At that time, Wu was chosen to serve as the first female chair of the American Physical Society, with a great many connections. By chance, Bell Labs was recruiting on the Columbia University campus, and Wu took it upon herself to recommend Hu to their higher-ups.
吳健雄當時已被美國物理學會選為首任女性會長，人脈甚廣，恰巧貝爾實驗室來哥大校園獵才，吳健雄還主動向對方主管推薦胡玲。