Career Opportunities at the Yazhouwan National Laboratory, Hainan, China

Founded in 2022, the Yazhouwan National Laboratory (YNL) is one of the most prestigious entities for innovation in science and technology in China, headquartered in Sanya, Hainan. YNL is committed to developing superior and environmentally friendly crops and livestock breeds for future agriculture by exploring fundamental principles in plant, microbial and animal sciences and developing cutting-edge technologies. YNL strives to motivate the world’s top scientists to tackle national and global challenges in food security.

YNL capitalizes on state-of-the-art facilities to spearhead cutting-edge research on future crops and livestock breeds to achieve international recognition of excellence. YNL acknowledges personal and team contributions to scientific breakthroughs and technological advancements by developing effective incentive programs that provide a clear pathway for smooth career development and competitive performance-based remuneration.

Global Headhunting for Top-Tier Talents

YNL is seeking to recruit internationally recognized scientists across various disciplines relevant to agricultural sciences, with a keen interest in candidates specializing in the following thematic areas:

• Crop Genetics and Breeding
• Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction
• Photosynthesis and Biological Nitrogen Fixation
• Biotechnology (Stem cell, genome editing, synthetic biology)
• Plant Disease Resistance and Veterinary Medicine
• Computational Science and Big Data Analytics
• Crop and Animal Traitomics
• Breeding-related Multidisciplinary Research

Job Qualifications

1. Principal Scientist
   • Outstanding academic record of breakthrough discoveries and technological innovations in genetics, breeding, and/or related biological sciences involving peanuts, cattle, or chickens.
   • Strong capability of organizing and leading strategic research.
2. Chief Scientist
   • International recognition and significant scientific achievements.
   • A track record of substantial contributions to high-impact research.
3. Senior Scientist
   • Strong capacity in performing advanced research.
   • Acknowledged contribution to the field, with profound scientific expertise.
4. Junior Scientist
   • Ability to conduct advanced research.
   • Outstanding academic achievements in a relevant field, with excellent innovation ability.
5. Postdoctoral Scientist
   • Competitive skills required for high-impact research and collaboration.
   • A main author of publications in peer-reviewed journals.

All applicants must hold a Ph.D. degree in a relevant field and commit to full-time employment at YNL.

Salary and Benefits

We offer internationally competitive packages of salaries based on the experience and academic achievement of candidates. The specific comprehensive annual salaries for various positions are as follows:

• Principal Scientist: > CNY 1,950,000 annually.
• Chief Scientist: > CNY 1,450,000 annually.
• Senior Scientist: > CNY 1,050,000 annually.
• Junior Scientist: > CNY 450,000 annually.
• Postdoctoral Scientist: > CNY 350,000 annually, with additional government subsidies including a yearly allowance of CNY 80,000 (for up to two years) and monetary rewards, comprising a pre-tax cash reward of CNY 400,000 and a housing subsidy of CNY 400,000.

Fringe benefits include:

• Generous housing option.
• Medical insurance.
• Substantial retirement pension.
• Schooling assistance for children.

Additionally, we provide a start-up package with long-term and substantial funding, ample laboratory space, state-of-the-art research facilities, and strong supporting platforms. YNL’s budgetary stability ensures that every research project has the potential to push the envelope from fundamental research to delivery of future seeds or livestock breeds.

Moreover, outstanding scientists will receive assistance in applying for various talent rewards, which offer monetary remuneration ranging from CNY 400,000 to CNY 4,000,000, and additional policy incentives.

Application Instructions

Interested applicants should submit application materials, including a resume with contact information, a statement of past research achievements, and a concise future research proposal to the following e-mail address: [email protected].

We respectfully inform you that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for further communication.

Contact Information

Office of Human Resources, Yazhouwan National Laboratory

Address: No. 8, Huanjin Road, Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City, Sanya, Hainan Province, China, 572024

Tel: +86-898-37365583

Positions are open until filled.

Remark: YNL is an equal-opportunity employer and promotes diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We look forward to nurturing upcoming academic stars who will contribute to our groundbreaking endeavors and share our vision for a world-class scientific hub.

The 1st International Young Scholars Symposium of Yazhouwan National Laboratory 2025

I. About the Symposium

To attract outstanding young talents from home and abroad, Yazhouwan National Laboratory (YNL) will host the 2025 International Young Scholars Symposium. Focusing on fundamental scientific issues in biological breeding and related frontier technological innovations, this symposium aims to build a high-level academic dialogue platform. We sincerely invite excellent young scholars globally to jointly explore disciplinary frontiers, understand the Laboratory’s research platforms and coordinated mechanisms for talent “recruitment, cultivation, utilization, and retention”, and ultimately join our scientific research team. Together, we will build strategic scientific and technological capabilities to ensure national food security.

