Peking University and Princeton University have established a Postdoctoral Fellowship Program: Peking-Princeton Postdoctoral Program (PPPP), aiming at training highly qualified, early-career postdoctoral researchers in studies of contemporary China so that they are positioned to become leaders in their respective academic fields. Princeton University and Peking University invite applications for two postdoctoral research associates in studies of contemporary China for academic year 2026-28.

Each fellowship is to be awarded for two years: the first 12 consecutive months at Peking University and the next, 12 consecutive months at Princeton University with a visiting appointment at Peking University. Renewal after the first year is contingent on satisfactory performance and continued funding. Preferred start date is September 1, 2026 at Peking University. The position is open to early-career scholars who would be in residence and participate in the host organization’s activities, including student-faculty seminars, workshops, and public lectures. The position is also open to any discipline, as long as the fellow conducts research on contemporary China. The candidate’s research must be supervised by a faculty member at each University and, as such, must receive the endorsement of a faculty member at each institution in order to apply. For information of faculty members at Peking University, please visit https://www.pku.edu.cn/department.html .

Funding:

For the stay at Peking University, benefits and stipend are competitive and in line with Chinese policy. All the benefits are provided by Boya Postdoctoral Fellowship Program of Peking University (click for detailed information about benefits) and subject to change. The fellows will further be eligible to apply for research funding from external source.

For the stay at Princeton University, stipend and benefits are competitive. Fellows will be eligible to apply for travel funding, have access to resources at the Paul and Marcia Wythes Center on Contemporary China, and be eligible for employee benefits provided by Princeton. During the appointment at Princeton, the postdoctoral researcher will hold a visiting appointment at Peking University.

Eligibility and Evaluation Criteria:

The fellowship is open to highly qualified researchers of all nationalities who have no more than one (1) year of post-PhD prior to the start of the appointment. The program is open to both internal and external candidates. Applicants holding tenure or tenure track faculty positions are not eligible to apply.

Selection is based on the academic excellence of the applicant, the quality of the proposed research project, compelling demonstration of the anticipated synergy of the appointed postdoc, and the commitment of the respective hosts at both universities. The research proposal should include information on how the project will benefit from the research environments of both institutions.

Applications:

This position is subject to the Universities’ background check policy. The work location for the stay at Princeton is in-person, on campus at Princeton University. All application documents must be prepared in English and include the following:

A research proposal and time plan (max. 10 pages in total, including tables/figures and references);

Concise Curriculum Vitae (max. 4 pages in total);

Two (2) confidential letters of recommendation (including one from the applicant’s doctoral supervisor). Please provide contact information for the two references;

Two explicit endorsement letters by the potential supervisors, one at each university (In the research proposal, include endorsement letters from both supervisors (email is sufficient). The endorsement letter need only be a positive response to your request for supervisor (example: yes, I agree to supervise you in the event you are selected for the postdoctoral program);

One writing sample (not to exceed 10MB).

Incomplete submissions will not be considered. Please refer to the FAQs if you have any questions and before you contact either coordinator.

FAQs: https://ccc.princeton.edu/postdocfaq;

Application deadline: March 24, 2026 by 11:59 p.m. EST

Application link: https://apply.interfolio.com/181473

Administrative Coordinators:

Ms. Sun laoshi | Ms. Celine Li

Postdoctoral Affairs Office | Paul and Marcia Wythes Center on Contemporary China Peking University | Princeton University

boguanban@pku.edu.cn | celineli@princeton.edu

More Information:

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

More information about the Wythes Center on Contemporary China can be found at https://ccc.princeton.edu/. You can find more information on the application process here: https://ccc.princeton.edu/postdocfaq

Postdoctoral Fellows must register at the Office of China’s National Postdoctoral Affairs Management Committee, which will accord them access to China’s postdoctoral funds and other special privileges.

Applicants who are working in PKU as postdocs are eligible to apply for the fellowship only if his/her current contract expiration date is within six months from the issuing date of the call.

Insurance fees are changeable due to the changes of insurance policies in Beijing and China.

Postdoctoral Fellows must sign an agreement with PKU to initiate the visa application procedure before conducting their postdoctoral research at PKU.

Participation in the program must be fully consistent with current and future university and national regulations and guidelines pertaining to health and wellness, travel, and visa status. Please see Princeton and Peking University’s websites for their most current academic and operational plans.

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.