Una veintena de plazas de investigador en el Kunming Institute of Zoology (KIZ) (China)

High-Level Recruitment of Principal Investigators and Technology Leaders

The Kunming Institute of Zoology (KIZ), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), was established in 1959. Today, KIZ has grown into the home of nearly 800 faculty members and graduate students, organized into 36 research groups. Faculty members include one academician of CAS, 10 recipients of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, four “1000 Young Talent Plan” scholars, and 20 recipients of the CAS Hundred Talents Program. The institute houses five national, CAS, or provincial key laboratories. It also has many other research facilities and resources, including: the Kunming Primate Research Center, housing seven species, more than 2,500 nonhuman primates and other laboratory animals, such as tree shrews; the Kunming Regional Center for Large-Scale Biodiversity Equipment, which features cutting-edge systems and equipment that worth 210 million RMB; and the Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology, displaying over 700,000 animal specimens to the public.
To meet national strategic and regional development needs, the institute leverages the unique and diverse biological resources in southwestern China and Southeast Asia, and formed three main research priorities: (I) Evolutionary genetics and developmental biology; (II) Conservation and utilization of biodiversity resources; and (III) Major disease mechanisms and nonhuman primate (NHP) models. The research will not only advance our knowledge, but will also provide theoretical and technical support to national and local scientific and technological innovation and economic development.
During the 13th Five Year Plan, under the new scientific and technological development and reform, the institute proposed establishing a CAS Center of Excellence in Evolutionary Biology based on the ongoing CAS Strategic Priority Research Program (B) on Evolutionary Analysis and Functional Regulation of Animal Complex Traits. In addition, taking advantage of the excellent research on NHP models and genome analysis, KIZ will establish a National Mega Research Facility for Phenotypic and Genotypic Analysis of Model Animals (Primates).
KIZ is seeking principal investigators (PI), technology leaders and highly qualified scientists interested in the following research fields: evolutionary analysis and functional regulation of complex animal traits, NHP models and major disease mechanisms, cultivation of genetic resources of domestic and wild animals, conservation and utilization of biodiversity resources, peptide molecular probe and drug candidates, tumor and stem cells, aging mechanisms and animal models, and phenotypic and genotypic analysis of NHP. We will focus on the three key research priorities to recruit and support highly qualified scholars to form an internationally recognized biological research institute, achieving exciting scientific achievements. For more detailed information, please visit our website: http://english.kiz.cas.cn/.

