Elite Youth Program
Brief Introduction
Founded in 1957, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) is a national, integrative agricultural scientific research institution with the responsibility of carrying out both basic and applied research, as well as the development of new and advanced technology.
CAAS makes great efforts to solve the sci-tech issues with general, directional and critical importance in the agricultural and rural development, and also plays important roles in agricultural S&T promotion, high-level talent training, and international cooperation. The research at the academy covers a broad range of topics, which have been categorized into eight disciplinary clusters, including crop science, horticulture science, animal science, veterinary medicine, agricultural resources and environment, agricultural mechanization and engineering, agro-product quality, safety and processing, and agricultural information and economics, which can be classified into four categories (agriculture, science, engineering and management science), as well as seventeen first-level disciplines set by the Ministry of Education.
At present, thirty two research institutes are directly affiliated to CAAS, with more than 7000 employees, including 11 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering, and over 2000 senior professional experts. CAAS has established comprehensive science and technology research facilities including six state key laboratories, thirty two key laboratories of the Ministry of Agriculture, five national experimental field stations, eighteen national centers (and sub-centers) for plant and animal variety improvement, ten national specialized laboratories and engineering technology research centers, and forty quality, supervision, and inspection centers (at national and ministerial level). Furthermore, CAAS possesses long-term and medium-term storage gene banks with the second largest crop germplasm accessions in the world, the largest agricultural library in Asia, and two national key facilities.
As a source of innovation, talents are the primary resource for research development, as well as the fundamental resource for research institutions. Currently, CAAS is progressing in its objective of “leapfrog development”, in which it aims to be a world-class agricultural research institution. We are eager to recruit talents to support such development. The Elite Youth Program is a recruitment program for outstanding young, creative academic talents, with a focus on attracting top researchers, particularly those from overseas. CAAS will provide dedicated research funding, a high-quality office and laboratory, and competitive financial compensation and subsidies. We warmly welcome excellent young talents to join us to make achievements together. The specific requirements are below.
Job Responsibilities
1. To bring a clear understanding of the discipline to the position, and develop basic strategies and forward-looking research projects that meet the major national and international strategic needs in agricultural development.
2. To lead a research team to produce innovative results and make notable scientific progress at an international level, and to publish peer-reviewed articles in international journals as the team leader (first author or corresponding author) or make other scientific advances recognized by national and international authorities.
3. To nurture early career scientists in the team, organize international academic exchanges, and develop fruitful scientific collaborations with relevant institutions and organizations in China and abroad.
Eligibility
The candidate for this full-time position should:
1. Have a passion for agricultural research, impeccable scientific ethics and style of research, and bring a spirit of integrity and cooperation.
2. Be familiar with cutting-edge developments in the field, have a solid foundation in the techniques and technologies associated with the discipline, independently oversee or directly participate in the entire research process, and be capable of being a leading researcher in the field and achieving scientifically significant outcomes.
3. Be under 40 years of age and in good health.
4. Present two letters of recommendation from experts in their field, one of which must be from outside China.
5. Have three or more consecutive years of international work experience following their doctoral degree, or have conducted work that yielded influential journal papers in high-quality publications in the field (published as first or corresponding author), or have developed inventions that have generated patents and/or key technologies. Two years of international work experience will be accepted for those willing to work in the western regions or in remote areas of China in return.
Funding and Remuneration
1. A startup research fund of no less than 1 million Yuan (US$161,000) will be provided by the relevantCAAS-affiliated institute during the one-year probationary period.
2. After completing the one-year probation and being officially recruited, the candidate will receive an additional research grant award of 2 million Yuan (US$322,000) and equipment procurement monies of 1 million Yuan (US$161,000), funded by CAAS headquarters.
• Winners of funding from the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars from NSFC will receive an additional 1 million Yuan (US$161,000) for research and an additional 2 million Yuan (US$322,000) for equipment expenses.
• Recipients of funding from the national Youth Thousand Talents Program supported by the central government will receive from CAAS an additional research grant of 1 million Yuan (US$161,000) and additional equipment procurement monies of 2 million Yuan (US$322,000).
3. A resettlement subsidy for accommodation, based on a standard 100 m2 apartment, will be paid up to a maximum of 1 million Yuan (US$161,000), or priority will be given if purchasing affordable accommodation built by CAAS.
4. In addition to the remuneration, benefits, and medical treatment enjoyed by official employees, a further annual allowance of 100,000 Yuan (US$16,100), will be provided by CAAS for the first four years. This will be increased to 200,000 Yuan (US$32,200) for recipients of funding from the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars from NSFC.
Please visit http://www.caas.cn/caasnew/, and click on “The Recruitment Announcement of Young Talent Scheme” for information about recruited positions and contact information of related research institutes.
For more information, please contact the Human Resource Department, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Contact person: Xu Jiao (Email: [email protected]; Tel: +86-10-82109433).
