Scientific migration of junior scientists to China
Authors: Ling-Ling Chen
Journal: Genome biology (2014)

As a junior investigator in biology who recently set up a laboratory in Shanghai, China, I frequently get asked why I chose to start a laboratory in China, how I feel running a laboratory there and what are the main challenges I face. People who asked me such questions are not only established researchers but also postdoctoral fellows and senior PhD students. Interestingly, most of these junior scientists are originally from China but trained in the West and now are ready to move back to their homeland.

About 10 years ago I took my first international flight from Shanghai to the USA to pursue graduate study. Although I was well aware of the cultural differences between the two countries, it took some time to adjust to living in Connecticut, both socially and academically: these differences include not only the smaller everyday matters of life such as food, language and manner, but also the way that people in different countries view the world. I ended up as a PhD student with Dr Gordon Carmichael, who has been tremendously supportive for my career development. Over a period of 7 years I obtained both a PhD and an MBA degree, finished a short period of postdoctoral training, got research funding and received a promotion to Assistant Professor in Residence at the University of Connecticut. During these 7 years in Connecticut, however, much also changed in China, especially national support for research funding and the emergence of a more rigorous academic environment.

Research funding for fundamental science, such as biology, has significantly increased over the last 10 years. This has led to many and better job opportunities for junior investigators in China. Also, the amount of funding for each grant has also been dramatically raised. For example, a general grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China is about ¥800,000 (US$120,000)/4 years now, compared with ¥200,000 ($30,000)/4 years only a few years ago. In addition, the grant application process and decision making have become more transparent and fair. Generally, if you are doing good research, you can now expect to be funded - more or less - and this support is at a level that will allow you to continue key projects you are working on. While ‘good research’ is still largely judged by the publication of your results in ‘high-impact’ journals, this is not really much different than the situation elsewhere. Academically, research in China is becoming more sustainable. For instance, novel research is expected and a tenure or tenure-like system has been launched recently in many institutions and universities. Thus, the quality of research is emphasized in addition to the number of publications. However, although total research funding has increased, it is worth noting that grant applications are becoming more and more competitive than years ago, due to the fact that a large number of scientists have recently migrated to China and are now competing for these funds. Thus, now it is time for us to continue this trend by encouraging China to commit to increased and sustained research investment.

These exciting changes over the last 10 years have made the research environment in China, especially that in large cities, similar to that found in the West. The boom in research funding has provided more opportunities to allow well-trained young scientists to get jobs and also for them to continue their research in China. As a biologist, I would say, these changes are the most important factors that attracted me to return.

Well, if you like these changes, you may also want to list China as one of the places to send out job applications to. To me, running a laboratory in China is similar to that in other places; although moving back to China after living abroad for many years, I have surprisingly but inevitably experienced a ‘reverse culture shock’. For example, the popular application of a new Chinese cyber language or text speak really challenged me. Ultimately, running a laboratory is very much like managing a small business where you need to generate ideas, raise money and recruit the right team to work with you. I am sure that anyone who is ready to open business has no problem getting ideas; so the real questions are where do you get money and who will best help you to realize these ideas?