Careers in the Plant Sciences

Senior Principal Investigators

Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences - Xishuangbanna or Kunming, Yunnan, China

Position Title: Senior Principal Investigators
Position Type: Principal Investigator
Application Review Begins: Friday, July 25, 2025
Application Deadline: Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Institution: Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Department/Division: Research department
Field (e.g., systematics): Ecology, Systematics, Conservation biology, Plant physiology, Environmental genomics, Sustainable use of plant resources，Plant taxonomy and related fields
City: Xishuangbanna or Kunming, Yunnan, China
General Information: The Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG), Chinese Academy of Sciences, is a premier multidisciplinary integrative research institution dedicated to biodiversity science and conservation, forest ecology and restoration, and innovative public scientific education. Founded in 1959 and located in southern tropical Yunnan, XTBG operates a core research campus and a large botanic garden in Menglun town as well as an affiliated center and labs in Kunming, the provincial capital. Most recently, XTBG is working towards its promotion to the National status, as one of the National Botanical Gardens recognized by the national government of China.

XTBG is internationally recognized for its excellence on:
•strong commitment to integrative fundamental and applied research in tropical/subtropical forest ecology studying impacts of human activities and climate change on biodiversity and ecosystem functions.
•promoting sustainable use of plant resources in South and Southeast Asia through comprehensive studies of biodiversity and ecosystem.
•conserving rare and endangered tropical and subtropical plant species through relocation, propagation, and reintroduction that engage government agencies and local communities.
•curating a large living collection of diverse tropical and subtropical plants and a spectacular garden.
•implementing innovative public education integrating the living collection and garden with a focus on biodiversity conservation.

With active collaborators, staff, and students from over 50 countries, XTBG is at the forefront of addressing critical environmental and scientific challenges across the region and one of the most international research institutes in the Chinese Academy of Sciences. As a repository for the conservation of tropical plant germplasm resources and a center for the dissemination of scientific knowledge, XTBG will play a key role in the future of national and regional scientific discovery, training, and outreach. Currently, XTBG offers doctoral and master training programs in ecology and botany, and provides postdoctoral research positions in biology and ecology.

•Appointment: Full Research Professor
•Start-up Research Funding: Minimum CNY 5 million, negotiable
•Extra Allowance: CNY 1 million
Team-building support: Facilitated recruitment of postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and technical staff.
Qualifications/Requirements: XTBG is seeking outstanding researchers at multiple career stages to join a dynamic, highly international, integrative multidisciplinary research institute committed to global impact and innovation. Applicants should have high moral integrity and embody the collaborative spirit of an international scientist.
•Internationally recognized leaders in relevant scientific fields (e.g., ecology, systematics, conservation biology, plant physiology, environmental genomics).
•Current or prior appointment as Professor (or equivalent) at well-reputed academic or research institutions. Under special personal or professional circumstances, appointments at Associate Professor (or equivalent) will be considered.
•Demonstrated ability to lead pioneering research and secure major external funding.
Responsibilities: Conducting innovative research, training graduate students and postdocs, publishing research results in leading journals, seeking external grant funding, etc. The specific job responsibilities will be tailored to the successful candidate on a case-by-case basis.
Application Instructions (submission methods, etc.): Qualified candidates will be contacted directly after submitting their CV to the email address below.
Please indicate that you learned about this position from the Botanical Society of America.
Web Link: https://www.xtbg.ac.cn/
Compensation Range: •Annual Salary: Minimum CNY 800,000, negotiable based on experience
Contact Name: Liu Qing/Wei Xingyu, liuqing@xtbg.org.cn/weixingyu@xtbg.ac.cn