TO THE EDITOR:
Dr. Liu was not the most famous scientist. He did not have the biggest lab or the biggest budget. He was not well-known to most of UNC.
What I have learned from his passing is that these things do not make any difference; his impact was far greater and mean- ingful. He was kind, gener- ous, friendly and warm.
He was a person who could make a nervous student in his first post-undergraduate research position feel that he could actually do good science. He would never hesitate to drop what he was doing to explain how to use a machine. He would take me into his office and offer advice, tell me jokes, talkabout his daughter and family. He would look out for me if I got cornered by a tricky question in lab meeting, or if I made a mistake on a formulation step.
He would listen to me agonize over medical school applications. He told me I could be happy and succeed no matter where I was.
He was a mentor in the purest, truest form of the word. He made a difference.
I will never forget him.
Michael Foote ‘11
