongoing communication mechanisms, deeper university-industry cooperation, and supporting alumni growth.