(l-r): Prof. Timothy Caulfield, Dr. Li Du PhD, & Prof. Linda Reif
The University of Alberta Faculty of Law would like to offer its sincerest congratulations to Dr. Li Du on obtaining his PhD. He holds the distinction of being the Faculty of Law's second PhD graduate, following close on the heels of our first PhD graduate Dr. Sarah Hamill who graduated in June 2014.
"Li has worked incredibly hard during the past five years and we congratulate him on his strong dissertation and a successful defence," said Professor Linda Reif, who acted as one of Li's PhD supervisors. "Li will become the Faculty of Law's second PhD graduate. This will form an excellent foundation on which Li can build a fulfilling career in health law".
Li successfully passed his PhD final examination on July 30, 2014, and will graduate from the University of Alberta Faculty of Law at convocation later this year. Li's dissertation, entitled 'Labeling of GMOs: Law, Science, Policy and Practice', is based on international law, EU law, domestic health law and science, the dissertation argues for voluntary labeling of GMOs and GMO foods, with particular application to Canada.
"I am thrilled for Li," exclaimed Li's other PhD supervisor, Professor Timothy Caulfield. "Not only was he a terrific student, he has become a great academic colleague. Li has contributed to a range of research projects and has been involved in numerous interdisciplinary studies. The Health Law Institute has been lucky to have him around. He has a great career ahead of him."
The UAlberta Faculty of Law, and Dr. Li Du's PhD supervisors Professors Timothy Caulfield and Linda Reif, would like to thank the members of the examining committee: Dr. Alan McHughen, College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of California, UC Riverside, served as the external reader; Dr. Henry An, Department of Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology, ALES, served as the other arms-length examiner; and Dr. Glenn Griener, Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts, and Dr. Erin Nelson, Faculty of Law, served in their capacities as the other supervisory committee members. The Faculty of Law would like to give a special thanks to Professor Barb Billingsley who skillfully chaired the committee meeting. Finally, the Faculty of Law greatly appreciates the support of Kim Wilson, Admissions/Records Coordinator and Associate Dean (Graduate Studies and Research) Steven Penney throughout the process.
Once again the University of Alberta Faculty of Law congratulates Dr. Li Du on this significant achievement, and wish him the very best for his future career!
Interview with Dr. Li Du Ph.D.
1. What was the main reason that you chose the University of Alberta Faculty of Law for your Ph.D.?
The top one reason that I chose to come to the U of A Faculty of Law is that it has a world-leading health law institute. When I finished the clinical medicine and law bachelor degree study, I was fascinated by medical malpractice legal research and thought I should take advantage of my medicine and law duo education background to promote the health law research in China. However, back in 2009, there were few Chinese law schools that offered health law graduate programs. When I was about to give up my health law plan, I noticed the website of the Health Law Institute and the new PhD program offered by U of A Faculty of Law. After rounds of emails with Professor Moin A. Yahya and Professor Timothy Caulfield, I found they were very supportive of my application, and I made my mind to take this new and exciting adventure.
2. What would you say were the best experiences of your Ph.D.?
My experience at U of A Law confirms my decision was 120% right! I took health law courses, attended a lot of Picard health law lectures, and worked as a research assistant with the health law team on several cool projects. My co-supervisors Professor Linda Reif and Professor Timothy Caulfield were super nice to me and were very responsible for my research progress. I have received a great deal of mentorship from both of them throughout my PhD program, which is the key to my successful accomplishment of my PhD. As a U of A health law graduate student, I was approved for the fellowship of CIHR Training Program in Health Law, Ethics and Policy for four years and accepted as a Stem Cell Network Trainee Communications Committee. These fellowships and social works provided me with numerous opportunities for receiving academic trainings, presenting my research papers, and making connections with international-leading health law experts and scientists across Canada, the US and UK.
3. What are the hidden challenges that you faced as a Ph.D. student?
Except for the difficulties that any interdisciplinary researchers may face, as an international PhD student the challenges I faced also included language barriers, long separations from my wife and family, different cultural and social backgrounds, and isolating feelings of graduate work. However, the center for writing program, academic writing workshops and other kinds of services provided by U of A career department really helped me to improve my English writing skills and facilitate integration into local culture and life. The Law School's faculty seminars regularly held in each terms also give me a feeling that I am part of the community of faculty members at the law school and the university.
4. What advice would you have for incoming Ph.D. students and why they should choose the UAlberta Faculty of Law?
PhD study and research, to my understanding, is a journey that leads you to become a global expert in a certain field. The destination of the journey is alluring but the process is long and sometimes very tough. Therefore, I would suggest to incoming PhD students that, in order to successfully accomplish your degrees, you must first look after your own well-being and make sure to stay healthy both physically and psychologically. If you can find a good balance for work-life, though it is very hard in practice, it would be the best. If not, force yourself to take a break at certain points and let your brain and body rejuvenate, or you can set-up deadlines and force yourself to fulfill them when you feel lazy, to go forward. In terms of the improvement of your academic performance, the most efficient way is to talk more often with your supervisors and other outstanding peer scholars. They will guide you in the right directions and help you to develop your critical thinking. Also, try to regularly make knowledge translation (KT) activities to the lay people. This will help you to talk like an ordinary person, strengthen your knowledge, and rethink your on-going research works.
5. What are your plans for the future?
I want to find an academic position to start my career and continue my health law research passion. No matter where I am going to work, one thing is for sure that I will endeavor to build connections between Chinese and Canadian institutes to promote more valuable collaborative opportunities.
6. Would you like to add anything else?
I want to express my deepest gratitude to my wife and family for all their love and support. From the bottom of my heart, I would love to thank my supervisory committee, including my supervisors Professor Linda Reif and Professor Timothy Caulfield, as well as Professor Erin Nelson and Professor Glenn Griener for all their consistent support over the years. I appreciate all other faculty members and staff who have helped me to get through this journey, especially the health law team, Professor Ubaka Ogbogu, Robyn Hyde-lay, Terry Adido, Marie Dussault, Professor Moin A. Yahya, Kim Wilson, Associate Dean Professor Steven Penney, and former Dean of the Faculty of Law Professor Philip Bryden I would love to thank the Canadian Institute of Health Research for accepting me as a fellow of the Training Program in Health Law, Ethics and Policy. I also thank the Canadian Stem Cell Network for making me part of the Trainee Communications Committee. All these involvements have dramatically enriched my PhD study experience, providing me with numerous opportunities for networking with internationally leading scholars, presenting my research and working with talented people. I am very grateful to faculty members of Wuhan University School of Law, China for their great support of my study abroad. My most sincere thanks go to the Chinese Scholarship Council and University of Alberta Faculty of Law. Their generous financial support allows me to devote all my time to this thrilling and productive PhD program.