My name is Huaiyu Song, and I am currently a PhD candidate in colloid and interface chemistry at the College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, working in the Huang Jianbin–Yan Yun Group. I also completed my undergraduate studies in chemistry at Peking University, so in many ways this campus has been both my academic home and the place where I have grown into the person I am today.
My doctoral research focuses on soft matter and functional materials. So far, I have co-first-authored one paper in Nano Letters and contributed as second author to a paper published in Advanced Materials Interfaces. For me, pursuing a PhD means much more than spending long hours reading papers, running experiments, and analysing data. It is certainly a demanding path, but it is also one that has taught me persistence, curiosity, and the importance of finding balance.
Outside the lab, music has always been one of the most important parts of my life. If I had to describe myself in one sentence beyond chemistry, I would probably say that I am a drummer before anything else. I fell in love with drums when I was young, and that passion has stayed with me ever since. At Peking University, I joined the PKU Percussion Association, where I found not only a rehearsal space to practice, but also a community of talented and enthusiastic musicians who broadened my understanding of percussion.
Before joining the association, I was mainly a drum-set player and had relatively little experience with other percussion instruments. I was comfortable accompanying a band, but my musical world was still quite limited. Over the years, through rehearsing and performing with other percussionists, I gradually learned to play instruments such as the djembe and cajón, and became much more confident in improvisation and solo performance. That experience changed the way I think about rhythm, collaboration, and expression.
Music at university also gave me the opportunity to grow as a leader. From 2021 to 2023, I served as President of the PKU student percussion association, where I was involved in organizing activities, rehearsals, and performances, and in helping sustain a vibrant musical community on campus. I am now the drummer of the band Coupe Town, and performing with others remains one of the most enjoyable parts of my life.
Over the past few years, I have performed in a number of major campus events, including the 2023 Peking University Youth Singing Festival, the First Peking University International Music Festival in 2023, the 2024 Peking University New Year Gala, and the 2025 Peking University Mid-Autumn Gala. In addition, I have also performed as drummer or percussionist in many college-level shows and at PKU’s student club fair. One particularly memorable experience was performing on a large stage before thousands of people, which was both exciting and deeply rewarding. Those moments reminded me that music, much like science, is about communication, energy, and connection.
Beyond drumming, I also enjoy badminton, photography, and travelling. These interests give me different ways to observe the world and to stay grounded outside academic life. Badminton keeps me active, photography encourages me to notice details, and travelling continually renews my curiosity about people, places, and cultures. In different ways, all of these experiences feed back into how I think and work as a researcher.
For me, life as a PhD student is not defined only by research output, but also by the passions and communities that make the journey meaningful. Chemistry is the path I am committed to professionally, but music, sport, and exploration are equally important parts of who I am. Together, they shape how I approach both science and life: with discipline, creativity, and enthusiasm.
