Peking-Princeton Postdoctoral Program (PPPP)

Call for Applications 2019-20

Peking University and Princeton University have established a Postdoctoral Fellowship Program: Peking-Princeton Postdoctoral Program (PPPP), aiming at training highly-qualified, early-career postdoctoral researchers in studies of contemporary China so that they are positioned to become leaders in their respective academic fields. Princeton University and Peking University invite applications for two postdoctoral research associates in studies of contemporary China for the 2019–20 academic year.

Each fellowship is to be awarded for up to two years: the first 12 consecutive months at Peking University and the next 12 consecutive months at Princeton University with a visiting appointment at Peking University. Renewal after the first year is contingent on satisfactory performance.  Preferred start date is September 1, 2019. The position is open to early-career scholars who would be in residence and participate in the host organization’s activities, including student-faculty seminars, workshops, and public lectures.  The position is also open to any discipline, as long as the fellow conducts research on contemporary China. The candidate’s research must be supervised by a faculty member at each University and, as such, must receive the endorsement of a faculty member at each institution in order to apply. 

Funding

For the stay at Peking University:

During their stay at PKU, Postdoctoral Fellows will receive an annual pre-tax salary of 185,000 RMB, and  an annual insurance coverage of 91,000 RMB. While at PKU, a fellow may pay to live in the PKU postdoctoral flat or choose to receive a subsidy of 5,000 RMB per month and to find their own accommodation. The fellows will further be eligible to apply for travel funding from external sources.

For the stay at Princeton University:

For the 12 months in residence at Princeton, each fellow will be appointed at the rank of Postdoctoral Research Associate or more senior with a monthly salary of 5,000 (60,000/year) US dollars which will be provided by Princeton, including a one-time relocation allowance of 2,000 US dollars. Further, each fellow receives a small research fund, have access to resources at the Paul and Marcia Wythes Center on Contemporary China, and be eligible for employee benefits provided by Princeton.  During the appointment at Princeton, the postdoctoral researcher will hold a visiting appointment at Peking University.

Eligibility and Evaluation Criteria

The fellowship is open to highly qualified researchers of all nationalities who received their PhD no more than three years prior to the start of the appointment. The program is open to both internal and external candidates. Applicants holding tenure or tenure-track faculty positions are not eligible to apply.

Selection is based on the academic excellence of the applicant, the quality of the proposed research project, compelling demonstration of the anticipated synergy of the appointed postdoc, and the commitment of the respective hosts at both universities. The research proposal should include information on how the project will benefit from the research environments of both institutions.

Requirements and Opportunities:

1. Successful applicants must provide a 10-page report on their research and experience in the Postdoctoral Fellowship after completion of the two-year program.
2. Fellows are encouraged to publish together with their hosts at PKU and PU.

Applications:

To apply for a postdoctoral position, please go to https://www.princeton.edu/acad-positions/position/10201. This position is subject to the Universities’ background check policy. WE DO NOT ACCEPT EMAIL APPLICATIONS.  All application documents must be prepared in English and include the following:

1. A research proposal and time plan (max. 10 pages in total, including tables/figures and references);
2. Concise Curriculum Vitae (max. 4 pages in total);
3. Contact information for two recommendation letters (including one from the applicant’s doctoral supervisor);
4. Contact information for two explicit endorsement letters by the potential supervisors, one at each university; and   
5. One writing sample (not to exceed 10MB).  

Incomplete submissions will not be considered.

Application deadline:  March 1, 2019 by 11:59 p.m. EST

More Information:

1. Please direct all further inquiries to the respective coordinators of each university.
2. More information about the Paul and Marcia Wythes Center on Contemporary China can be found at https://ccc.princeton.edu/.
3. Postdoctoral Fellows must register at the Office of China’s National Postdoctoral Affairs Management Committee, which will accord them access to China’s postdoctoral funds and other special privileges.
4. Pursuant to policy guidelines issued by the China National Postdoctoral Affairs Management Committee in 2017, applications from those who received their PhD more than three years prior to the start of the appointment will be disregarded.
5. Applicants who are working in PKU as postdocs are eligible to apply for the fellowship only if his/her current contract expiration date is within six months from the issuing date of the call.
6. Postdoctoral Fellows must sign an agreement with PKU to initiate the visa application procedure before conducting their postdoctoral research at PKU.
7. Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Administrative Coordinators: