Xiao Yi's doctoral graduation ceremony is over.
From this day on, there is one less talented student in the world, but there is one more Professor Xiao.
Of course, the news of his graduation spread quickly. After all, he had been the darling of the media during this period, and there were many media who had been following his news.
So as soon as he graduated, he once again made the headlines of major media.
This once again surprised many people.
[Good guy, I almost forgot, Scholar Xiao is still a student??]
[It turns out that the requirements for doctoral students are so high, so I have a reason to refuse my supervisor's advice to study for a Ph. D.]
[Are you sure you are not attacking Feiwu doctoral students like me??]
[I was attacked to the point of woo woo woo]
[Scholar Xiao has improved the overall quality of doctoral students by one person!]
[But from now on, Scholar Xiao is no longer a doctoral student, and the value of doctoral students has dropped again!]
[Sorrow]
[I will call you Professor Xiao from now on. With tears in my eyes, I seem to see the coming of an era.]
[I am USTC. Will Professor Xiao come to work at his alma mater?]
[I am also USTC. I really can't imagine how happy I would be if Professor Xiao could become our teacher]
[If Scholar Xiao doesn't come to teach at Peking University, why do you USTC do it? We at Peking University are number one in mathematics]
[You guys at Peking University, don't come here to mess with me. USTC is the alma mater of Scholar Xiao. What is your Peking University? nothing]
["Marriage first, love later: Professor Xiao spoiled me rotten"]
[Ah ah ah ah sister, I give you the pen, write for me quickly!]
[The book has no store to smash!]
Xiao Yi didn't pay much attention to these comments on the Internet.
Although he has officially become a researcher, he still has no research tasks.
The main reason is that he has just submitted the funding application for the topic "Research on the Mechanism of High-Temperature Superconductivity and FeSe/SrTiO3 Single-layer Superconducting Materials" and is still waiting for the funding to be approved.
It's unclear how many will be approved by then.
Of course, there is another question: where will the experiment be conducted?
Either rent a laboratory in a school or research institute, or build a laboratory yourself.
The former is mainly low cost, but the problem is that its use is restricted, and sometimes you need to queue up to apply. Generally speaking, it is not free.
The latter is naturally very free. After all, you built it yourself and can use it whenever you want.
However, there is obviously a key problem, that is, it is expensive!
First of all, you need to have a piece of land, and then you have to purchase various experimental equipment. Cheap equipment is not enough. Otherwise, the final effect is not as good as renting a laboratory directly and using the high-end equipment there to conduct experiments. The quality of the experimental equipment can also affect the review of journal editors.
Just like one of the most expensive experimental equipment - cryo-electron microscope, you can use this thing to take pictures of anything and you can publish an SNC article. However, the price is also really expensive. A slightly better quality one costs tens of millions, and the annual maintenance cost in the future is about 1 million. Ordinary laboratories simply cannot afford it.
This is the waste of money.
The inventor of cryo-electron microscopy even received Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2017. This incident also received a lot of complaints from the mathematical community.
Of course, if Xiao Yi wants to do research on superconductivity, it will naturally not use cryo-electron microscopy. This thing is mainly used for biological research and has nothing to do with physics.
However, even to study superconductivity, there are a lot of experimental equipment that need to be purchased, such as microscopes, transmission electron microscopes, scanning electron microscopes, and spectrometers, such as angle-resolved photoelectron spectrometer, Raman spectrometer, and so on.
In addition, there are magnetron sputtering equipment, CVD, MBE, etc.
Basically, even a slightly lower-end laboratory cannot afford tens of millions. If it is higher, it can easily reach hundreds of millions.
For example, the cost of the laboratory at Institute of Physics is even more terrifying.
Therefore, scientific research is very expensive.
Only subjects like mathematics can produce top-notch results at extremely low costs.
"If you want to build your own laboratory..."
In the dormitory, Xiao Yi took a look at the price list of various equipment listed on his computer, as well as the final total value, plus other costs.
To build a condensed matter-materials laboratory that meets his ideal type, it would cost at least 500 million.
Finally, he shook his head helplessly.
With such an expensive cost, coupled with subsequent maintenance costs, even if he has the gold mine of Yishui Bit, it is not enough to build it like this. What's more, the price of Bitcoin has dropped recently, and the profitability of Yishui Bit has also declined. The idea of building this laboratory entirely by oneself is basically impossible.
"Forget it, don't think so much now, let's wait for my project funds to be approved."
"Well... today is already July 17th. Let's go back to Fei City tomorrow."
After all, he had planned to go home before.
After graduating and officially becoming a researcher, he should go home to announce the good news or something. By the way, he had to go to USTC to visit Professor Liu Bin and academician Hu Guangde who had helped him in the beginning.
Of course, USTC High School is definitely indispensable.
Although he doesn't like socializing, the socializing he doesn't like refers to the kind of socializing for fame and fortune.
He doesn't mind visiting his former elders and the place where he grew up.
"Then... sleep first!"
A night of silence.
On the second day, Xiao Yi got on the plane back to Fei City. His father Xiao Guohua drove to pick him up. His mother Du Xin was also in the car and followed him.
