Postdoctoral Research Station in Geography

The Postdoctoral Research Station in Geography at Yunnan Normal University was approved for construction in 2014 (Document No. 107 of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security [2014]), marking the completion of the university's comprehensive talent training system in Geography, from bachelor's to master's, doctoral, and postdoctoral levels. This has established the university as a significant base for the cultivation of Geographical Science professionals in the southwestern region. The station boasts a strong faculty, bringing together a group of national and provincial teaching and research experts, led by academic and technical leaders at the ministerial and provincial level, with young and middle-aged professors and associate professors as the backbone. This has resulted in a high-quality, well-structured, united, and enterprising team of educators and researchers. The station is well-equipped with ample research funding, allowing for postdoctoral research to be conducted utilizing key ministerial and provincial research platforms.

Basic Conditions

This station is based on the Doctoral Program (as first-level discipline) in Geography of the Faculty of Geography, which includes three second-level doctoral programs: Physical Geography, Human Geography, and Cartography and Geographic Information Systems, as well as two independently established second-level doctoral programs: Borderland Geography and Mountain Environment and Natural Disasters. The faculty possesses the Engineering Research Center of Geo-Information Technology for Western Resources and Environmental Conditions of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Information Technology for Ethnic Education, the Yunnan Province Key Laboratory of Plateau Geographic Process and Environmental Change, and the China Southwest Geo-Environmental and Border Development Province-Ministry Joint Collaborative Innovation Center. Additionally, the faculty has been designated as a key discipline of Yunnan Province in Geography and a characteristic and advantageous discipline cluster of Yunnan Province for the Geography and Regional Development of the Low-Latitude Plateau. It also includes four Yunnan Province innovation teams in scientific and technological innovation: Borderland Development and Geo-Security, Plateau Geographic Process and Environmental Change, Lake Sedimentation and Global Change, and the Lancang-Mekong River Basin Resource Environment Cooperation and Joint Management Provincial Innovation Team, as well as two Yunnan Province innovation teams in the humanities and social sciences: Non-Traditional Security in the Border Areas of Yunnan and Coordinated Development of Mountain Urbanization and Resource Environment. There are also two key research bases of philosophy and social sciences in Yunnan Province: Yunnan Tourism Industry Development and Yunnan Human Resource Development and Management. The faculty currently has one Changjiang Distinguished Professor, two winners of the Ministry of Education's Young Teachers Award, four participants in the Ministry of Education's New Century Talents Support Program, and 39 full-time or part-time doctoral supervisors. In recent years, the faculty has secured 65 national research projects with a total funding of 72.8821 million yuan, published over 500 academic papers, and released more than 20 textbooks and monographs, earning over 20 provincial and ministerial research awards.

Management System

The station has a comprehensive management system and a well-functioning operational model. Since the recruitment of postdoctoral researchers began in 2015, the station has strictly implemented the spirit of the "Postdoctoral Management Regulations" (Document No. 149 of the Ministry of Personnel [2006]) by the National Personal Department and the National Postdoctoral Management Committee, as well as the spirit of the university's "Notice on the Establishment of the Yunnan Normal University Postdoctoral Management Committee" (Document No. 10 of Yunnan Normal University [2010]). While diligently fulfilling the "Postdoctoral Management Regulations" (Document No. 149 of the Ministry of Personnel [2006]) and the "Notice on the Establishment of the Yunnan Normal University Postdoctoral Management Committee" (Document No. 10 of Yunnan Normal University [2010]), the station has also formulated the "Interim Administrative Measures for the Geography Doctoral Postdoctoral Position" in 2015, which was revised in 2016 to form a more standardized and comprehensive "Management Measures for the 'Geography' Postdoctoral Research Station of the School of Tourism and Geographical Sciences."

Recruitment of Postdoctoral Researchers

Relying on the discipline of Geography and the research team of the Faculty of Geography, the station has been recruiting postdoctoral researchers since 2015, with a total of 9 postdoctoral researchers recruited to date, including 7 in-service personnel and 2 full-time individuals. One is a foreign postdoctoral researcher.

Personnel Information of the Postdoctoral Research Station in Geography

In recent years, the Faculty of Geography and the station have increased publicity efforts, improved the recruitment, mid-term assessment, and exit processes, and have been committed to enhancing the quality of training, the output, and the quality of the postdoctoral researchers' achievements. The faculty and the station have held multiple meetings to strive for improvements in research conditions and the treatment of postdoctoral researchers, aiming to attract more outstanding postdoctoral researchers to join the station and promote the development of the faculty and the university's disciplines. At the same time, in accordance with the requirements of the National Postdoctoral Management Office, strict reviews are conducted for all applicants to ensure the quality of incoming personnel and to optimize the research team.

