The connection between Jacobio and Si Dingnan highlights the intersection of the humanities and the natural sciences. Dingnan first studied Chinese law before pursuing a master’s degree in law at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. After graduating, she joined a global manufacturing firm. Her career took an unexpected turn after a chance encounter.

One day at work, Dingnan noticed a colleague had a copy of the epic Indian poem Ramayana that had been translated by Ji Xianlin, a respected scholar. Intrigued, she explored his other works and came across an essay describing his experience studying at the University of Göttingen in Germany.

She ended up applying and getting accepted to the school’s interdisciplinary cultural studies programme. When she arrived in Germany, she discovered that her department was in the same building Ji had once studied. For Dingnan, it felt like a remarkable coincidence.

She spent two and a half years at the German university. As an exchange scholar, she also had the opportunity to study in India for six months at the University of Pune, focusing her research on sociology and anthropology.

After obtaining her second master’s degree, Dingnan pursued a doctoral degree in law at Taiwan National Cheng Kung University, conducting research related to anti-unfair competition law.

In 2021, after returning to Beijing, she joined Jacobio’s legal department. In this role, she reviews various agreements crucial to the company’s new drug development process. Her responsibilities require an in-depth understanding of the legal regulations governing the pharmaceutical industry both in China and around the world.

As a law student who has experienced various cultures, Dingnan aspires to help ensure innovative drugs can reach all who need them regardless of location or social barriers.