It seems that this son, Father Xiao Mother Xiao, who is already known as a master of mathematics internationally, feels unreal.
Although Father Xiao Mother Xiao was a college student at that time and was considered a highly intelligent person among ordinary people, they never imagined that the son they gave birth to would be so smart.
However, no matter how unbelievable they were in their hearts, when they saw Xiao Yi's face, the family affection in their hearts still made their eyes full of tenderness and kindness when they looked at Xiao Yi.
After all, it is their child after all.
I went home and had a reunion dinner with my family. On the same day, USTC also learned that Xiao Yi had returned to Fei City, and then Xiao Yi's home became lively.
USTC Dean of the School of Mathematics Tang Fucheng, Academician Hu Guangde, and Professor Liu Bin all came, and then Dean of the School of Physics, Academician Shen Gensheng, and Executive Dean Chen Xiangyu also came.
In addition to these people, there is another important person, that is the chief of the department Senior Colonel, and academician Bao Hexin is also here.
"Xiao Yi, we meet again."
When Bao Hexin appeared in front of Xiao Yi, he smiled and said hello to him.
Xiao Yi was immediately stunned. "Academician Bao, you are actually here too."
Bao Hexin laughed, "Isn't this strange? You are the most outstanding graduate and the most outstanding alumnus of our school in the past few years. Now that you are back, of course I have to come and see you. What's more, we were also standing on the same podium."
Bao Hexin was talking about the National Science and Technology Awards Conference last year.
At that time, Xiao Yi won the first prize in natural science with Goldbach Conjecture, and two other projects also won the first prize. One of them, Nanoscale Confined Catalysis, was completed by the team led by the academician Bao Hexin.
So they were indeed standing on the same podium.
Xiao Yi also laughed, "You are right, then, everyone, please come in quickly."
Later, these academicians and professors were invited in.
And Father Xiao Mother Xiao did not expect that as soon as Xiao Yi came back, so many big guys would come.
Another academician, and even the principal of USTC?
USTC As one of the top universities in the country, the administrative level of the principal is naturally not low, almost equivalent to a deputy provincial-level official.
In the past, such a person was definitely a big shot to them.
But now, when such big bosses see them, they all take the initiative to nod and say hello to them.
Bao Hexin even took the initiative to shake Xiao Guohua's hand and said, "You two are Xiao Yi's parents. Thank you very much for your support of Without the training of Xiao Yi, our country would not have such a pillar of talent, nor would our Fei City and USTC have such a proud person."
Xiao Guohua said repeatedly, "No, no, it's all Xiao Yi. He worked hard on his own. His mother and I are not even scientists, so we can't really say that we have cultivated anything."
"Haha, they say family is the most influential environment for a child's growth. Mr. Xiao, don't underestimate your influence on Xiao Yi."
Bao Hexin said with a smile.
He once served as the executive vice president of Danfu University, so he was naturally very good at this kind of thing. He praised them twice and Father Xiao Mother Xiao was all smiles and greeted them to the living room.
This villa is worth nearly 20 million, and the living room is naturally quite large, so it is not crowded at all with so many people.
Father Xiao went to prepare tea for the guests, while Mother Xiao went to find some fruit for the reception.
In the living room, it is Xiao Yi.
Xiao Yi said, "Academician Bao, come here, you must have something to do."
Bao Hexin smiled and nodded, without covering up, and said to Xiao Yi, "I heard that you have now become a researcher of Mathematics Research Institute and Institute of Physics?"
Xiao Yi nodded. "Yes."
Bao Hexin asked, "Do you want to consider returning to our USTC?"
It was indeed for this matter.
Xiao Yi is not surprised, otherwise, people would not come to the door with such a big fanfare.
"I..."
Just as he was about to speak, Bao Hexin said first, "Of course, I will tell you the conditions in advance. We are not asking you to come back just because of your feelings for your alma mater."
"I have also talked with the leaders of our province about inviting you back, and we all think it is a very important matter."
"First of all, we can build a mathematical physics laboratory with you as the center, with an estimated investment of 200 million yuan. In addition, we will also help you build a research team. You will have autonomy whether it is enrollment or other aspects."
"Of course, the most important thing is the annual experimental funding. The minimum funding is tens of millions. What do you think?"
Bao Hexin said.
Upon hearing such conditions, Xiao Yi was immediately moved.
Good guy, he was just thinking about the laboratory yesterday, but he didn't expect to receive 200 million yuan in funding the next day.
It's like giving a pillow when you feel sleepy.
And seeing Xiao Yi's excited expression, Bao Hexin continued to strike while the iron was hot.
"As you know, our Hui Province cannot be called a big economic province, but our province is still very willing to invest in science and technology. Among the national scientific research cities, our Fei City is also ranked third, only behind Shangjing and Shanghai."
"And you are now the only Fields Medal winner in our country and a candidate for the Nobel Prize. If you stay at Fei City, you will definitely get the best treatment."
"Your personal annual salary, including various talent introductions and subsidies from our province, as well as a bunch of miscellaneous expenses, is at least 2 million, and then there are house, car and other expenses..."
