YING Yilun, 29, a postdoctoral scientist at East China University of Science and Technology, shot to fame recently when she became the first woman in China to win a L'Oréal-UNESCO International Rising Talent Award for her work in DNA sequencing.

Speaking at a forum in Shanghai last weekend, Ying says her achievement resulted from interest, independence and diligence.

"When talking with the other 14 winners in Paris, we all agreed that discovery and persistence in interests we developed as young students paved the way to choosing careers in science," she says. "I think one has to maintain a curious mind to discover or create something."