1. Title: Academic leaders
Positions: 1
Research Focus / Responsibilities: Undertake animal phenotypic and genotypic analysis as part of the CAS Strategic Priority Research Program (B). Make strategic decisions and lead the research team to achieve important innovations.
2. Title: PI (Animal Models & Human Disease Mechanisms)
Positions: 3
Research Focus / Responsibilities: Conduct research on the application of non-human primate models to a variety of human diseases, including neuropsychiatric diseases, and/or immunological/viral infections.
3. Title: PI (Phenotypic and Genetic Research of Model Animals)
Positions: 4-6
Research Focus / Responsibilities: Systematically and accurately describe the characteristics of life based on imaging, behavior, physiology, metabolic features and aging characteristics. Comprehensively analyze the genetic information of genomes, transcriptomes and epigenetics to establish phenotypic and genotypic responses to environmental changes, and to describe the regulation laws and reveal the principles of life activity. The Tech-leader will focus on the construction, operational management, and technological development of the National Mega Research Facility for Phenotypic and Genotypic Analysis of Model Animals (Primates).
4. Title: TL (Laboratory Animal Science)
Positions: 1-2
Research Focus / Responsibilities: Undertake research on and provide technical support for laboratory applications of non-human primates, with special emphasis on the development of tree shrew lines.
5. Title: PI (Research and Application of Stem Cells and transgenic animals technique)
Positions: 2
Research Focus / Responsibilities: Use animal models (especially non-human primates) to conduct basic research on the application of stem cells, pharmacodynamics, and preclinical safety evaluations; R&D of transgenic animal techniques.
6. Title: PI (Genomics, Gene Evolution)
Positions: 2
Research Focus / Responsibilities: Use key species and organisms to conduct research on a broad array of topics related to genetics and evolution, such as: adaptation, regulatory networks, gene family structure and function, origin and evolution of the genome, formation mechanism and evolution regularity of the gene, gene families, and genome structure and function in biological evolution.
7. Title: PI (Genetic Resources and Evolution and/or Bioinformatics and Systematic Biology)
Positions: 2
Research Focus / Responsibilities: Conduct research on the formation, maintenance, and evolution of genetic resources via bioinformatics, computational biology or systems biology, with special emphasis on 1) biodiversity and conservation of rare species, or 2) genetic resources of wild and domesticated animals as well as the evolution of domestication and key domesticated species.
8. Title: PI (Developmental Mechanisms of Animal Adaptive Evolution)
Positions: 1-2
Research Focus / Responsibilities: Work at the interface of developmental and evolutionary biology to study the developmental mechanisms of the origin and evolution of important phenotypic traits using representative animal models.
9. Title: PI (Basic Research and Breeding of Domestic Animals)
Positions: 1
Research Focus / Responsibilities: Conduct research on basic exploration and breeding of domestic animals
10. Title: PI (Zoology)
Positions: 3-4
Research Focus / Responsibilities: Conduct research on animal classification, communities, evolution of population ecology and protection of biodiversity. Carry out research on the rescue of rare and endangered species, as well as sustainable utilization. Conduct systematic investigation on key animal populations and research conservation genetics.
11. Title: PI (Peptides, Molecular Probes and Drug Candidates)
Positions: 2
Research Focus / Responsibilities: Explore the structure, function and features of bio-active peptides from natural resources to study disease mechanisms and develop drugs; with an emphasis on bio-prospecting, ion channels, receptors and drug development.

Qualifications
Successful applicants will have at least three years of continuous, overseas postdoctoral research experience. Domestic applicants should have held assistant professorship or above. Those with high-impact publications on high-quality international journals or hold patents are preferred.

Salary and Support
(a) Startup Funds: 2 million RMB for starting PIs/TLs, 2.5 million RMB for PIs/TLs who already have associate professor rank overseas, and 3 million RMB for PIs/TLs who already have full professorship overseas. Additional support will be available for those entering certain key laboratories. Laboratory/office space of 100-200 square meters will be provided.
(b) Housing Subsidy: 500,000~2,000,000 RMB towards the purchase of a home or apartment in Yunnan, China. Temporary housing will be provided to assist with relocation.
© Annual Salary: no less than 300,000 RMB. For highly qualified applicants, salary and support will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.
(d) Retirement and Healthcare: Domestic retirement and healthcare plans are available to all staff of the Kunming Institute of Zoology. Other plans can be privately purchased abroad or within China.
(e) Assist with job seeking for spouses and schooling for dependent children.
(f) Active assistance with the application of other talent programs, which will offer additional research funding and compensation support. Once admitted, the successful applicants will enjoy the personal allocation in accordance with relevant provisions.

How to apply
Interested applicants should submit the following materials electronically to Yao Zhihong, noting the positions applied and research areas.

1. A Curriculum Vitae, listing detailed educational background and work experience and contact information;
2. Copies of ID card or passport information page, PhD diploma, employment proof, as well as any additional materials the applicant considers relevant;
3. A comprehensive list of research output, including, but not limited to, scientific publications, PDFs of three to five representative publications, patents, relevant honors, and other related documents indicative of the applicant’s scientific research capabilities. For all publications, please indicate the corresponding author, chief writer and/or primary inventor;
4. Names and full contact information of three referees.

Contact Information
Mrs. Yao Zhihong
Telephone: +86 871 65190369
Fax: +86 871 65199941
Email: yaozhihong@mail.kiz.ac.cn
Website: http://english.kiz.cas.cn/CR/