Yangjing is the second Bangor University Alumnus of the Year China and the 2017 awardee. Yanjing was the first Chinese student to study Psychology at Bangor University. In 2004, he finished as the top graduate of the School of Psychology, for which he was honoured with the Dr John Robert Jones Award and his research project won the undergraduate prize of the British Psychological Society, setting two new records for academic excellence and achievements of international students.
Yanjing went on to complete his PhD at Bangor in 2008 and is now a professor in Psychology at Shen Zhen University. He is the country's youngest PhD supervisor and full professor in Psychology. His work investigates psychological factors that affect communication between individuals using different languages and practicing different cultures. His work helps break down psychological barriers that prevent people from various backgrounds in understanding each other and developing trust. The impact of Yanjing's research in facilitating world communication is frequently reported by public media including, Nature Review Neuroscience, The Observer, Science daily and Medical Daily.
Yanjing awards, prizes and nominations are many and include:
- Santander Research Mobility Award (Santander Bank, 2015)
- Sino-British Fellowship Trust (British Academy, 2015)
- A nomination for the Yangtse River Scholar (Ministry of Education of China, 2016)
- And a two-time nominee for the Thousands Talent Plan of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, 2015, 2016)