Fang fang, class of 2025 in Civil Engineering, has been deeply committed to exploring the interdisciplinary possibilities within civil engineering, focusing on bridge inspection research centered on intelligent structural monitoring and synthetic data, while also integrating new materials and algorithmic tools. As a teaching assistant for the Project-Based Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE190) course, she demonstrated meticulous attention to detail and patient guidance, earning unanimous praise from both faculty and students. Her outstanding overall performance earned her a place on the Dean’s List.
In the 4th Zhejiang University Undergraduate Concrete Dragon Boat Competition, Fang Fang and her team skillfully combined traditional aesthetics with engineering technology to create concrete dragon boats that balanced artistic appeal with structural performance, winning second place and showcasing her strong cultural and artistic sensibilities.
Beyond academics, she embraces a philosophy of well-rounded development, pursuing diverse interests including painting, photography, language, crafts, and bass guitar. She also served as president of the POITA Art Club at International Campus, Zhejiang University, leading club members on museum visits, conducting video-based lessons and experience-sharing sessions, building bridges of communication, and fostering collaboration and growth among members.
On her journey toward her dreams, she has achieved remarkable success—receiving offers from nine out of ten universities she applied to, including Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley, Columbia University, University of California, Los Angeles, University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, Northwestern University, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Georgia Institute of Technology, and University of Southern California. She is now preparing to embark on her next chapter at Stanford University.
Exploring Boundless Possibilities, Passing on the Spirit of Peer Support
When talking about her research in civil engineering, Fang Fang said, "After entering ZJUI, I gradually realized that the development of civil engineering is not limited to traditional construction and structural analysis—it can also intersect with emerging technologies such as computer vision and virtual reality. Therefore, when choosing research projects, I try to cover different directions and explore possibilities for integration with other disciplines."
In her freshman year, under the guidance of Associate Prof. Li Binbin at ZJUI, Fang Fang participated in a summer research project on "low-cost wireless vibration sensing." "Structural health monitoring is an emerging field that deeply integrates civil engineering with new technologies like computer science, sensors, and data analysis. It enables safer assessment of buildings and bridges at lower costs and higher efficiency," she explained. In the project, she and her team integrated a three-axis accelerometer with Arduino and Wi-Fi modules, achieving real-time vibration monitoring at 1–2 Hz while significantly improving monitoring accuracy. She added, "From a business and engineering operation perspective, structural health monitoring not only extends the service life of structures and reduces maintenance costs but also plays a crucial role in preventing sudden accidents and ensuring public safety. It is one of the core components of future smart infrastructure."
Furthermore, Fang Fang participated in research related to 3D concrete printing materials. This was her first independently led research project, where she gained exposure to mix design and rheological property testing of 3D concrete printing. Through repeated experiments, she studied the water absorption rates of different fine aggregates using humidity analysis methods.
▲ Results of Aggregate Gradation Moisture Content Measurement
As she progressed, Fang Fang established her cross-disciplinary research direction in bridge structure inspection during her senior year—centered on intelligent structural monitoring and synthetic data-driven approaches, while also incorporating new materials and algorithm tools. Under the guidance of Dr. Yasutaka Narazaki, Assistant Professor and Researcher at ZJUI, she participated in the development of the Random Bridge Generator (RBG) system. She was primarily responsible for generating virtual 3D scenes of bridges, and together with her team, she achieved high-precision segmentation of major and minor bridge components, as well as more realistic structural simulations.
These interdisciplinary research projects not only require students to possess knowledge in multiple fields but also test their spirit of exploration and self-learning ability. Fang Fang mentioned, "Research often involves using different software platforms like SAP2000, OpenSees, and Blender—tools I had never used before, so I needed to learn them from scratch." Under the guidance of ZJUI professors, she used her spare time to learn through online tutorials, constantly experimenting and coding, and gradually mastered the use of each software tool to provide technical support for the projects. "By learning to use OpenSees, I completed deformation simulations of cable-stayed bridges under different loads. In Blender, I realized 3D modeling and procedural generation of bridges, including the creation of detailed components like bridge cables and connectors."
