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Scholar Profiles

Feilin Nie

Feilin Nie

Country of origin: China

Subject: Chemistry

Matriculation year: 2011

I gained my BSc in Pharmacy in 2005 from Peking University in Beijing, China, where I also finished my MSc in Chemical Biology in 2007.  I then worked for four years as a research assistant in different research groups in China.  In 2011, I moved to the University of Cambridge to pursue a PhD in Professor David Spring’s group in the Department of Chemistry with a Gates Cambridge scholarship and Krishnan-Ang Studentship (Hon) in Trinity College.

My PhD programme is focused on the development of an efficient strategy for the DOS of a structurally complex and diverse non-peptidic macrocyclic library.  A multi-dimensional build/couple/pair/modify strategy was employed.  In my dissertation, a library of 78 macrocycles based on 54 scaffolds was synthesised.  A high level of structural diversity, especially scaffold diversity was achieved.  Additionally, two new macrocyclisation methods have been developed.  Computational analysis indicated that the macrocyclic library spanned a molecular shape space as broad as natural products and the macrocyclic library has some chemical space overlap with synthetic drugs, natural products and macrocycles under clinical development.  The preliminary antimicrobial susceptibility and proliferating inhibition screening of the DOS library indicated that there were some macrocycles that showed moderate bioactivities.

When I was approaching the completion of my doctorate thesis in 2015, I was fortunate to be involved in a symposium at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on the theme: "Inter Faith Dialogue and Education for a Universe of Peace".  Religious leaders and keynote speakers presented and reflected upon the importance of education in bringing about a culture of peace.  This symposium has made me realise that treating disease required a holistic approach rather simply relying on drug therapy.  The Preamble to the Constitution of UNESCO states: "Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed".  A majority of diseases nowadays can be attributed to the stresses resulting from one's words and actions, which ultimately stem from our minds.  If we only treat illness on the physical level but neglect the root cause within the mind, it often leads to disease relapse or an even deterioration in the future.  Therefore, there is an urgent need for education on ethics and morality to encourage positive behaviours, thoughts and relationships, in order to improve the personal health and societal well-being.

Motivated and encouraged by the ideal of my life – making every effort to help others, and after deeply considered for several months, I decided to make the change from Chemistry to Sinology.  In 2017, I pursued an MA Sinology programme in the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, studied Chinese classics and gained training in translation from classical Chinese to modern Chinese, and then to English.  After the completion of the programme, I went back to China in 2018.  Currently I’m teaching traditional Chinese culture in Beijing.  In the future, I would also like to promote Sinology in the West and intercultural dialogue.