Back to the lab: XJTLU helps international student overcome pandemic learning gaps

One of the pandemic’s lasting effects worldwide is how it affected those who were students. Despite their institutions’ best efforts, the educational gaps for some could not be entirely closed.

The shuttering of laboratories during the pandemic was one serious difficulty for students pursuing degrees with laboratory requirements. Many international students completed graduation requirements through virtual laboratories and other online courses. They included five BSc Applied Chemistry students at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU).

Dr Eric Amigues and Dr Graham Dawson at the Department of Chemistry in XJTLU’s School of Science decided that the wet lab sessions – where students could test and analyse chemicals, liquids and other biological samples – were too important to miss.

“Although the pandemic was an extraordinary time, it didn’t sit well with us that students graduated without the necessary skills,” Dr Dawson says.

Audrey Nathania Johan (left) and Dr Graham Dawson (right)

They invited back five BSc Applied Chemistry alumni who missed the wet lab sessions, and worked individually to find a time and method for providing the practical experience.

The University provided this support to alumni at no charge.

Last summer, Dr Amigues and Dr Dawson provided the last of these students – Audrey Nathania Johan – with practical wet lab experience.

Dr Graham Dawson (left) and Audrey Nathania Johan (right)

Overcoming obstacles 

Johan, a student from Indonesia, began her academic journey at XJTLU in 2017 to pursue a BSc in Applied Chemistry. After a trip home in the spring of 2020, international travel restrictions prevented Johan and other overseas students from returning to campus.

Johan took a gap year from 2020 to 2021, hoping to return to campus the following year. However, continued travel restrictions made this impossible, and she eventually completed her degree online in 2022.

After graduation, Johan worked for a year in Indonesia as a junior account manager and translator at one of the country’s largest telecommunication providers. However, her passion for research led her to return and pursue further education.

In 2023, she came back to China to take a one-year Chinese language programme in Shanghai. At the same time, she applied for a master’s programme in physical chemistry at Xiamen University, China.

During the summer, she reached out to her former professors at XJTLU and mentioned that she would like to improve her lab skills if possible.

“At that time, my plan was to join the language programme while applying for a master’s scholarship for the next year’s intake. After catching up with Eric, he asked me whether I wanted to do the lab session. We finally decided to do the catch-up session during the summer of 2024 since the timing perfectly lined up with finishing my language programme,” she says.

Dr Amigues offered her two options: revisit essential practical skills or join an independent one-month research project.

Johan chose to join the research project titled “Synthesis of nanomaterials for degradation of environmental pollutants” supervised by Dr Dawson.

From 2 July to 2 August 2024, Johan worked closely with Dr Dawson’s PhD students and other members of the research group.

“Practical skills in the lab are crucial for becoming a good researcher, and I genuinely love working in the lab,” Johan says. “This training really helped me review my previous knowledge about working in the lab.”

During this time, she gained practical skills in hydrothermal synthesis, organic modification reactions, and advanced analytical techniques such as UV spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, gas chromatography, and high-performance liquid chromatography.

g-C3N4 made by Audrey in the lab

Moreover, she also honed soft skills like time management, independent research planning, and collaborative teamwork.

“I really cannot express how grateful I am for all the teachers who have helped and supported me while studying at XJTLU, especially Eric and Graham. All of their support makes the Department of Chemistry feel like a second home for me,” she says.