Looking back on her learning experience at ZJUI, Fang Fang particularly thanked the help and support from senior students. She recalled, "When I first came to ZJUI, I was also confused. Civil engineering has many development directions, and I didn’t know how to choose. Thanks to the advice from seniors, I was able to clarify my direction step by step."
Inspired by this tradition of passing on support, Fang Fang took the initiative to become a peer mentor. Academically, she served as a teaching assistant for CEE190, drawing on her own learning experience to answer freshmen’s questions and help them quickly adapt to ZJUI’s English interdisciplinary education. In daily life, she acted as the liaison senior for the CE2201 class, guiding juniors and sophomores to familiarize themselves with the campus environment, organizing ice-breaking activities, and actively fostering a class atmosphere of mutual assistance.
Versatile and Knowledgeable, Spreading the Beauty of Humanism
Fang Fang has been passionate about anime since childhood. "I started watching anime in kindergarten. At first, I was attracted by the storylines, but later I paid more attention to character development and visual expression. Excellent storyboards and delicate portrayals always amazed me. When watching anime, I often imagine how the scenes would come to life in my mind—it’s a very interesting process. The boundless possibilities of anime are what make it most charming."
Driven by this passion, Fang Fang enrolled in anime art courses, using delicate brushwork and a distinctive personal style to draw her favorite characters, marking the start of her creative journey. "Creation comes from pure love," Fang Fang shared. "Every time I see a work I admire, I get the urge to think, 'It must be fun to draw it this way.'" Meanwhile, to break the language barrier, Fang Fang taught herself Japanese to dive deeper into the world of anime. "By watching anime with bilingual subtitles, I gradually became able to understand the content without relying on subtitles," she explained. "Later, I started listening to Japanese radio programs to gain a more direct understanding of the creative stories behind the works and the voice recording process." This interest-driven learning not only broadened her humanistic horizons but also allowed her to appreciate the unique charm of anime art from a creator’s perspective.
▲ Fang Fang’s Paintings and Handicrafts
Fueled by this passion, Fang Fang found many like-minded friends in the Jihui POITA Anime Art Club. In 2022, she became the club leader, guiding members to actively plan various humanistic and artistic activities, such as organizing trips to art galleries. She also encouraged both new and old members to participate in the club’s cultural development, transforming the activity room into a space filled with artistic atmosphere. At the same time, Fang Fang took the initiative to participate in the new media promotion work of the International Campus, co-managing the SHaining International WeChat account with her team. She was responsible for creating articles, images, and posters, capturing the beauty of the campus through her lens.
▲ Fang Fang and members of the Jihui POITA Anime Art Club visiting the "Dawn After Dark" exhibition at Tianmuli Art Museum
This dedication to pursuing beauty naturally integrated into her practical work in civil engineering. In the 4th Zhejiang University Undergraduate Concrete Dragon Boat Competition, Fang Fang and her team attempted to combine traditional aesthetics with engineering technology to create a concrete dragon boat that is both artistically appealing and structurally sound. "Every time we participate, our team’s design stands out. In our first competition, we used iron wire to outline the framework and pasted rice paper to create magnificent decorative dragon heads and tails. Unfortunately, due to structural issues, the boat couldn’t finish the race, but its dynamic design impressed the judges. The next year, we kept trying, further optimizing the boat’s structural design and making a clay water dragon to place at the bow. Finally, we won the second prize."
"For me, the real driving force comes from that pure desire 'to do it'," Fang Fang said. "Compared to utilitarian motives, passion sparked by interest is often more lasting and powerful." Additionally, she emphasized the importance of maintaining one’s own pace: "Everyone has their own growth path, so there’s no need to overly focus on others’ progress. Finding a rhythm that suits you and achieving goals at each stage step by step is the most sustainable way to develop."