Ⅱ. About the Laboratory

YNL, an innovation research institution under the State Scientific and Technological Commission of The People’s Republic of China, was established in 2022 in Sanya, Hainan Province. YNL is committed to promoting national food security, focusing on seed innovation and the holistic advancement of the seed industry. It strategically coordinates global scientific and technological resources to develop superior and environmentally friendly crops and livestock breeds for future agriculture by exploring fundamental principles in plant, microbial and animal sciences and developing cutting-edge technologies. The laboratory aims to establish itself as a leading research hub in biological breeding, committed to attracting outstanding young talents from around the world to collaboratively address food security challenges in China and globally.

III. Subject Areas

Biological breeding and related or interdisciplinary fields, including but not limited to: Agriculture, Crop Science, Animal Science, Biology, Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, Botany, Microbiology, Computer Science and Big Data Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence.

IV. Requirements

1. Outstanding young scholars with prior experience at universities, research institutes, or leading industry enterprises, actively engaged in scientific research endeavors.
2. Postdoctoral researchers approaching completion of their tenure at globally renowned universities/research institutes, or recent PhD graduates from well-known academic institutions.
3. Overseas young scholars intending to apply for 2025 national-level talent programs through YNL.

V. Schedule

April 9, 2025 (Wednesday): Registration.
April 10, 2025 (Thursday): Opening Ceremony, Plenary Session, Parallel Sessions;
April 11, 2025 (Friday): Roundtable Discussions, Laboratory Tours, Closing Ceremony.

VI. Application

1. Please download and complete the Application Form for the International Young Scholars Symposium via the QR code/link provided below. Submit your completed Application Form to [email protected] no later than March 24, 2025.
Link: https://ffrq.bmwwx.cn/RpLF3T
Note: The filename format should be: Name + Young Scholars Symposium + Research Field + Desired Position, and it must be submitted in Microsoft Word format.

2. After verification, the laboratory will send formal invitations by March 26, 2025. Invited scholars must confirm their attendance within two days of receiving the invitation. Please monitor your email regularly for updates.

VII. Transportation and Accommodation

Invited scholars are supposed to book their own tickets, and the laboratory will reimburse them for their travelling expenses according to the standard of economy class (maximum amount: CNY 10,000 per capita for participants traveling from North America or Europe, CNY 5,000 per capita for participants traveling from Asian countries, CNY 3,000 per capita for participants traveling from Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan).
During the Symposium, accommodation and pick-up services will be arranged by the laboratory.

Special Notes: The laboratory will confer Certificates of Excellence accompanied by monetary awards to scholars delivering distinguished presentations at the Symposium.

VIII. Compensation and Support for Talents

(A) Talent Salary and Benefits

1. Competitive Compensation: Young scientists will receive an annual salary package starting from CNY 450,000 (pre-tax), with increases commensurate with position level.
2. Comprehensive Benefits: paid leave, high-temperature allowances, meal subsidies, transportation subsidies, annual health checkups, and trade union benefits.
3. Family Support: Assistance with children’s education and residency permits.
4. Talent-Specific Incentives (subject to Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City Administration policies):
(1) Cash Awards: Full-time high-level talents (Categories A–F) may qualify for five-year pre-tax cash rewards of up to CNY 4 million, 3.2 million, 2.4 million, 1.2 million, 400,000, or 200,000, respectively.
(2) Additional Housing Subsidies: Categories D and E may claim up to CNY 400,000, Category F may claim up to CNY 200,000.
(3) Resident Privileges: Eligibility for affordable housing, commercial property purchases, vehicle purchases, one-time employment/residency rewards, and professional title promotion incentives.

Note: All policies are subject to the official regulations of Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City Administration. 

(B) Postdoctoral Benefits and Career Development

1. Research Environment: Access to advanced experimental platforms, facilities, and a collaborative research environment.
2. Appointment & Compensation:
(1) A three-year postdoctoral contract with an annual comprehensive salary starting from CNY 350,000 (including base salary, benefits, taxes, social insurance, housing fund, etc.).
(2) Eligible for the Category E Talent Program: five-year pre-tax cash reward of CNY 400,000 + CNY 400,000 housing purchase subsidy (excluded from annual salary).
(3) Apply for Hainan Provincial Postdoctoral Funding: Up to CNY 300,000 over two years (excluded from annual salary).
(4) Other specific benefits: one-time employment bonus and rewards for professional title promotion (if applicable). Additionally, educational support for children will be provided by the high-level talent policy.

3. Reappointment or hiring will be prioritized based on the assessment results at the end of the postdoctoral tenure. Candidates who achieve outstanding results during their postdoctoral period may be appointed as young scientists or staff members.

Ⅸ. Contact Information

Contact: Hang Ye
Tel: +86-898-37365583
Email: [email protected]
Address: Human Resources Office of Yazhouwan National Laboratory, 8 Huanjin Road, Sanya, China, 572024

We sincerely invite young scholars from around the world to join the Laboratory, explore the future of biotechnology and the seed industry, contribute to national food security and advance global scientific innovation.