Obtaining your PhD in COVID times – the experience of Xuxi Zhang

I had my public PhD defense in the Erasmus Building-Senaatszaal, Erasmus University Rotterdam. It’s a hybrid defense: 2 of my doctoral committee members attended the defense online. According to the COVID measures, less than 20 friends and colleagues attended my defense offline, and everyone followed the rule of keeping 1.5 meters distance. Meanwhile, my parents and friends in China and most of my friends and colleagues in the Netherlands attended my defense online. Thanks to my promoter, co-promoter, paranyphs as well as the good organization of the Beadle’s Office, I had a wonderful defense and I enjoyed it a lot. My parents, friends and colleagues also enjoyed the whole process online, especially for them in China, and they told me they are very proud of me and feel excited when they watch the defense online. Before my defense, I’m a bit worried due to the COVID issue. But I fully cherish the unique experience during the special COVID time after my defense because it’s nice and enjoyable. At last, I would like to thank everyone who ever supported and helped me, and I hope the whole world could overcome COVID-19 as soon as possible.