Eva Li (Yutong)
After completing her degree in Bachelor in Biotechnology from the Northeast Forestry University in China, Eva chose to continue with a Master in Science at the University of Auckland for its strong research in biology.
Eva's experience as an international student at the University of Auckland has been overwhelmingly positive. She acknowledges the academic rigour but appreciates the support she has received. "Although the courses are hard, I have learned much. The staff and lecturers are very supportive, and they help me even with the detailed things," she says.
Eva was pleasantly surprised by the work-life balance in New Zealand. "I have much more time to enjoy nature and spend time with my friends, which helped me to maintain my physical and mental health." This balance has allowed her to focus on her studies but also to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Eva's research at the University of Auckland is both challenging and rewarding. She is engaged in computational evolution research with Professor Alexei Drummond, focusing on accessing phylogenetic posteriors for single-cell sequencing tumour data. "I'm interested in software engineering and cancer evolution".
Eva encourages prospective students to consider the University of Auckland for both its academic and lifestyle benefits. "It’s a really nice place to study and live. It would be a good chance to think about what you want to do in the future and how research would be like," she advises.