Renowned university releases plans for latest recruitment drive, Yuan Shenggao reports.
The University of Science and Technology of China, one of the country's most prominent education institutions, has released its latest recruitment plans for high-level professionals.
Strong support will be offered by the university and the government of Hefei, capital of East China's Anhui province, where USTC is based, according to Chu Jiaru, director of the university's human resource department.
The university announced the recruitment plans at the Micius Forum, which was recently held in Hefei by the USTC and the Hefei government.
The forum is dedicated to providing a high-level academic exchange platform for outstanding junior scholars who are engaged in cutting-edge research.
More than 300 talented young scholars from around the world attended the forum, which was named after the ancient Chinese philosopher and scientist Micius, or Mozi.
According to the plan, academics hired through the recruitment programs will not only receive high salaries, but also a package of support to help them build their own research teams.
The startup package will include research funds, renovated offices, ample laboratory space, and plenty of research assistants.
The benefits also include spacious housing, subsidized faculty dining, premium medical services and high-quality education for their children from kindergarten to high school.
USTC has many of the best research facilities in China. For example, the university currently houses two national labs - the National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory and the Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale - which make it the only university in the country to operate more than one national laboratory, the highest level among all types of labs in the country.
The university is building a new national laboratory for quantum technology.
One of the recruitment programs is aimed at attracting senior scholars under the age of 55, according to Chu.
"A fund of at least 10 million yuan ($1.6 million) has been earmarked to help them start their research in USTC, in addition to desirable salaries, and 2.5 million yuan in subsidies to be offered by the local government." Chu said.
"Other benefits include a 180-square-meter four-bedroom apartment offered to each of the scholars."
Professors or those with equivalent positions at world-renowned overseas universities or research institutions, and who agree to work at USTC for at least three years, are eligible for the program.
Top scientists, including Nobel Prize laureates, Turing Award and Fields Medal winners, will receive even more favorable support, via tailor-made plans.
As one of the country's most significant science and technology hubs, Hefei is home to two major Chinese Academy of Sciences branch institutes - USTC and the CAS Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, as well as dozens of other universities and research institutions.
In 2017, Hefei was approved by the State Council to build one of country's three comprehensive national science centers, with the other two based in Beijing and Shanghai.
"Building the national science center has been bringing unprecedented opportunities to the development of USTC," said Bao Xinhe, president of the university.
This year, the Hefei government started a five-year plan to offer 2 billion yuan to attract thousands of high-level professionals. One of the most important measures is collaboration with USTC, according to local officials.
The support from the government will be accessible to not only academics, but also those who are serious about establishing innovative and high-tech businesses in Hefei.
The subsidy offered to a single business project could be as much as 100 million yuan, officials said.
As one of the three sub-centers of the Yangtze River Delta city cluster, which is centered on Shanghai and comprises 26 cities, Hefei is becoming more attractive to high-level professionals from around the world, said Zhu Ce, vice-mayor of Hefei.
By Yuan Shenggao | China Daily USA | Updated: 2018-05-01 http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/2018-05/01/content_36119628.htm
