1. About us

Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences (XTBG), located in the South of Yunnan Province, was founded by Mr. Cai Xitao in 1959. XTBG is a comprehensive research institution integrating scientific research, species preservation, and popularization of science education. In addition to the main garden, there is a subsidiary branch in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province.

Located in the tropical region of China, XTBG focuses on biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of plant resources in South Asia and Southeast Asia. It not only addresses ecological protection in tropical areas around the world but also places special emphasis on the relocation, propagation, and reintroduction of rare and endangered plants. XTBG has become a significant base for tropical biodiversity and ecology research and is currently advancing the development of the Xishuangbanna Tropical National Botanical Garden.

XTBG co-established a national key laboratory focusing on plant diversity and special economic crops. It possesses multiple provincial and international research platforms, including 2 Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratories and 4 International Joint Laboratories, among others. XTBG is a core unit for several significant biodiversity conservation programs and has established a big data platform for the conservation of relocated plants in China. The primary disciplines are botany and ecology, both of which rank highly in the Essential Science Indicators (ESI). Currently, it offers doctoral and master training programs in ecology and botany, as well as postdoctoral research stations in biology and ecology.

XTBG has extensive cooperation with more than 50 countries, and its international influence is constantly expanding, and it has become the most important base for scientific research on tropical plants, a repository for the conservation of tropical plant germplasm resources, and a center for the dissemination of scientific knowledge in China.

2. Program Introduction

The National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) has established the Outstanding Youth Science Fund Project (Overseas) to attract and enourage accomplished overseas young scholars (including non-Chinese foreign talents) in natural sciences, engineering technology, and other fields to return to (or come to) China to work. This initiative aims to allow these scholars the freedom to choose their own research directions for innovative studies, accelerating the growth of young scientific and technological talents. It seeks to cultivate a group of outstanding academic leaders who have the potential to enter the forefront of global science and technology, and contribute to the development of a strong science and technology nation.

Upon approval of the project, the NSFC will provide a grant of 1-3 million RMB for a period of 3 years.

Note: The above information is based on the 2025 policy. Specific application requirements shall be subject to the project guidelines issued by the National Natural Science Foundation of China in 2026.

3. Support and Benefits

1. Appointed as Professor position and doctoral supervisor.

2. Receive a maximum of 10 million RMB for various types of research start-up funding (including funding from the national government, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Yunnan Province).

3. Provide competitive salary and benefit packages, with a maximum of 2.3 million RMB of living subsidies (including those provided by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province).

4. Provision of ample office space and laboratory facilities, along with assistance in resolving employment for spouses and school enrollment for children.

5. Provide accommodation in the expert apartments at XTBG.

6. We fully support the talents to apply for various talent programs and scientific research projects of the nation, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province.

7. Extraordinary talent can be negotiated.

4. Application Requirements

1. Abide by the laws and regulations of the People's Republic of China, have good scientific ethics.

2. Born on or after January 1, 1986.

3. Hold a doctoral degree.

4. The research direction that is mainly in natural science, engineering technology, etc.

5. After obtaining the doctoral degree and before April 15, 2026, the applicant should generally have obtained an official teaching or research position in an overseas university, scientific research institution, or R&D organization of an enterprise, and have a working experience of more than 36 consecutive months; for those who have obtained the doctoral degree overseas and have particularly outstanding performance, the requirement of the working years can be appropriately relaxed;For those applicants who also hold a paid position in China while working overseas, the years of working experience in the paid position in China will not be counted as the years of working experience overseas.

6. Achievements in research or technology that are recognized by peers, with the potential to become an academic leader or distinguished talent in the field.

7. The applicant should not have worked full-time in China prior to the application, or must have returned to work in China after January 1, 2025. Upon receiving the funding notification, the applicant is required to resign from their overseas position and return to work full-time in China for a period of no less than three years.

8. Implement the requirements of the relevant central departments on the integration and convergence of national science and technology talent programs. Individuals at the same level of the national science and technology talent plan can only undertake one project and are not allowed to apply for projects at a lower level.

5 .Application Method

Eligible applicants are requested to contact the Office of the Human Resources at XTBG first, and there will be a person to guide the applicant to carry out the follow-up work.

Contact Person: Mr. Liu Qing, Ms. Wei Xingyu

Tel: +86-691-8715454, +8615198424892, +8618202799076

E-mail: liuqing@xtbg.org.cn, weixingyu@xtbg.ac.cn

Address: Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun Town, Mengla County, Xishuangbanna Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China, 666303

Program Guide: To be updated