She is a rising research star with a first‑author paper in a top journal, a flag bearer in the National Flag Guard of Zhejiang University, and a performer holding level‑10 certificates in both piano and Chinese dance, with over 20 honors to her name. Her take on grad school? A gradient descent on a non‑convex function: steady your step size through the oscillations, and iterate your way to a "better solution." Meet Zhu Jiaqi, a first‑ever "Student of Distinction" at the International Campus, Zhejiang University.
Navigating through Chaos
Zhu's research path has been full of oscillations from the start. She works on Federated Learning over the Air, a cutting‑edge topic for future edge intelligence. The early bottleneck wasn't technical difficulty but how to communicate complex theories clearly. Research, she realized, is the art of storytelling: solid derivations mean little without rigorous, fluid prose.
"I'd feel okay one day, and the next it just wasn't good enough." This constant self‑critique pushed her to improve but also left her stuck. The turning point came from the International Campus's unique environment. Her advisor, ZJUI assistant professor, Prof. Yang Hao, didn't edit her paper. Instead, he guided her to see the bigger picture. "What's the core contribution? Why should readers care?" Through repeated discussions, Zhu learned to build a complete theoretical framework and find the "red thread" running through her research.
That breakthrough became a paper in IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications. The work revealed key advantages and operational principles of over‑the‑air federated learning in large‑scale client scenarios, offering new technical ideas to overcome the communication bottleneck in federated learning.
That breakthrough became a paper in IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications. The work revealed key advantages and operational principles of over‑the‑air federated learning in large‑scale client scenarios, offering new technical ideas to overcome the communication bottleneck in federated learning.
Looking back, Zhu defines research as a "delayed gratification" journey: short‑term setbacks with little positive feedback, but long‑term growth from every solid dataset, rigorous derivation, and the courage to restart.
From Involvement to Construction
The international environment of the International Campus sharpened Zhu's academic growth. From nervously jotting down keywords to speaking at the Chinese Institute of Electronics Information Theory Annual Conference, her communication and global perspective improved through daily immersion.
An even bigger shift came when she began reviewing for top journals and conferences like IEEE TWC and AAAI. She moved from author—anxiously waiting for feedback—to gatekeeper, evaluating academic quality alongside peers. Reviewing forces her to set aside biases and judge innovation, logic, and substance. On the international stage, she has evolved from participant to builder.
Optimal Solution in Other Fields
Beyond formulas and code, Zhu defines herself differently. Piano, painting, and Chinese dance have been lifelong companions, earning her level‑10 certificates in both piano and dance. "Art taught me patience—staying focused through repetition and refining details. That patience carries over into my research."
Whether debugging code or facing failed experiments, the resilience from scales and dance routines gives her grit. From Zhejiang University’s dance troupes as an undergrad to the Shadow Dance Club on campus, she never stopped dancing. Beyond awards like first prize in the "Sanhao Cup," dance is her outlet for relieving research stress.
As a member of the ZJU National Flag Guard, she has raised the flag on National Day and at sports meets. Behind the sunlight and sweat is endless polishing of precision and teamwork. "My intention was simple: step out of my comfort zone, try different roles, and meet inspiring people."
Between strength and grace, art and the flag guard have become another stable set of parameters to counter the "oscillations" of research.
Now, with multiple honors, Zhu shares her experience. As a core member of the college's CKC Speaker Group, she has organized talks like "Zhu Kezhen's Spirit Across the Seas," weaving insights into vivid stories and revitalizing the century‑old "Qiushi" spirit among young people.
Her advice to younger students: "First finish, then perfect." This lesson—from obsessing over perfection to breaking anxiety through action—encourages cutting sunk costs, restarting decisively, and finding depth in repetition.
From pursuing knowledge to shining on stage to passing the spiritual spark, Zhu's journey continues. She will keep exploring communications and intelligence, riding the waves of the era toward the "optimal solution" where personal values and national development resonate.
About the Student of Distinction series
To recognize students with outstanding contributions in academics, research, extracurricular activities, and cross‑cultural communication, the International Campus has launched its first Student of Distinction award. The iZJUer Student Voices series will feature these students, documenting their growth and multi‑dimensional explorations on campus.
(Article: ZHAO Qi, CHEN Shuyi; Photography: ZHU Jiaqi; Editing: CHEN Nuo, ZHU Fengyun; Editing in Charge: GUO Jiyao, LI Yinan; Reviewer: YANG Yi; Final Review: QU Haidong)