Recently, the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) officially announced the list of selected candidates for the 2025 Youth Science and Technology Talent Cultivation Program (PhD Special Project), formerly known as the Young Talent Support Project (PhD Special Project). Three 2024-grade PhD students from the Institute of Polymer and Energy Chemistry, Nanchang University, including Lin Wen (supervised by Professor Yiwang Chen), Hongbo Zhou (supervised by Professor Licheng Tan), and Zhaoyang Chu (supervised by Professor Xiaotian Hu), have successfully been selected, emerging as outstanding representatives of the institute’s fruitful talent cultivation achievements.
Regarding this honor, the selected students stated, “This recognition not only affirms our personal scientific research work, but also benefits profoundly from the meticulous guidance of our supervisors and the high-quality academic platform provided by the institute. Academic seminars held regularly by the institute enable us to keep abreast of disciplinary frontiers, while well-equipped experimental facilities lay a solid foundation for scientific and technological innovation. In the future, we will fully leverage the funding and resources of this special program to strive for more research outcomes that serve the national energy security strategy.”
Previously, a number of PhD students from the institute were selected for the 2024 CAST Young Talent Support Project. The concentrated selection of multiple students this year strongly demonstrates the continuous improvement of the institute’s talent cultivation quality. As the supporting institution of the Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of New Energy Chemistry, the institute has always focused on international frontiers and major national strategic needs in the field of new energy materials, establishing a three-dimensional talent cultivation system featuring “supervisor guidance, platform support and academic exchange”. By regularly inviting renowned global scholars for academic lectures, supporting PhD students to participate in international conferences, and promoting the industrialization of scientific research achievements, the institute has fostered an open and inclusive innovation environment for young researchers. Moving forward, centering on the cultivation of top-tier innovative talents, the institute will further deepen cooperation with national societies and scientific research institutions, make full use of various talent cultivation platforms and resources, and provide broader development opportunities for students. It will empower more young talents to excel in the field of polymer and energy chemistry, contributing wisdom and strength to the development of China’s new energy industry and the construction of a powerful country in science and technology.
It is reported that the Youth Science and Technology Talent Cultivation Program (PhD Special Project), launched on a pilot basis for the first time in 2024, is a high-end growth platform for young scientific and technological talents built by the state through integrating high-quality resources. Adopting a three-in-one cultivation system featuring political training, professional refinement and social practice, the program aims to help selected PhD students gain in-depth understanding of national conditions, broaden professional horizons, and align their research with social needs.
