Overview

The National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (Overseas), established by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), aims to attract and encourage outstanding overseas young scholars (including non-Chinese foreign talents) who have achieved significant accomplishments in natural sciences, engineering, technology, and related fields to return to (or work in) China. Selected scholars will independently choose their research direction to conduct innovative research, accelerate the growth of young scientific talents, cultivate a cohort of leading academic talents poised to reach the forefront of global science and technology, and contribute to building China into a global leader in science and technology.

Upon approval, the NSFC will provide funding of 1–3 million RMB for a duration of 3 years.

We cordially invite young talents in ecology, plant resource development and utilization, conservation biology, plant taxonomy, and related disciplines to join us at Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

 Support and Benefits

Position: Research Professor, eligible to serve as a research group leader.

Salary: Negotiable on a case-by-case basis; no less than 600,000 RMB/year in principle during the first appointment period (5 years).

Living Allowance: An 800,000 RMB living allowance provided by XTBG. Additional talent allowances will be granted according to relevant regulations for those selected for national, CAS, or local government talent programs.

Research Start-up Funding: Up to 10 million RMB (including research funds from national, CAS, and Yunnan Province talent programs).

Support Services: Ample office space, laboratory facilities, on-campus expert apartment accommodation, and assistance with children's schooling.

Project Application Support: Full support for applying to national, CAS, and local talent programs and research projects.

Exceptional Candidates: Policies for exceptionally outstanding talents will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants for the Distinguished Young Scholars (Overseas) Program must meet the following criteria:

(1) Comply with the laws and regulations of the People's Republic of China, possess good scientific ethics, and actively practice the spirit of scientists in the new era.

(2) Born on or after January 1, 1985.

(3) Hold a doctoral degree (Ph.D.).

(4) Primary research direction should be in natural sciences, engineering, technology, or related fields.

(5) Between obtaining the doctoral degree and September 15, 2025, applicants must generally have held a formal teaching or research position at an overseas university, research institution, or corporate R&D center for at least 36 consecutive months. For those who obtained their Ph.D. overseas with exceptionally outstanding achievements, the work experience requirement may be appropriately relaxed (not applicable to those who obtained overseas doctoral degrees through joint China-foreign training programs).

Note: Time spent in concurrent salaried positions within China during the overseas work period does not count toward the overseas work experience requirement.

(6) Have achieved research or technological accomplishments recognized by peer experts and demonstrate the potential to become an academic leader or outstanding talent in their field.

(7) Applicants must not have returned to (or commenced) full-time work in China before application, or must have returned/commenced work in China on or after January 1, 2024. Upon receiving the grant, awardees must resign from overseas positions and work full-time in China for at least 3 years.

Program Restrictions:

Adhere to the requirements for the coordination and linkage of national science and technology talent programs. Applicants can undertake only one national talent program at the same tier and cannot apply for programs at a lower tier.

Applicants who applied for the first 2025 Distinguished Young Scholars (Overseas) batch but were ineligible at that time due to timing issues, yet meet the eligibility criteria for this new batch, may apply for this new batch. Other applicants may not resubmit applications in this new batch.

Applicants who have applied for other national talent programs at the same tier in 2025 are ineligible to apply for this new batch of the Distinguished Young Scholars (Overseas) Program.

 Application Procedure

Applicants must submit application materials online via the application system to the host institution, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG), Chinese Academy of Sciences, by September 5. XTBG will review the applications and submit them online to the NSFC before the deadline (September 15, 2025).

Eligible applicants are requested to first contact the XTBG Human Resources Office. Upon reaching a preliminary agreement on the application intent, dedicated staff will guide the applicant through the subsequent steps.

Contact us now to explore this exceptional opportunity!

Contact Information

Contact: LIU Qing

Contact number: +86-0691-8715454, +8615198424892 

Email: liuqing@xtbg.org.cn 

Human Resource Office, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, CAS

Contact person: WEI Xingyu

Contact number:  +86-0691-8715454, +8618202799076

Email:   weixingyu@xtbg.ac.cn