The Shenzhen University Medical School invites global talents to apply for the NSFC Excellent Youth (overseas) Program

The Shenzhen University Medical School invites global talents to apply for the NSFC Excellent Youth (overseas) Program

Introduction to The Shenzhen University Medical School 

The Shenzhen University Medical School is the first medical school established in Shenzhen in 2008. Located at the Lihu Campus of Shenzhen University, the Medical School comprises six schools, including the Schools of Basic Medicine, Biomedical Engineering, Pharmacy, Nursing, Dentistry, Public Health, as well as the First School of Clinical Medicine, and a Department of Family Medicine. The Medical School is also home to the Carlson International Oncology Center, the Medical Humanities Center and eight administrative offices. There are 27 clinical teaching bases, including four directly affiliated hospitals, three affiliated hospitals, and 20 teaching hospitals and other units. Across the 27 clinical teaching bases, there are ~25,000 patient beds.

The Medical School offers two doctoral programs in Biomedical Engineering and Biology, as well as five masters programs in Basic Medicine, Clinical Medicine, Biomedical Engineering, Pharmacy, and Preventive Medicine. Within these programs, Clinical Medicine ranks in the top 0.3% of ESI rankings; Biology and Biochemistry ranks in the top 0.5% of ESI rankings; Molecular Biology and Genetics, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Neuroscience and Behavioral science have entered the top 1% of ESI rankings. In the latest Shanghai Ranking of academic subjects in 2022, Basic Medicine ranks 12th in China while the Biomedical Engineering ranks 14th in China.

From 2008 to 2022, the Medical School has undertaken 1,828 scientific research projects with a total funding of ~1.43483 billion CNY. These projects include 37 projects of the Ministry of Science and Technology, including one major national science and technology project, four national key research and development plan projects, and nine subprojects. There are 819 National Natural Science Foundation projects underway, including nine key projects, four major research plans, one major project, three major project topics, three National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, and four excellent young people. Between 2016 and 2022, the total number of SCIs published was 5,206, including 554 high-quality papers published in journals equal to or better than the National Academy of Sciences USA and 84 publications in the prestigious Nature, Science and Cell journal series. Between 2008 to 2022, the Medical School has received 40 awards at the international, national, provincial and ministerial levels.

The Medical School at Shenzhen University pledges to continually cultivate high-level medical talents suitable for the economic and social development of Shenzhen Special Economic Zone. The Medical School promises to be a leading domestic and internationally renowned medical research and teaching base, and will markedly contribute to the development of Shenzhen’s medical and health undertakings and related industries.

Introduction to NSFC Outstanding Youth (overseas) Program

In 2021, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) established the Outstanding Youth Scholars Science Fund (overseas). This fund aims to attract and encourage outstanding young scholars (including foreign talents of non-Chinese descent) who have made impressive achievements in the natural sciences or engineering technology fields abroad, to return to China to work independently on select research directions. These scholars are expected to innovative research and promote the rapid growth of young science and technology talents in China. The aim is to cultivate a group of outstanding academics who will be at the forefront of science and technology progress worldwide, and will contribute to the construction of a powerful science and technology sector in China.

Support packages

Those who apply for through the Shenzhen University Medical School and successfully receive the Outstanding Youth Science Fund Program (overseas) award will be employed as a “Top Talent Professor” of the school in accordance with relevant policies, and will receive the following remuneration:

Faculty positions: Employed as a Distinguished Professor eligible for mentoring PhD students along with a package of high-quality logic support services designated for high-end talent professors.

Salary: A basic annual salary ranging from CNY 750,000-800,000 will be awarded. The recipient will also receive scientific achievement awards, performance bonuses, and high-standard insurances and two pensions. Those employed will also be selected in a merit-based competition for Shenzhen Special Post Awards in parallel in three categories A, B, and C with a tax-free bonus of . CNY 50,000, CNY 30,000 or CNY 20,000 per month, respectively, during the employment period (one employment period for 3 years). Those employed can also apply for the position of an adjunct professor in an affiliated hospital, with an allowance of no less than CNY 200,000 per year during the employment period.

