Project Introduction
Since 2021, the National Natural Science Foundation of China has established the Excellent Young Scientists Fund (Overseas) to attract and encourage outstanding young scholars (including non-ethnic Chinese foreign talents) who have achieved good results in natural sciences, engineering, and technology to return to (or come to) China, independently choose research directions to conduct innovative research, promote the rapid growth of young scientific and technological talents, cultivate a group of outstanding academic backbones expected to reach the forefront of world science and technology, and contribute to building a strong nation in science and technology.
Application Requirements
1. Abide by the laws and regulations of the People’s Republic of China, possess good scientific ethics, and consciously practice the spirit of scientists in the new era.
2. Born on or after January 1, 1986.
3. Hold a doctoral degree, with research direction primarily in natural sciences, engineering, and technology.
4. After obtaining the doctoral degree and before the 2026 application deadline, generally should have obtained formal teaching or research positions at well-known overseas universities, research institutions, corporate R&D organizations, etc., with continuous work experience of more than 36 months; for those who obtained a doctoral degree overseas with particularly outstanding performance, the work experience requirement may be appropriately relaxed (this does not apply to those who obtained an overseas doctoral degree through Sino-foreign joint training). During overseas work, for applicants who also hold paid positions in China, the work duration of the domestic paid position is not counted toward overseas work experience.
5. Have achieved research or technical outcomes recognized by peer experts and possess the potential to become an academic leader or outstanding talent in the field.
6. Have not yet returned to (or come to) China for full-time work, or returned (or came to) China after January 1, 2025. After receiving the funding notification, must resign from overseas work and engage in full-time work in China for no less than 3 years.
*Final requirements are subject to the official 2026 notice issued by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.
Funding Limit Requirements:In accordance with the requirements of relevant central authorities on coordinating and connecting national science and technology talent programs, applicants may undertake only one program at the same level and cannot apply in reverse order (higher to lower level).
Support Conditions
1. Shenzhen University provides comprehensive and diversified social security, welfare benefits, and a favorable research environment. Support conditions provided by the university include but are not limited to:
1. Comprehensive Compensation: Including comprehensive annual salary + Shenzhen Special Post Performance Reward + housing provident fund, plus additional national and Guangdong provincial living subsidies, as well as relevant allowances and research funding from Shenzhen Municipality, the university, and secondary colleges.
2. Public Institution Staffing: Overseas talents meeting Shenzhen University staffing management conditions may be appointed under the public institution establishment.
2. Research Support Conditions
1. The university provides high-quality platform resources, with more than 300 research platforms at national, provincial, municipal, and university levels to meet the research needs of researchers.
2. The university has independently established the “Shenzhen University 2035 Pursuit of Excellence Research Program” to forward-looking support major, key, and youth exploration scientific and technological projects in all aspects.
3. The university has well-equipped experimental venues with advanced instruments in various professional fields and has built an international first-class large-scale instrument and equipment sharing service platform to assist researchers in conducting frontier research services.
3. Living Support Services
1. Greater Bay Area Advantages: Eligible individuals may enjoy personal income tax preferential policies and convenient entry-exit immigration policies in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
2. Housing Policy: Eligible for rental of university transitional housing with preferential rent. Those meeting conditions may enjoy Shenzhen talent housing policies (subject to final government documents).
3. Education Support: Shenzhen University Affiliated Education Group operates 4 secondary schools, 4 primary schools, and 3 kindergartens, effectively ensuring schooling for children of faculty and staff.
4. Medical Care: Enjoy Shenzhen municipal government talent healthcare services; Shenzhen University has 25 affiliated/teaching hospitals to provide high-quality medical services for faculty and staff.
5. Employee Care: The university provides special funding for sports activities and offers complete on-campus sports facilities; faculty and staff enjoy annual health check-ups and meal subsidies; and the Faculty and Staff Union organizes a wide variety of vibrant activities.
College Introduction
Shenzhen University was approved for establishment by the Ministry of Education in 1983, with support from Tsinghua University, Peking University, and Renmin University of China. It is a demonstration university for deepening innovation and entrepreneurship education reform by the Ministry of Education, a key high-level university in Guangdong Province, and the only comprehensive university in Shenzhen. Shenzhen University resonates with the development of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, forming the distinctive characteristics of “Special Zone University, Window University, and Experimental University”. Since entering the new era, the university has implemented a high-level university development strategy and is one of the fastest-progressing universities in mainland China, having become a high-level comprehensive university with distinct characteristics, strong capabilities, and good reputation and important influence both domestically and internationally.
The College of Mechatronics and Control Engineering at Shenzhen University can be traced back to the Department of Precision Instruments established in 1984 with support from Tsinghua University. The college currently has more than 2,000 full-time students, including over 1,200 undergraduates and more than 800 graduate students. There are 101 full-time faculty members, including 1 academician of the Engineering Academy of Japan, 1 foreign academician of the Russian Academy of Engineering, 5 national major talent engineering innovation talents, 1 recipient of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, 1 recipient of the National Excellent Young Scientists Fund, 2 Guangdong Distinguished Talents, 26 professors (including 2 Chair Professors and 9 Distinguished Professors), 47 associate professors, and 44 doctoral supervisors.
The college offers 3 undergraduate programs: Mechanical Design, Manufacturing and Automation, Automation, and Robotics Engineering; 2 second-level doctoral programs: Optoelectronic and Mechanical Engineering and Applications, Intelligent Systems and Intelligent Manufacturing; 2 first-level academic master’s programs: Mechanical Engineering, Control Science and Engineering; and 3 professional master’s programs: Mechanical Engineering, Control Engineering, Intelligent Manufacturing Technology. Graduates of the college possess characteristics such as “broad vision, emphasis on practice, enthusiasm for innovation, and advocacy of competition”, and a group of graduates have already distinguished themselves in domestic industries.
Application Method
1. Interested applicants please send your CV to the contact email, with the subject line marked “Overseas Excellent Young + Name + Discipline”. The CV should include basic personal information, contact details, education and work experience, major academic achievements, etc. Email subject: “Application for Excellent Young Scientists Fund (Overseas)”.
Contact Person: Teacher Li
Contact Email: liyuansy@szu.edu.cn
Contact: 0086-755-26536224
2. Applicants selected through the screening process shall sign a Letter of Intent with Shenzhen University and apply for the National Natural Science Foundation of China Excellent Young Scientists Fund (Overseas) through Shenzhen University.
Prepared by: Li Yuan
Typeset by: Chen Shifa
First Review and Proofreading: Wang Xin
Second Review and Proofreading: Zhong Xiaopin
Third Review and Proofreading: Wu Zongze
