D-25-PII-00006 | PIIRS | Research | Posting Expires 2/28/2025 11:59 PM, EDT

Peking University and Princeton University have collaborated to establish a Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, the Peking-Princeton Postdoctoral Program (PPPP), with the aim of training highly-qualified early-career postdoctoral researchers in studies of contemporary China and positioning them 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 starting from the 2025-26 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. The preferred start date is September 1, 2025 at Peking University. 

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. It is open to any discipline, as long as the fellow's research focus is 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 for a successful application. For information of faculty members at Peking University, please visit https://www.pku.edu.cn/department.html. 

Funding:

For the stay at Peking University, benefits and stipend are competitive and in line with Chinese policy. All the benefits are provided by the Boya Postdoctoral Fellowship Program of Peking University (click for more detailed information) and subject to change. The fellows will further be eligible to apply for research funding from external sources.

For the stay at Princeton University, stipend and benefits are competitive. Fellows will be eligible to apply for travel funding, 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 Ph.D. 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 supervisors 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:

The fellowship is open to highly qualified researchers of all nationalities who received their Ph.D. 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 each institution.

 

Applications:

To apply for the postdoctoral position, please visit https://puwebp.princeton.edu/AcadHire/apply/.

This position is subject to the Universities’ background check policy. All application documents must be prepared in English and include the following:

  1. Research proposal and timeline (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. Two explicit endorsement letters from potential supervisors, one at each university. Screenshots of emails are sufficient. The endorsement letter should be a positive response to your request for their supervision (example: ‘Yes, I agree to supervise you in the event you are selected for the postdoctoral program’); 
  5. One writing sample (not to exceed 10MB).    

Incomplete submissions will not be considered. Please refer to the FAQs for commonly asked questions. Any questions not answered by the FAQ can be directed to either coordinator. 

FAQs: https://ccc.princeton.edu/postdocfaq 

Application deadline: February 28th, 2025 by 11:59 p.m. EST

 

Administrative Coordinators:

Mr. Fan Deshang | Ms. Celine Li

Postdoctoral Affairs Office | Paul and Marcia Wythes Center on Contemporary China

Peking University | Princeton University                                                                           

[email protected] | [email protected]                                                             

 

More information:

  1. Please direct further inquiries to the coordinators of the program stated above.
  2. More information about the Wythes Center on Contemporary China can be found at https://ccc.princeton.edu/. You can find more information on the application process here: https://ccc.princeton.edu/postdocfaq.
  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. 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.
  5. Insurance fees are changeable due to the changes of insurance policies in Beijing and China.
  6. Postdoctoral Fellows must sign an agreement with PKU to initiate the visa application procedure before conducting their postdoctoral research at PKU. 

Participation in the program must be fully consistent with current and future university and national regulations and guidelines pertaining to health and wellness, travel, and visa status. Please see Princeton and Peking University’s websites for their most current academic and operational plans.

Princeton University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. To maximize excellence, we seek talent from all segments of American society and the world, and we take steps to ensure everyone at Princeton can thrive while they are here. That is the sole rationale and purpose of our diversity and inclusion programs, all of which are voluntary and open to all, and which comply with federal and state non-discrimination laws. Princeton does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, ethnicity, color, national origin, religion, disability, or any other protected characteristic, and Princeton does not provide special benefits or preferential treatment on the basis of a protected characteristic.