To lay a strong foundation for promoting interdisciplinary integration and achieving leapfrog development, we sincerely invite outstanding young talents worldwide to apply for projects under the overseas excellent youth science fund of the national natural science foundation of china through shantou university medical college.
Project introduction
the excellent youth science fund project (overseas) aims to attract and encourage outstanding young scholars overseas (including non-chinese foreign talents) who have achieved notable accomplishments in natural sciences, engineering technology, and related fields to return to or come to china for work. It allows them to independently select research directions for innovative studies, promoting the rapid growth of young scientific and technological talents. The project is designed to cultivate a group of promising academic leaders who may reach the forefront of global science and technology, thus contributing to china’s development into a science and technology powerhouse.
Applicant qualification requirements
the following requirements are for reference in accordance with the guidelines for projects under overseas excellent youth science fund. The official guidelines for application (2026) shall prevail.
Comply with the laws and regulations of the people’s republic of china, uphold strong scientific ethics, and actively fulfill the spirit of modern scientists;
hold a doctoral degree;
the primary research fields are natural sciences, engineering technology, etc.;
after obtaining a doctoral degree and by june 15th 2026, applicants should generally have held a formal teaching or research position at an overseas university, a research institution, or a corporate r&d institution for a continuous period of 36 months or more. The work experience requirement may be reduced for those who obtained their doctoral degree abroad and have exceptional achievements (this exemption does not apply to those who obtained their degree through sino-foreign joint training programs). For applicants who hold a paid position in china while working abroad, the working period of their paid domestic position shall not be counted toward their overseas working years;
make research or technological achievements recognized by peer experts and demonstrate the potential to become an academic leader or outstanding talent in the field;
the applicant has not yet started working in china or returned to work in china on or after january 1, 2025. Upon receiving the funding notice, the applicant must resign from any overseas employment or have no overseas work commitments, and work in china on a full‑time basis for no less than three years.
Project limitations
comply with the requirements of the relevant departments of the central government on the coordinated implementation of national science and technology talent programs. An applicant may only hold one project at the same level of national science and technology talent programs; one person can only apply for one item in the same declaration year and applications in reverse order of level are not allowed.
Benefits and supporting measures
(i) funded by the national natural science foundation of china and the guangdong provincial supporting fund, in accordance with relevant regulations, funding will be provided based on the actual circumstances of the selected talents.
(ii) supporting benefits from the medical college
applicants selected through our institution’s support may be appointed as specially appointed professors, with a competitive annual salary and additional research performance bonuses.
Provide generous research start‑up funds, assign research assistants throughout the project period, guarantee one phd student enrollment quota per year, and offer unlimited postdoctoral recruitment slots.
Eligible individuals may be included in the management roster of public institutions as per the regulations.
Provide competitive relocation allowances and living subsidies (sufficient to purchase one sea‑view apartment in shantou).
Recognized as high‑level talents in shantou, benefiting from relevant preferential policies.
Provide access to all‑new staff dormitory at shantou university.
Under shantou university there are kindergartens and affiliated schools (including primary schools and junior high schools), ensuring priority access for the children of high‑level talents.
There are 6 affiliated hospitals directly under shantou university medical college, which can provide premium medical services for high‑level talents.
(iii) participants not selected through the application process may, based on individual circumstances, receive benefits according to our standards for newly recruited teachers. Please refer to our recruitment notice: https://job.med.stu.edu.cn/index/article/formal/0/id/4
remarks: the relevant national, provincial and municipal support and guarantees shall be subject to the actual policies in effect upon employment.
Registration method and requirements
eligible applicants must sign either a work contract or an intent agreement with shantou university medical college before applying for the project. After passing the initial review and confirming your intent to apply through our institution, we will assign a dedicated person to provide guidance for the 2026 online application and subsequent work.
Please send the following application materials to and include “application for overseas excellent youth science fund” in the subject line:
personal resume;
scanned copy of id card or passport;
scanned copies of degree and graduation certificates for each stage;
scanned copies of professional and technical qualification certificates;
a list of academic and research achievements including projects undertaken, papers published, and awards received in the past five years (since 2021).
Contact info
hr department contact info:
contact: ms. Huang, ms. Liu
tel.: 0086-754-88900466, 88900719
research department contact info:
contact: ms. Xiao
tel.: 0086-754-88900416
links to recruitment notices of affiliated hospitals for overseas talents applying for the projects under excellent youth science fund
the first affiliated hospital of shantou university medical college: https://www.stuh.com.cn/article/detail?Id=370&articleid=60190
the second affiliated hospital of shantou university medical college: http://oa.st120.cn:801/ioffice/prg/set/wss/hrep/web/hrepwebcontentshow.aspx?Contentid=248
cancer hospital of shantou university medical college: https://sumcch.cn/newsinfo.asp?Cxid=48482&cxsortid=317
shantou university mental health center: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/jtdizg2qf-htrwtpa5ozaa
joint shantou international eye center of shantou university and the chinese university of hong kong: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/re65xia8akfbkrxgomeubg
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