Chapter 243 - 198: Heavyweights Assemble for Wu Ting’s Master’s Thesis Defense Committee

Chapter 243: Chapter 198: Heavyweights Assemble for Wu Ting’s Master’s Thesis Defense Committee

’Could it be that the most successful thing I’ve done in my life is taking on Wu Ting as a student?’

Shen Siyuan looked at Wu Ting and immediately told herself to dismiss the thought. She couldn’t afford to slack off.

Just as Shen Siyuan was feeling happy for Wu Ting, Wu Ting added another piece of news.

"Teacher Shen, there’s more news. My phase-one paper has been confirmed for publication in *Liver Transplantation*. At the same time, Dean Liu Rong, who is one of the editors for *Liver Transplantation*, is willing to recommend my paper to the World Health Organization Asia-Pacific Traditional Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline Workshop."

"If everything goes smoothly, my findings could be incorporated into the clinical practice guidelines!"

Hearing yet another piece of good news from Wu Ting, Shen Siyuan felt like she was being hit by one wave of excitement after another today.

"Wu Ting, you’re truly incredible."

Shen Siyuan praised her for a moment, thinking she couldn’t drop the ball either.

"I’ll contact the hospital right now to apply for your project’s final defense. At the same time, I’ll start inviting experts in relevant fields to be on your defense committee."

A bold idea flashed through Shen Siyuan’s mind:

"Wu Ting, since things have come to this, let’s just go big with this final defense. I’m going to assemble a top-tier defense committee for you."

"This time, my teacher is coming to Xiao City to see you, so let’s include him as one of the members."

Hearing Shen Siyuan’s words, Wu Ting’s heart surged with excitement. ’Professor Ye Xin! A titan in the field of immunology, a name from the textbooks, is actually going to be on my master’s thesis defense committee!’

Shen Siyuan began to screen for top domestic experts in the fields of immunology and hepatitis B-related primary liver cancer.

Soon, Shen Siyuan had a list and started making calls.

However, the first professor she called heard it was for the final defense of Shen Siyuan’s master’s student and refused outright before she could even explain.

The reason was simple: he felt that a master’s project was beneath him. A doctoral project, maybe, but not this.

With the backing of *Cell* and the HHMI, Shen Siyuan wasn’t too bothered. She blamed the insular nature of some academic circles in the country for being so out of the loop.

She made two more calls and was met with rejection again. Shen Siyuan could understand the reasons—there had been some negative online reviews about Wu Ting’s previous "one-yuan" project, and now, not long after starting the project, she was already holding the final defense. Who would dare to serve as an expert on this defense committee?

Wouldn’t that be tarnishing their own reputation? The big shots in academia were very protective of their prestige.

Shen Siyuan was also slightly indignant. It was despicable how unscrupulous media outlets stirred up trouble and made indiscriminate accusations. Of course, the colleagues who shamelessly sucked up to her when they needed something, only to immediately distance themselves the moment they saw her student’s project might have a negative impact, were even more contemptible in her eyes.

They didn’t even give her a chance to explain.

Shen Siyuan hadn’t even gotten the chance to show off how outstanding her student was before she was politely rejected.

Next, Shen Siyuan dialed Chen Bofeng, the Vice Dean of Xianglin City Xuanshang University Affiliated Tumor Hospital.

Dean Chen had clearly heard some of the negative news about Wu Ting, but he still held her in high regard.

"Director Shen, I’m very happy that you’ve invited me to participate in Dr. Wu Ting’s master’s thesis final defense. I will be there on time."

"Also, please convey my encouragement and support to Wu Ting. Tell her not to pay any mind to those negative comments online. As researchers, we just need to be patient, focus on our work, and let our academic achievements speak for themselves."

"If Dr. Wu Ting needs me to voice my support, just say the word."

"Finally, I’d also like to welcome Director Shen and Dr. Wu to our hospital for academic exchanges."

Dean Chen also agreed immediately, without giving Shen Siyuan the chance to mention Wu Ting’s paper in *Cell*.

Shen Siyuan and Wu Ting were both deeply moved.

Of course, this was partly due to Dean Chen’s noble character, but it was also because Wu Ting’s own abilities, demonstrated over several collaborations, had earned his trust.

Just as Shen Siyuan was about to continue inviting experts...

A call came in from a number saved in her contacts, one she had never called before.

Shen Siyuan looked at the contact name: Professor Deng Fujiu, Xianglin City Transportation University!

Puzzled, Shen Siyuan answered the call and heard a polite and friendly voice introduce himself.

"Professor Shen Siyuan, hello. I’m Deng Fujiu, a professor at Xianglin City Transportation University and the director of the BIO-X Life Science Research Center. I’m also an old friend of your teacher, Professor Ye Xin..."

"I’m calling because I’d like to visit you and your student, Dr. Wu Ting, in Xiao City. I read your team’s paper published in *Cell*, ’A Study on the Immunonegative Regulatory Mechanism of Single Immunoglobulin Interleukin-1 Receptor-Related Protein in the Curative Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B-Related Primary Liver Cancer’... I was completely astounded!"

"So I’m taking the liberty of calling in the hopes of meeting you and the paper’s corresponding author, Dr. Wu Ting. It would be even more wonderful if we were fortunate enough to collaborate..."

It was Professor Deng Fujiu!

Shen Siyuan’s eyes lit up. Wasn’t this a top-tier big shot for the final defense committee, delivered right to her door?

Looking at the names of the professors on her list who had just rejected her, Shen Siyuan suddenly felt a little fortunate... and she abruptly realized that perhaps Deng Fujiu wouldn’t be the only one...

Shen Siyuan controlled her emotions and explained to Deng Fujiu that Wu Ting’s project was ready for its final defense, inviting him to serve as an expert on the committee.

Deng Fujiu, of course, agreed in a heartbeat, adding that he looked forward to collaborating on the remaining research after the master’s thesis was concluded.

After she finished her call with Deng Fujiu, another unfamiliar number rang.

"Professor Shen, hello. I am Han Yu, a member, Deputy Director, and Secretary-General of the National Natural Science Foundation Committee. I am preparing to visit Jinggang University Medical College to inspect your and your student Wu Ting’s project, ’Systemic Curative Therapy for Primary Hepatitis B-Related Cancer: A Study of Phases One, Two, Three, and Four’..."