TONGMENGSTUDIO Columbia University in New York City and Universitythe of Angeles, California, Los overseas. We have formal collaborations with in Canada, for students and to postdocs work a programme with University the of Toronto neuroscienceOur centre is going to establish Are youplanning newcollaborations abroad? translating research the into antidepressants. to scientists and clinicians worldwide about symptoms of severe depression. We’re talking from a region of brain the and relieves the anaesthetic ketamine bursts blocks electrical as we grow. In 2016,we discovered how the I’m considering on taking foreign students It’s an entirely team Chinese right now, but Tell usabout yourteamandcurrent research. for astrong entrepreneurial spirit. research,medical and it has a reputation that provide platform agood for translational University affiliated hospitals has several and teams. chemistry cology Zhejiang engineering, computer science, pharma research. My own lab collaborates with We foster astrong culture of interdisciplinary What doyoulike aboutZhejiangUniversity? Shanghai in2008. of Institute Sciences of Neuroscience in York.New Academy Ijoined Chinese the at Spring Cold Harbor Laboratory in Berkeley,California, followed by a postdoc University at the PhD in of a Beijing , I did After graduating from Peking University What were youdoingbefore that? closeto familyBeing and is aplus. friends nurturing environment where I could grow. has school asupportiveThe medical and Why didyoureturn toHangzhou? environment. She researches depression at Zhejiang University School of Medicine in Hangzhou. Neuroscientist Hailan Hu moved back to her home town to capitalize on its vibrant science The zestofZhejiang Q&A the Universitythe of Melbourne inAustralia.

Hailan Hu © 2018 Macmillan Publishers Limited, partof Springer Nature. All rights reserved. - This interviewhasbeen editedforlengthandclarity. ADDITIONAL RESEARCH BY LIUSHAOXIN INTERVIEW BY SARAH O’MEARA. not more so. The opportunities are growing. tive to researchers as Beijing or Shanghai, if living, Zhejiang Ithink has become as attrac With its nice environment and low cost of What attracts youngscientiststoZhejiang? young trainees. to extend schemes these qualified to all studied and worked abroad. Now is time the are for designed scientists Chinese have who At present, some career-development grants support trained at to those home and abroad. work inChina,Ihope we can provide equal students and are postdocs doing outstanding As basic research booms and more graduate Chinese research environment inthefuture? What advances doyouhopetoseein the compared with my in United the peers States. I perhaps spend less writing time grants What practical benefitsdoyoufindChinahas? and Zhejiang cultivates entrepreneurship. favours foreign companies and big brands government-owned businesses, Shanghai ferent business models. Beijing has the ShanghaiBeijing, and Zhejiang, have dif a saying: three the big eastern economies, Change was always of a part life here. There’s Are yousurprisedbythetransformation? my out; wallet Ipay using my mobile phone. tional. It feels different. Ialmost never take The atmosphere and is modern interna tourism-based economy has transformed. destination. Now, it beautiful, but is still its Hangzhou was China’s top honeymoon How hasHangzhouchangedsinceyouleft? 31 MAY31 VOL 2018 | NATURE 557| S53 |

■ - - -