BMS International Fellowship

About Us

The College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering at Peking University (PKU Chemistry) is an international-leading academic institution, comprising five departments and five research institutes. Home to over 200 faculty and staff members across 76 research groups, PKU Chemistry features world-class laboratories equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation, delivering advanced training and supporting cutting-edge research and education. The college receives substantial research funding and has earned many prestigious research and teaching awards. For over a century, PKU Chemistry has been a key driver of advances in chemical education and fundamental research across the globe.

About the Fellowship

To advance international academic exchange and collaboration and strengthen innovation capacity in chemical sciences, the College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering at Peking University (PKU Chemistry) launches the BMS International Excellent Young Scientists Fellowship. It is one of the PKU Chemistry’s flagship schemes for training Early Career Researchers and increasing the diversity of our college with a competitive annual salary (£33,000 to £55,000 per annum, depending on experience). This represents a strategic investment in outstanding researchers who will shape our future research portfolio. The Fellowship serves as an excellent stepping stone for scholars aiming to establish independent research careers and secure permanent academic positions. 

In 2026 and 2027, we plan to empower young researchers to conduct in-depth studies across diverse chemical disciplines and engage in high-impact interdisciplinary research. Exceptional candidates from broader science and engineering backgrounds are also warmly encouraged to apply. PKU Chemistry currently maintains world-class research strengths in the core areas of Core Chemistry, AI-Chemistry, Materials Chemistry, Chemical Biology, and Chemical Engineering. PKU Chemistry actively fosters an inclusive and diverse academic culture and strives to deliver full equality of opportunity for all faculty, researchers and students.  

The Fellow will be awarded a 3-year Fellowship with exclusive benefits, including personalised mentoring support from senior academic faculty; access to career development training and extensive academic networking within the global community; and full autonomy to design and direct your own research agenda and career trajectory with no mandatory teaching duties. Young Scientists are also eligible for academic visits to external research institutions and industrial partners to broaden their academic horizons and promote collaborative research.

Eligibility

Candidates must:

• Applicants shall abide by academic ethics and be capable of actively engaging in academic exchanges and collaborations.
• Applicants shall meet the recruitment requirements for Peking University’s research‑technical track or contract‑based full‑time research track.
• In principle, applicants shall hold a doctoral degree awarded by a university or research institution ranked within the top 100 in the QS World University Rankings. Exceptionally outstanding candidates may apply under special waiver conditions.
• Applicants are ideally expected to have no less than two years of postdoctoral research experience with outstanding research achievements.
• Applicants shall have identified a research group within the College of Chemistry and formulated a research plan through consultation with the principal investigator of the group.
• Individuals who have received funding from other national talent programs are ineligible for this program. Researchers funded under this program are encouraged to apply for external funding.

What You Will Be Doing

As a Fellow, you will conduct fundamental research within chemistry-related disciplines under the mentorship of your host in PKU Chemistry research group. You will execute your approved research agenda, engage actively in internal and international academic events, collaborate closely with group members to advance interdisciplinary and innovative research, and adhere strictly to academic ethical guidelines and institutional research regulations to produce high-impact research outcomes. 

Application Process

Prepare all application documents as specified and submit electronic copies only. Information about the college’s faculty and research platforms is available on our official website: https://www.chem.pku.edu.cn/en/. 

Required Application Documents

• Curriculum Vitae (CV): Maximum 2 pages.
• Complete list of publications: No page limit.
• Detailed research proposal: Maximum 2 pages.
• Format guidelines: All documents must feature minimum 2-centimetre page margins and a minimum font size of 11pt.
• Three professional recommendation letters: Applicants must provide one letter from their current institutional supervisor and one letter from a principal investigator (PI) at PKU Chemistry. All recommendation letters must be sent directly to the designated submission email by the referees themselves.
• Official Submission Email: niulin@pku.edu.cn 

Application Cycle

This Fellowship is open for application all year in 2026 and 2027. Three rounds of application and review are organized each year. The individual application deadlines are June 30, September 30, and December 31 respectively.  

Evaluation Criteria

Candidate assessment adopts a holistic evaluation framework based on the following key criteria:

• Academic background
• Overall research capacity and academic track record
• Scientific feasibility and innovation of the proposed research project
• Alignment between the research agenda and the host PKU Chemistry group’s research directions
• Credibility and strength of reference letters
• Employment support and research commitment from the host group leader at PKU Chemistry

Salary

The comprehensive annual salary and benefits package for successful fellows ranges from 300,000 to 500,000 RMB (approximately 33,000 – 55,000 GBP, adjusted according to the candidate’s academic background, professional research experience and overall competencies.