About

Hi, my name is Xinliang(Bruce) Lyu and I’m now a master candidate in Physics, The University of Tokyo. I’m now working on condensed matter theory in Kawashima Group. Before enrolling in the physics PhD program at the University of Tokyo, I had worked with a Georgetown Professor, Jim Freericks, on his quantum mechanics book project as a citizen scientist. 

I have a very unusual background. My undergraduate training is more on engineering side and I also have a master in structure engineering. Both trainings are at Tongji University. In order to switch to physics, I spent about 3 years learning all the necessary courses in a typical curriculum in physics department. For more details about this experience, see the related post in English or in Chinese.

Aug 2021 in my dormitory (KIV), pretending to play the violin

Basic information

Education

  • Tongji University, Shanghai, China, major in Civil Engineering, from 2013 to 2017
  • Graduate School of Structure Engineering in Tongji University, from 2017 to 2019
  • Graduate School of Science, Physics department, The University of Tokyo, from 2019 to now

Academic Interests

  • Physics & Mathematics
  • Computer Science
  • Philosophy (my current favorite philosophers are Kant and Nietzsche)
  • Language Learning & Creative Writing
  • Structure Engineering

A Sense of My Identity as a Physicist

  • Curious
  • Honesty
  • Hard-working
  • Well-rounded in all fields of physics 
  • Go deep enough to any field
  • Physicists-like (not mathematician-like)

My supervisors in Engineering side:

  • Dr. Xiaodan Ren. He is now a professor in Tongji University, mainly focusing on understanding the damage process of structure components, like a reinforced concrete column in a building or a human bone. You can know more about him through his Google Scholar and personal website (in Chinese).
  • Dr. Chao-Lie Ning. 

Other Interests

  • American TV drama series. What I’m currently watching is Young Sheldon, and Better Call Saul. (Updated on 24 Jun. 2021) Now I’m now keeping my eyes on a new Marvel series, Loki.
  • Reading. Mainly autobiography of physicists and mathematicians, and books about history of physics, or general science. (Updated on 24 Jun. 2021) Recently, I’m quite into philosophy books about Existentialism.
  • I also watch movies and anime from time to time. (Updated on 24 Jun. 2021) My favorite anime is now Attack on Titan.
  • Of course, I like listening to music. Besides popular pieces by Jay Chou, Eason Chen and some Japanese songs, I also like classical music. Mozart and Beethoven are my favorite. And also Tchaikovsky.

Idols

  • In Physics, Richard Philipps Feynman
  • Singer, Jay Chou
  • Philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche