Growing Through Scientific Research and Practice – Gong Ying’s Academic Journey at UM (EME)
在科學研究與實踐中成長 – 機電工程系龔穎在澳大的學習之旅

The University of Macau welcomes the 2025 graduation season. Among the hundreds of graduates from the Faculty of Science and Technology, Gong Ying from the Department of Electromechanical Engineering (EME) at the Faculty of Science and Technology stood out for his outstanding academic achievements, innovative research projects, and active campus involvement. He was honored with the “Best Master’s Student Award” by his department. Gong credited his success to both the innovation and practical value of his research, as well as UM’s strong research infrastructure and experimental support.

Advancing Intelligent Systems

His research focuses on robot learning, particularly a diffusion prior strategy guided by pre-trained models. By replacing Gaussian noise with prior information, he reduced model inference steps, significantly speeding up robotic policy learning. This approach also shows promise in autonomous driving and smart manufacturing—areas requiring fast, efficient decision-making. When asked why he chose UM, Gong emphasized the university’s strong faculty, international research perspective, and rapidly growing global reputation, which together provided him with an ideal academic platform.

Excellence in Research and Campus Contribution

During his studies at UM, Gong consistently embraced a spirit of diligence and innovation, actively participating in various academic competitions and practical activities. At the 18th “Challenge Cup” National College Students Extracurricular Academic Science and Technology Works Competition—often referred to as the “Olympics” of student scientific innovation—he and his team stood out among over 400,000 entries nationwide and won the Grand Prize Award, marking the best result for the Department in nearly 18 years.

In addition, he successfully published a journal paper, demonstrating his solid foundation in scientific research. Beyond academics, he remained committed to giving back to the campus community by assisting in the organization of the UM Open Day, showcasing the university’s research capabilities and educational achievements to the public and promoting technological innovation.

Learning and Personal Growth

Reflecting on his time at UM, Gong praised the high-quality facilities, diverse campus culture, and supportive professors. When facing language barriers, he overcame them through discussions and asking questions. The biggest challenge, he said, was proposing novel improvements and designing rigorous experiments—an experience that sharpened his critical thinking and appreciation for collaboration.

Future Goals and Advice

Looking ahead, Gong will continue his studies as a Ph.D. student at UM. and to explore new frontiers in science and technology. He also shared some advice for future students, “Complete your studies successfully, build a strong network, plan early, develop hobbies, and stay healthy. A balanced life helps you go further.” Gong Ying’s journey is a testament to perseverance and passion in science. His story inspires others to embrace challenges, grow through experience, and strive for excellence.