By Segun Adeyanju
Despite holding three advanced degrees, including a PhD in biology and a master’s in biodiversity from Oxford University, 39-year-old Ding Yuanzhao now works as a food delivery rider in Singapore.
His story has gone viral, inspiring thousands and spotlighting the global underemployment crisis among highly educated professionals.
Ding, who completed a postdoctoral research role at the National University of Singapore, faced ten unsuccessful job interviews after his contract ended.
Struggling to make ends meet, he turned to gig work, earning about SG$700 a week by cycling 10 hours daily.
Far from being bitter, Ding said the job allows him to support his family and stay fit.
“It is a stable job. If you work hard, you can earn a decent living,” he shared on social media.
With degrees from Oxford, Peking University, and Nanyang Technological University, Ding’s experience underscores the growing disconnect between elite education and job market realities.
He chose not to tutor, citing shyness in marketing himself, and now serves as an unlikely but powerful symbol of resilience.
His story has sparked online debates about the limitations of academic achievement in today’s economy and the rising reliance on gig work for survival, even among the most qualified.
