Fudan University graduate begins prestigious American fellowship

Zhou Li

Zhou Li, the son of Fengluan Zhou and Yuhua Li of Wenzhou, has been named a McDonnell International Scholar at Washington University in St. Louis, and he has received a corporate fellowship from Corning Inc. He holds a bachelor's degree in science from Fudan University, which is one of 15 leading Asian universities partnered with Washington University in St. Louis in the McDonnell International Scholars Academy.

Mr. Li is pursuing a doctorate in chemistry in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences and expects his study to continue for five years. He plans a career in industry. He is supported in his research by a fellowship awarded to him by Corning Inc., of Corning, New York, a diversified technology company with a 150-year history of developing breakthrough technologies, integrating scientific discovery with market need. The company focuses on high-impact growth opportunities in the telecommunications, flat panel display, environmental, life sciences and semiconductor industries.

"The Corning Corporate Fellowship is a very prestigious award, and we are delighted that Mr. Li has received it," said James V. Wertsch, Ph.D., the Marshall S. Snow Professor in Arts & Sciences and Director of the McDonnell International Scholars Academy. "He looks like the perfect match as we at the Academy help develop global leaders of tomorrow and Corning thinks about building new links in Asia."

The McDonnell International Scholars Academy is both new and unique. Employing an unusual structure and approach, it brings together top scholars from many countries to pursue world-class education and research while forging a strong network with one another. Key to this are partnerships Washington University has established with top universities and corporations around the world with an eye to increasing opportunities for joint research and global education.

The McDonnell Academy Scholars are considered future world leaders in their fields. As such, they are provided not only rigorous graduate instruction, but a thorough cultural, political and social education designed to prepare them as leaders knowledgeable about the United States, other countries, and critical international issues.

Once selected for this highly competitive program, each scholar is matched with a distinguished member of the Washington University faculty who serves as a mentor for the scholar and also as an "ambassador" to the university partner from which the scholar has graduated. The ambassador assists the McDonnell Scholar in academic and professional life and travels annually with the scholar to the partner university to build relationships between the two institutions.

James T. Little, Ph.D., Donald Danforth Distinguished Professor in the Olin School of Business, is Mr. Li's faculty mentor-ambassador. Little teaches finance and economics, with expertise in business policy and strategy, economic development and policy, and international economics.

The McDonnell Academy Scholars receive funding for full tuition, living expenses and travel to and from St. Louis. Most of the scholars reside in two fully equipped and furnished apartment buildings near campus.

Funding is provided through a sustaining endowment gift from John F. McDonnell, vice chairman of the Washington University Board of Trustees and retired chairman of the board of McDonnell Douglas Corporation, additional endowment pledges, and 11 multinational corporate and foundation sponsors. Sponsoring corporations also offer internships and on-site educational opportunities for the Academy's Corporate Fellows.