Peking University and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis

International Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

Call for Applications 2019

Within the framework of their Memorandum of Understanding, Peking University (hereinafter referred to as PKU) and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (hereinafter referred to as IIASA) have launched the PKU-IIASA International Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, aimed at training highly qualified early-career postdoctoral researchers to carry out research in fields of mutual interest at both PKU and IIASA, which include but are not limited to applied mathematics, system analysis engineering, statistics, demography, physical geography, agriculture, forestry, environmental economics, resource and energy management, ecology, biology, water engineering, urban planning and meteorology.

PKU-IIASA Postdoctoral Fellows will have the opportunity to develop international and interdisciplinary research skills and become part of a vibrant, dynamic, diverse, and international scientific research community both at PKU and at IIASA. This opportunity will give the fellows the chance to advance their skills and broaden their research interests.

Additionally, the fellows will gain first-hand experience in applying systems analysis to real-world problems and issues. The fellows will have access to a network of international collaborators, many of them with highly successful careers in their own specialized scientific areas, which can help in boosting future career prospects.

Duration

The Program will offer postdoctoral fellowships every year. Each fellowship is to be awarded for 24 months. In general, a fellow (fellowship recipient) should register and conduct research at PKU for 12 months and at IIASA for 12 months. In addition, exchange visits by the fellow to IIASA when the fellow is at PKU and vice versa are expected; this will include a mandatory inaugural visit, to ensure co-design of the research and to strengthen collaboration between PKU and IIASA. The exact time and sequence to be spent at both institutions shall be discussed and decided between the fellow and their host supervisors at both PKU and IIASA. The extension of the fellowship beyond the first 12 months shall be subject to a joint mid-term evaluation.

Funding

PKU will pay fellows in RMB, even when fellows are working at IIASA. For each fellow, an annual pre-tax salary of 185,000 RMB and annual insurances of 91,000 RMB will be provided. 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. While at IIASA, a fellow will be required to find their own accommodation but will also receive an accommodation subsidy of 3,500 RMB per month (the equivalent in Euro). IIASA will be responsible for bearing the costs of the accommodation subsidy and health insurance for the fellow while they are at IIASA.

Costs for relocation travel and the inaugural and subsequent exchange visits of the fellow between PKU and IIASA are borne by the receiving institution. The host supervisors of the fellow at PKU and IIASA are expected to cover the cost for conducting the collaborative research of the fellow and may cover extra travel expenditures.

Eligibility and Evaluation Criteria

The Fellowship is open to applicants of all nationalities who are highly qualified early-career researchers. They must have received their Ph.D. no more than five years prior to the start of the appointment.

Due to the requirements of the Chinese National Postdoctoral Committee, candidates over the age of 35 years will not be considered and applicants holding tenure or in tenure-track faculty positions are not eligible.

Each applicant must identify at least one faculty member from each institution who agrees to serve as his/her host supervisor. Selection is based on the academic excellence of the applicant, the quality of the proposed research project, compelling demonstration of the anticipated synergy of a joint postdoctoral project, and the commitment of the respective hosts at both institutions. The research proposal should include information on how the project will benefit from the research environments of both institutions and how the proposal interfaces the fellow’s own research interests with the research agendas pursued by PKU and IIASA. Applicants are advised to review the research section of the PKU webpage and the research section of the IIASA webpage.

Application

Fellowship applicants are required to prepare application documents in English and include all of the following (except the two recommendation letters) in one PDF document:

1.      PKU-IIASA International Postdoctoral Fellowship Application Form

2.      Full CV or Resume

3.      Two recommendation letters (directly send by referees to coordinators listed below. including one from the applicant’s doctoral supervisor)

4.      An endorsement letter or e-mail from each of the envisaged postdoctoral supervisors at PKU and IIASA. The letter or e-mail should include detailed information on the added value of the research project and a clear statement of commitment regarding the physical and intellectual research environment that the supervisor will provide to the fellow.

Application Deadline

All applications must be received by Tuesday 30 April 2019.

Important Deadlines

30 April 2019 – Applications received and call closes

31 May 2019 – Shortlisted candidates will be reviewed in parallel by both PKU and IIASA selection committees

 14 June 2019 – Final selection will be made by both committees

1 July 2019 – Selected fellows will be notified

2 September 2019 – Preferred commencement of fellowship

Submission and Queries

Applicants are requested to submit their application document as one PDF file by email simultaneously to the following four coordinators:

These contacts are also available for queries as stated above.

Additional Information

1.      Please direct all further inquiries to the coordinators of the program as stated above

2.      Fellows may choose to register at the Office of China’s National Postdoctoral Affairs Management Committee to have access to China’s postdoctoral funds and other special privileges.

3.      Fellows will have to sign an agreement with PKU to initiate the visa application procedure before conducting their postdoctoral research at PKU.

4.      Any Chinese nationals applying will be required to sign a contract with PKU for 24 months, which is mandatory under Chinese Law. This is not a requirement for applicants who are nationals of other countries.

5.      IIASA will assist accepted fellows with obtaining their visa/residency card while working in Austria.

6.      IIASA does not carry out lab-type research, and consequently no laboratories are available at the institute.

7.      Postdocs at Peking University may apply for the fellowship if the termination date of his/her contract is no more than six months prior to the deadline of this call for applications.

PKU and IIASA Postdoctoral Fellowship Application Form_Final.docx

Completing Your Application.docx