An initiative to empower young scientific talent to take on leading roles has been launched in Anhui Province. The Department of Human Resources and Social Security and the Department of Finance of Anhui Province have jointly introduced a program to cultivate postdoctoral independent research scientists, known as independent PIs.
Selection and Support Framework
The program, titled the Anhui Province Postdoctoral Independent Research Scientist (Independent PI) Cultivation Project Implementation Plan, will select approximately five outstanding domestic postdoctoral researchers annually. These individuals will receive comprehensive, sustained support in funding, projects, platforms, and research teams to accelerate their development into independent PIs. The goal is to cultivate a cohort of young scientific leaders who can drive innovation and support industrial development in global frontier fields such as artificial intelligence, life and health, fusion energy, and new materials.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must possess strong moral character, high academic standards, and robust research capabilities. A key requirement is having published high-level representative research outputs, such as papers, monographs, or patents, during their postdoctoral tenure. Candidates must be full-time employees at designated pilot institutions, have completed a full-time domestic postdoctoral research fellowship of at least 21 months, and be within two years of completing their postdoctoral work. Applicants must be 40 years of age or younger. Their research focus should align with the specified priority fields. A clean record without any research misconduct is mandatory. The plan specifies that individuals who have already secured national-level youth or higher-tier talent projects, or who already hold senior professional titles, are not eligible for this independent PI support.
Comprehensive Support Package
The cultivation project will be conducted through a collaborative model, providing multifaceted support to help postdoctoral fellows transition swiftly into independent PIs. Support covers platforms, teams, projects, funding, salary, office space, research facilities, housing, and logistical support.
The provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security will establish a dedicated fund for the project. Each selected postdoctoral researcher will receive an annual research project grant of 200,000 yuan for three consecutive years. If a selected researcher secures a national-level research project during the cultivation period, they will receive an additional one-time grant of 300,000 yuan. Participants are encouraged to apply for postdoctoral research achievement transformation projects, with rewards of up to 100,000 yuan for significant results. Selected researchers are eligible to directly apply for associate senior professional titles. Those already holding associate senior titles or who achieve major scientific and technological breakthroughs can directly apply for full senior professional titles.
Pilot institutions are required to provide each selected researcher with no less than 500,000 yuan in initial research funding. If an institution has already provided such funding, the difference will be supplemented to meet this minimum. Additionally, institutions must provide an annual salary support of no less than 400,000 yuan per researcher for a three-year period. Institutions will also furnish fully-equipped research laboratories and support in terms of platforms and instrumentation. Furthermore, they will support the selected researchers in forming independent research teams, including the provision of corresponding research personnel, engineering and technical staff, and research assistants.
Additional Incentives and Application Status
The provincial plan also allows pilot institutions to offer supplementary support measures based on their specific circumstances. This includes supporting selected researchers in applying for graduate supervisor qualifications, providing salary subsidies for team members on an annual salary system, and offering matching funds for subsequent national project applications. Additional rewards may be granted for outstanding performance or significant research achievement transformation. Support for attending high-level domestic and international academic conferences, overseas study visits, and joint training is also included. Under equal conditions, priority will be given to recommending candidates for national and provincial-level talent programs.
The application process for the 2026 Anhui Province Postdoctoral Independent Research Scientist (Independent PI) Cultivation Project is now open. The designated pilot institutions include the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center Artificial Intelligence Research Institute, Anhui Medical University, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University.
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