Bao Hexin looked at the house of Xiao Yi again, and finally smiled and said, "I guess these are not attractive to you. You are probably one of the richest people among the alumni of our school."
"How about it? If you agree, we can sign the contract agreement tomorrow. If there is anything else we need, you can put it forward."
Bao Hexin looked at Xiao Yi.
In fact, there is one thing he did not say, that is, Fei City is still the hometown of Xiao Yi.
However, he believed that Xiao Yi himself would definitely be able to take this into consideration, coupled with so many superior conditions.
He is basically confident.
Finally, Xiao Yi thought for a long time and asked, "I want to know, how much funding can be provided at most to build this mathematical physics laboratory?"
Although 200 million is already a lot, it is still at least 300 million short of his ideal laboratory, and there is no upper limit, so he still wants to fight for it.
"Well..." Bao Hexin pondered, and finally said, "I can't answer you. After all, two hundred million is already a lot, and for the Mathematical Physics Laboratory, don't you think it's enough?"
To be honest, for a mathematical physics laboratory, 200 million is already considered a very luxury. After all, mathematical physics laboratories generally do not need to buy any experimental equipment. They can produce results with a pen and a piece of paper. At most, they will spend more money on high-performance computing equipment.
Xiao Yi said with a smile, "I don't just want to build a mathematical physics laboratory, I want to build a condensed matter-materials laboratory."
Bao Hexin and others were immediately stunned.
"Condensed Matter-Materials Laboratory? You want to study..."
"Superconductivity." Xiao Yi said, "I now have a certain degree of confidence in the mechanism of high-temperature superconductivity, but experiments are still needed."
"In addition... I also plan to study a new type of high-temperature superconducting material. I already have a certain degree of confidence in this. Moreover, this new type of high-temperature superconducting material has a high probability of being a practical high-temperature superconductor that can replace the position of niobium-titanium alloy in the industrial field."
Upon hearing what Xiao Yi said, Bao Hexin and the others were immediately shocked.
"The mechanism of high-temperature superconductivity? Are you already sure about it? And what about high-temperature superconducting materials?"
Next to him, Academician Shen Gensheng from the School of Physics immediately asked in surprise.
Xiao Yi smiled and nodded.
After he returned from Russia on the 15th, he went to the Condensed Matter National Research Center of Physics Research Institute on the 16th to try out his additional new ability - Material Mastery.
Then, this new additional ability showed its terrifying effect.
As long as he sees a sample of a material, coupled with various analysis reports of the sample, he can accurately understand the various structures inside the material and the microscopic effects brought by this structure.
The most important thing is that he can also use existing theories to think about how the properties of the material will change after changing the structure. This method can even allow him to verify the correctness of the theory.
As a result, in less than a day, he gained an extremely deep understanding of the mechanism of high-temperature superconductivity, which gave him great confidence in successfully synthesizing high-temperature superconductors suitable for large-scale use.
Hearing his confident answer, Shen Gensheng was extremely shocked for a moment.
That's the high-temperature superconducting mechanism...
If it can be done, this will definitely be regarded as another Nobel Prize-level achievement.
Bao Hexin also fell into deep thinking.
If it is really a high-temperature superconducting mechanism...
For USTC, this is definitely an achievement that can record their school history.
And if it is a high-temperature superconducting material that can replace niobium-titanium alloy in industry, it will be a major event that can affect the province's economy to a certain extent for the entire Huizhou Province.
After all, if such high-temperature superconducting materials can be born in Huizhou, they will definitely have the first-mover advantage in producing this material. By then, Huizhou will even be able to go global.
Thinking of this, Bao Hexin looked at Xiao Yi and said, "If what you say is true, I believe the leaders in the province will agree to this."
After thinking about it, he still didn't ask the question he wanted to ask: Are you drawing a pie?
Considering that this project is Xiao Yi's first scientific research project after graduation, he should not be trying to make a fool of himself.
So Bao Hexin said, "I will go and talk to them in the next few days."
"In addition, you can also apply for funding from the state. I believe the state will be very willing to provide a large sum of money for your project."
Xiao Yi nodded and said, "I have already written the funding application form and am waiting for a reply."
After hearing that Xiao Yi had already written the application form, Bao Hexin believed in this matter even more.
After all, their current funding can only be said to be their province's funding for talents. If they apply for national funding, they will attract the attention of the country. This funding is not applied randomly.
"Okay, I will go to the provincial leaders to mention this matter tomorrow."
Bao Hexin smiled and nodded.
"We'll sign the agreement after we discuss it."
"Okay." Xiao Yi nodded.
"But before that..." Bao Hexin looked at the Mathematics Department and the two deans of the Institute of Physics.
Both of them smiled, and then took out something from the bag they carried with them, and handed it to Xiao Yi.
Xiao Yi took it and took a look. Good guy, there are two more letters of appointment, inviting him to become Mathematics Department and a professor in the Institute of Physics.
Bao Hexin said with a smile, "The agreement will take some time. Before that, let's become a professor in our school."
"All the students in the school are very much looking forward to the arrival of you, Professor Xiao."
Xiao Yi smiled, then nodded, "Okay!"