In a recent announcement by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, the 2024 Postdoctoral Innovation Talent Support Program (known as the “Postdoctoral Innovation Program”) has named its chosen candidates, with Dr. Zhiguang Xia, one of Professor Li Chao’s team members from the Institute of Sedimentary Geology at CDUT, being successfully selected. This marks the first time a young scholar from CDUT has been chosen for the “Postdoctoral Innovation Program,” showcasing the significant progress made in our “Double First-Class” initiative to attract and utilize top-tier talent globally.
Launched in 2016 by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the National Postdoctoral Management Committee, the “Postdoctoral Innovation Program” is designed to expedite the development of a cohort of exceptional young scientific and technological innovators at the cutting edge of global research. The program, in conjunction with key research institutions such as national laboratories, focuses on significant national strategies, strategic emerging technologies, and the frontiers of basic scientific research. It selects a group of recent doctoral graduates to undertake postdoctoral research at domestic postdoctoral stations, providing an annual stipend of 280,000 yuan per person for two years, plus a one-time grant of 80,000 yuan from the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation for research activities.
Profile of the Chosen Candidate:
Dr. Xia Zhiguang, who was guided by Professor Li Weiqiang and completed his Ph.D. at Nanjing University in 2023, now serves as a postdoctoral researcher at CDUT’s Geological Research Station, in collaboration with Professor Li Chao. His primary research interests include the study of magnesium-potassium isotopes in evaporites and trace element geochemistry in carbonates, along with their implications for ancient environments. Dr. Xia has contributed 15 academic papers to prestigious journals, including lead authorships on articles in Science Advances (co-first author, top-ranked), Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Chemical Geology, Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, and Geoscience Frontiers. Additionally, he’s been recognized with accolades such as the 2020 Outstanding Graduate Student and 2023 Distinguished Graduate from Nanjing University.
