March 11, 2021
March
PSD’s March spotlight is Qiti Guo, PhD, Senior Scientist with the James Franck Institute. Qiti has been with UChicago for over 28 years, since 1992.
Qiti was nominated for a “Keystone Award” at the 2020 PSD Staff Awards, recognizing him as a member who helps hold a department, team, or group together. This person is someone many other staff go to for encouragement, resources, or whom they rely on to “get the job done.”
A member of the PSD community had this to say:
“Dr. Guo trains students and postdocs how to use instruments such as SEM and AFM of MRSEC in a detailed way. Also, he really likes to talk with students, bridging the students and PSD. He loves to help international students and contributes to the PSD climate. He is not only a good trainer and teacher but also a good listener and friend. I really appreciate him.”
We interviewed Qiti about his interests and experiences below.
What do you enjoy about being a part of the PSD community?
Working with strong faculty, excellent students, friendly colleagues, and very considerate institute leaders is the most enjoyable.
Tell us a bit about you.
I have a wonderful wife, Chaofang Xiang. We just celebrated our 54th anniversary. We have two sons, Austin Meng Guo, a faculty member at New York Medical College, and Zhihuan Guo, a senior software engineer at an IT company in Chicago. We have four granddaughters and one grandson. I enjoy reading history books, specifically on the civilization and culture in ancient Asia and the modern history of China. I also enjoy classical music very much. Moreover, I am interested in understanding the global human migration in the past 40 to 50 thousand years.
Who inspires you?
It is hard to name a single person who inspires me. In my entire life I have been inspired by different persons in different periods, including my parents, my family members, my teachers in schools and my professors in universities, my former colleagues in Chinese Academy of Sciences, and my colleagues in UCLA, UMN, and UChicago.
What is the most interesting thing that you are working on right now?
I am still working on the topology of phase diagrams as a research hobby. I am also preparing to start writing a memoir.
What does diversity and inclusion mean to you?
As a minority person, diversity and inclusion mean a lot to me. They are the basis for fairness and justice in a society. They are also the necessary conditions for development and prosperity. I always wish my children and grandchildren would live in an even better society, which cannot be without diversity and inclusion.
What have you seen lately that made you smile?
The significant drop of COVID-19 cases and widespread vaccination in the country.
What three words best describe you?
Responsible, self-disciplined, and friendly.