Exit Status of Postdoctoral Researchers

Since the recruitment and training of postdoctoral researchers began in 2015, the station has strictly followed the requirements of the National Postdoctoral Management Office and the university's Postdoctoral Management Office to conduct exit assessments for postdoctoral researchers about to leave the station. To date, eight postdoctoral researchers, including Feng Bin, Luo Yi, Liang Haiyan, Li Zheng, Li Jia, Yang Wenzheng, Liao Yahui, and Anna-Maria Klamt, have completed their tenure at the station.

Research Achievements

Since its establishment in September 2014, the station has achieved significant results in terms of project funding, publications, and awards through the recruitment, training of postdoctoral researchers, and the construction of the station. The postdoctoral researchers at the station have led and participated in 16 projects, including 13 as leaders, such as 3 National Natural Science Foundation of China (Li Jia 2018, Luo Yi 2017, Yang Wenzheng 2017); 3 National Social Science Fund (Liang Haiyan 2017, Liao Yahui 2013-2019, Liao Yahui 2020); 1 major sub-project of the National Social Science Fund (Li Zheng 2017); 3 China Postdoctoral Science Foundation General Grants (Liao Yahui 2018, Second-Class; Yang Wenzheng 2017, Second-Class; Li Zheng 2016, First-Class); 1 China Postdoctoral Science Foundation Special Grant (Yang Wenzheng, 2018); 2 Yunnan Province Postdoctoral Targeted Training Grants (Anna-Marie Klamt, 2018; Wang Rui, 2020) and 1 Yunnan Province Postdoctoral Research Grant (Anna-Marie Klamt, 2019). They have also participated as key members in 3 projects, including 1 National Social Science Fund for Young Scholars (Liang Haiyan, 2017); 1 Yunnan Province Philosophy and Social Science Planning Project (Liao Yahui, 2016); 1 Qujing City Philosophy and Social Science Planning Project (Liang Haiyan, 2018).

The postdoctoral researchers at the station have published 44 papers as the first author or corresponding author, and in collaboration with others, including 34 as the first author or corresponding author, and 3 in collaboration. Among the 34 papers by the first author or corresponding author, there are 12 SCI papers (Luo Yi, 1 first author, 8 corresponding author; Li Jia, 1 first author; Anna-Marie Klamt, 2 first author), 6 EI papers (Luo Yi, 3 first author, 2 corresponding author; Li Jia, 1 first author), 6 CSSCI papers (Liang Haiyan, 2 first author; Feng Bin, 1 first author; Yang Wenzheng, 3 corresponding author), 2 conference EI papers (Yang Wenzheng, 1 first author, 1 corresponding author), 6 Chinese core journals (Liang Haiyan, 2 first author; Yang Wenzheng, 1 corresponding author; Wang Rui, 3 first author), and 4 regular journal articles.

Since the recruitment of postdoctoral researchers began in 2015, the station's postdoctoral personnel have published a total of 7 monographs, with Liang Haiyan publishing 5, Li Zheng 1, and Liao Yahui 1; they have also received 5 awards, including the "Second Prize for Outstanding Achievements in Population Science" by the National Health and Family Planning Commission for Liang Haiyan in 2018; the "Second Prize for Outstanding Achievements in Philosophy and Social Sciences" by the Yunnan Province for Li Zheng in 2019; the "First Prize for Outstanding Papers" by the Yunnan Social Sciences Federation for Feng Bin in 2017; and the "Third Prize for Outstanding Achievements in Social Sciences" by Qujing City for Liang Haiyan in 2018 and 2019.

The Postdoctoral Station in Geography at the Faculty of Geography, Yunnan Normal University, with its superior research platform, conditions, and attractive remuneration, is always open to outstanding doctoral graduates who are passionate about Geography and aspire to further their studies and showcase their talents in the development of Geography, especially in the southwestern region of the country. We believe that your research experience at the "Geography" Postdoctoral Station will be a valuable asset in your life.

Figure 1: Interview and selection process for postdoctoral researchers applying to the Postdoctoral Station in Geography

Figure 2: Dr. Liao Yahui's exit defense

Figure 3: Anna-Marie Klamt's exit defense

Figure 4: Yang Wenzheng's exit defense