Start-up funds: Start-up funds ranging between CNY 5 and 10 million (including national, provincial, municipal and university funding) will be provided. The Medical School will provide a further CNY 1-5 million support.

Research equipment and platforms: Shenzhen University has possessed advanced laboratory instruments for use across various professional fields, and has built sharing service platforms for major research equipments; a SPF animal center with a live imaging platform for small animals is also available on campus; The Medical School will provide appropriate laboratory and office space as needed.

Research team support: Shenzhen University fully supports the establishment of a research team that comprises no less than two core team members (including a tenure-track assistant professor and a full-time research scientist). Those employed can recruit doctoral students through the Biology and Biomedical Engineering doctoral programs in the Medical School, can also recruit post-doctoral researchers ( the University covers about 90% salary) without number limit, and can admit at least two master students per year.

Housing bonus: National and local subsidies of CNY 750,000 (tax exempt) are available for housing, while the University will provide temporary housing with preferable rental options. Shenzhen University has launched a construction project to create affordable rental housing at the Lihu Campus, which can provide temporary housing for teachers. Those who meet the conditions can enjoy living among Shenzhen’s top elite talents. The details of this project will be subject to the latest releases by the municipal government.

Education of children: There are four secondary schools, four primary schools and three kindergartens under the affiliated education group of Shenzhen University that will guarantee the placement of children of teaching staff.

Medical services: The Medical School is home to 27 affiliated/teaching hospitals, including the General Hospital of Shenzhen University, the Affiliated South China Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital, and Nanshan Hospital. These facilities provide high-quality medical services for all faculty and staff.

Multiple bonuses: Those employed will be assisted in applying for the “Guangdong Talents Card” and “Pengcheng Talents Card” of Guangdong Province and Shenzhen City, and enjoy the one-stop talent supporting services provided by Guangdong Province and Shenzhen City in terms of talent housing, medical care, children’s education, immigration services. Those who meet the conditions can enjoy the preferential policy of individual income tax in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area..

Those candidates who apply for the program through Shenzhen University Medical School with excellent performance and, however, do not receive the award at the end, will be placed on the top priority for a position of associate professorship with very competitive compensate and research support.

Application requirement

1. Applicants for the Outstanding Youth Science Fund Program (overseas) shall meet the following conditions:

(1) Abide by the laws and regulations of the People’s Republic of China, have good scientific ethics, and consciously practice the spirit of scientists ;

(2) Be born after January 1, 1983;

(3) Hold a doctoral degree;

(4) Conduct research in the natural sciences or in engineering technology;

(5) Hold a formal teaching or research position in an overseas university, research institution, or an research & development department of an enterprise by March 15, 2023, with at least 36 consecutive months of work experience; For those who have obtained a doctoral degree overseas and have outstanding achievements, the requirements for working years can be appropriately flexible;

(6) Achievements in scientific research or technology recognized by peer experts, and the development potential to become an academic leader or outstanding talent in the field;

(7) The applicant has not returned to China (to work in China) full-time or returned to China (to work in China) after January 1, 2022. After receiving the award notice, one must resign from job overseas (or with no job overseas) and return to China full-time (work in China) for a minimum of 3 years.

2. Award number/categories

According to the policies of national talent programs by the central government, the applicant can only apply for one talent program award among the similar cataphor awards, while an awardee cannot apply for any same- or lower-category talent program.

3. For detailed requirements, please refer to the National Natural Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars (Overseas) Program Guide: https://www.nsfc.gov.cn/publish/portal0/tab442/info88099.htm

Application deadline: February 27, 2023 (the deadline for application by the School of Medicine of Shenzhen University is February 20, 2023).

Contact information

Please contact the Shenzhen University Medical School to sign an agreement of intent and initiate the application.

Contacts:

Ms. Chen, Scientific Research Management Office

Email: medky@szu.edu.cn

Mrs. Wang, Office of the Medical School

Email: wangjuny@szu.edu.cn

Address: Building A6, Lihu Campus, Shenzhen University, Xueyuan Avenue, Nanshan District, Shenzhen

We are looking forward to receiving your application and working together with you!