Four Pathways for Overseas PhDs Returning to China: Direct Hiring by Central SOEs, Outstanding Young Scientists Fund, Key Talent Programs, and Provincial/Municipal Talent & Innovation Initiatives Now Open

Applications can be submitted through Double First-Class universities, hospitals, research institutes, central state-owned enterprises (SOEs), private enterprises, and financial institutions across all provinces nationwide. PhDs and postdoctoral researchers in STEM and finance are welcome to consult. We evaluate candidates based on their ability to tackle critical challenges in national major projects, rather than solely on publication records.

Who Should Apply

•Overseas PhDs, postdoctoral researchers, and senior R&D professionals in STEM fields.

•PhDs, postdoctoral researchers, and young researchers in the finance sector.

•Professionals with experience in major engineering projects, core key technologies, platform development, or team management.

•Hard-tech startup teams, industrialization projects, and research teams with clear application prospects.

What You Will Receive

•Dedicated research funding support.

•Autonomy in establishing research groups and building teams.

•Access to large-scale experimental facilities and application scenarios.

•Support in matching with host institutions and navigating application pathways.

•Comprehensive support services, including talent housing, children’s education, and family settlement.

Available Pathways

•Channel A: Direct Hiring by National Research Platforms of Central SOEs– For professionals with engineering and research capabilities who aim to lead major projects and build teams.

•Channel B: National High-Level Talent Programs– For candidates with both academic and industrial expertise, applying through the Outstanding Young Scientists Fund (Overseas) or key talent programs.

•Channel C: Provincial and Municipal High-Level Talent Programs– For those seeking flexible entry thresholds and rapid settlement.

•Channel D: Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program Recruitment– For candidates bringing research outcomes or teams, with year-round rolling applications.

These four channels can be applied for independently or combined based on individual backgrounds.

Channel A: Direct Hiring by National Research Platforms of Central SOEs

This channel targets high-level talents both domestically and abroad with solid engineering capabilities, research organizational skills, and industrialization potential.

Target Candidates

•PhDs, postdoctoral researchers, and senior R&D professionals in STEM fields.

•Professionals with experience in major engineering projects, core key technologies, platform development, or team management.

•Talents aiming to undertake long-term research missions within the central SOE research system.

Key Recruitment Areas (Including but not limited to)

•Artificial Intelligence:AI Agents, image recognition, environmental perception, speech and NLP, quantum computing, big data, and cybersecurity.

•Communication Technologies:6G, communication chips (Beijing).

•New Energy and Energy Storage:Hydrogen energy, wind energy, energy storage, carbon neutrality/carbon capture, and electrochemical energy storage.

•Advanced Materials:Polymers, composites, metal processing, and high-end alloys.

•Mechanical and Structural Engineering:FEA/CFD/CAE, rolling bearings, internal combustion engines, and electric motors.

•Petroleum, Mining, and Geospatial Sciences | Industrial Control and Automation:Intelligent manufacturing, digital twins, SCADA, and sensors.

•Aviation:Engines, airworthiness, aerodynamics, avionics, and flight control.

•Power Grids:Smart grids, new power systems, and digital grids.

Platform Support

•Dedicated research funding support.

•Autonomy in establishing research groups and building teams.

•Access to large-scale experimental facilities and application scenarios.

•Comprehensive support services, including talent housing, children’s education, and family settlement.

•Concurrent recommendation for national, provincial, and municipal talent programs.

Channel B: National High-Level Talent Programs

This channel covers high-level talents in STEM and finance, with applications recommended through Double First-Class universities, hospitals, research institutes, central SOEs, private enterprises, and financial institutions across all provinces nationwide.

Main Directions

•Outstanding Young Scientists Fund (Overseas):Targeting outstanding young scientific talents overseas. Specific criteria are subject to the current guidelines of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC).

•Key Talent Programs at the Same Level as the Outstanding Young Scientists Fund (Overseas):Includes relevant high-level talent programs at provincial, municipal, and national levels. Specific fields, application pathways, and host institution requirements are subject to current official regulations and competent authorities.

Field Descriptions

•The Outstanding Young Scientists Fund (Overseas) and related STEM programs typically target talents in STEM fields.

•Talents in the finance sector should focus on relevant high-level talent programs in finance.

•Requirements for other fields are subject to current official guidelines and host institution specifications.

Application Support

•Host institution matching.

•Application material preparation.

•Refinement of research directions.

•Coordination of platform support.

•Application timeline planning.

Channel C: Provincial and Municipal High-Level Talent Programs

This channel targets high-level and young talents introduced by select provinces and municipalities. With relatively flexible thresholds, it is suitable for overseas PhDs, postdoctoral researchers, and young researchers seeking rapid settlement.

Policies vary significantly across different provinces and municipalities. It is recommended to consult first before preparing application materials. Specific policies are subject to the current official documents issued by respective provinces and municipalities.

Channel D: Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program Recruitment

This program recruits hard-tech startup teams, industrialization projects, and research outcomes with clear application prospects on a year-round global basis.

Key Areas (Including but not limited to)

•Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Computing.

•New Energy, Energy Storage, and New Power Systems.

•Advanced Materials and High-End Manufacturing.

•Biomedicine and Life Sciences.

•Aerospace and High-End Equipment.

•Communication Technologies and Industrial Internet.

•Financial Technology and Digital Finance.

Innovation and entrepreneurship projects have no fixed application batches and are subject to rolling reviews. They can be applied for concurrently with Channels A, B, and C.

How to Apply

Please send your resume or project brief to the contact information below. It is recommended to format the email subject line as follows:

•Channel A:[Central SOE Direct Hire - Name - Research Direction - Country of Residence]

•Channel B:[Talent Program - Name - Research Direction - Country of Residence]

•Channel C:[Provincial/Municipal Talent - Name - Research Direction - Target Province/City]

•Channel D:[Innovation & Entrepreneurship - Project Name - Name]

Contact:Mr. He

Email:hb@zhengxianling.com

WeChat:hb798081

WhatsApp:+86 189 1352 1933

Official Website:https://zhengxianling.com

Referral Rewards

We welcome referrals from peers. For successful referrals that enter our database or application process, the referrer may choose two of the following non-monetary benefits:

•Priority access to platform collaboration activities.

•One talent policy matching assessment.

•One application material direction consultation.

•Priority connection with host institution resources.

•Opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship project roadshows or resource matching.

Referral benefits are valid only within the current calendar year and are subject to the platform’s current rules.

Important Notes

•The content on this page does not constitute a commitment to employment, selection, funding, or policy fulfillment.

•The Outstanding Young Scientists Fund (Overseas) is subject to the current guidelines of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC).

•Key talent programs are subject to the current requirements of competent authorities and host institutions.

•Provincial and municipal talent programs are subject to the current policies of respective provinces and municipalities.

•Review results for innovation and entrepreneurship projects are subject to the current review opinions of the platform and partner institutions.

Please Share

Please share this page with PhDs, postdoctoral researchers, lab colleagues, supervisors, and collaborators who are seeking opportunities to return to China. If you know overseas STEM or finance PhDs or postdocs considering returning to China for development, this is worth sharing with them. This is not a single job posting but four matching pathways. Consulting first before preparing application materials will be more efficient.

Keywords

English Keywords

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