Join

I see the Li Laboratory as an organization dedicated to unraveling the mysteries of RNA regulation. Our team works collaboratively towards a greater purpose.

The Li Laboratory has three primary objectives:

Illuminate: We aim to tackle the most critical challenges in our field and advance the boundaries of knowledge.

Transform: We seek to apply our expertise to other systems and discover innovative ways to convert disease-causing factors into methods to enhance health.

Nurture: We strive to foster a supportive environment that allows our trainees to reach their full potential and achieve personal and professional fulfillment. Our goal is to make a distinctive impact on the human condition.

We also highly encourage the following values:

• Pursue what you are truly passionate about, no matter what it takes.

• Approach experiments and challenges with a relaxed and focused mindset.

• Foster a supportive environment where helping others and contributing to society are key values.

Welcome to the Li Laboratory! We always welcome individuals who are genuinely interested in our research to join our team. We strongly encourage applicants with backgrounds in bioinformatics, biochemistry, or cell culture. We are committed to developing individuals at all levels, from high school students to researchers, by fostering creativity, innovation, and exploration of new research methods and directions. Our hope is that you will discover your true passion for research during your time with us. Our laboratory primarily communicates in English, and we currently have scientists from India, South Korea, and Nigeria, as well as overseas scholars who have received training in Japan and the United States. We welcome individuals of any nationality, race, religion, or gender to join our team. For further details, please refer to the Q&A section.

Research (associate) professors and Postdoctoral associates

If you are interested, please email me your cover letter, CV, and the names, emails and phone numbers of three references. Other than your past research achievements and future plans, I would also encourage you to address the following four questions in your cover letter: 1) What do you expect to achieve during your training? 2) What are your professional strengths? 3) What are your professional weaknesses/what are you not interested in doing professionally? 4) How would your PhD/Postdoc advisor rate your performance on a scale from 1 to 10?

We do not require you to secure your own funding, but encourage you to try.

Graduate students (PhD or Masters’)

Our lab always has room for highly motivated rotation students. Our current projects can be approached from many different directions, ranging from chemistry to animal breeding, dry lab to wet lab, basic to translational and clinical, science to engineering, and even the use of samples from diverse model organisms, including lamprey and protists. I encourage you to try something you have not done before to discover your talents and passions. I was personally trained as a joint PhD student between two laboratories, one working on DNA replication using yeast as model organisms and another working on meiosis using mice as model organisms. I am open to any direction that excites and motivates you the most. Email me to set up a time to meet or just stop by at my office at room 1621 at the International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University.

Chinese PhD applicants who complete undergraduate education overseas

As long as your undergrad college ranks within the top 100 universities globally, you are qualified to apply to the PhD program directly. The application deadline is around the end of November. Please refer to the Chinese version of our website for more details.

Undergraduate students

Our lab has a tradition of taking in outstanding undergraduate students as independent researchers or lab aids. We currently have students majoring in data science, biomedical engineering, microbiology, and cell and developmental biology. It has been reported that the earlier STEM students partake in lab research, the more likely they are to graduate successfully. We therefore try our best to provide opportunities for undergraduate students. For those who are interested in joining, we have a weekly undergrad research meeting to provide additional mentoring to understand the necessary background for their research. Please email me your CV and estimated time commitment.

Technicians/Lab Manager

We are looking for reliable individuals that are passionate about science and understand the necessary groundwork required to keep a bustling lab afloat. If you are a fresh graduate with some research experience, we can tailor your duties according to your interests and skills, including leading independent project under my direct supervision or assisting other researchers in the lab. Please email me directly with your CV and estimated timeframe for your stay in the lab.

Visiting students/ scholars

We have previously taken visiting students, clinicians, and scholars from Cornell University (Ithaca, USA), Tsinghua University (Beijing, China), Fudan University (Shanghai, China), Tianjin Central Hospital (Tianjin, China), and SRM Institute of Science & Technology (Chennai, India). We welcome international students visiting for at least 6 months. If you need to apply for a Chinese visa, you need to prepare at least two months in advance, please plan accordingly. Here is the link regarding the documents required for visa application (http://cs.mfa.gov.cn/wgrlh/lhqz/). Please consult the local Chinese embassy for details. Although English is the working language, it is recommended to learn some basic Chinese.

International students

We highly recommend international students to pursue a PhD degree in our lab. The official language inside the lab is English. We currently have Indian and Korean scientists in our team. No matter your nationality, ethnic group, religion, or gender, you are warmly welcome. Please use the following link for application (http://iczu.zju.edu.cn/admissionsen/2022/1020/c68990a2649391/page.htm). If you are accepted, we will provide you the fellowship to cover your tuitions and stipends as well as housing (please refer to the details of the scholarship in the application of doctoral program). If you need to apply for a Chinese visa, you need to prepare at least two months in advance, so please plan accordingly. Here is the link on the documents required for visa application (http://cs.mfa.gov.cn/wgrlh/lhqz/). Please consult the local Chinese embassy for details. We also recommend you to learn some basic Chinese.

High school students

Most of my basic knowledge in biology was acquired when I participated in the high school biology Olympia competition. This experience has contributed greatly to my research path. I highly encourage talented students to think about starting research earlier, as it may help to give you more opportunities in the future. With drive and commitment, you will be proud of what you may accomplish.

About Chinese Visa 

http://cs.mfa.gov.cn/wgrlh/lhqz/

Documents required to apply for study visa (X1 and X2 Character Visa).

1. Passport: One copy of original passport with blank visa page valid for at least 6 months and one copy of passport photo information page.

2. Visa application form and photo: One copy of the "Visa Application Form of the People's Republic of China" and one recent frontal passport photo with light-colored background pasted on the application form.

3. Proof of legal stay or residence (for those who do not apply for visa in the country of nationality): If you do not apply for visa in the country of nationality, you need to provide the original and a copy of a valid certificate of legal stay, residence, work, study or a valid visa in the country where you are staying.

4. Original Chinese passport or original Chinese visa (for those who had Chinese nationality and later joined foreign nationality): If you are applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, you must provide the original Chinese passport and a copy of the passport photo information page; if you have been granted a Chinese visa and apply for a visa with a newly issued foreign passport, you must provide a copy of the original foreign passport photo information page and the Chinese visa you have been granted (if the name in the new passport is different from the original passport, you must also provide an official document certifying the name change).

5. X1 Character Visa - for long term (more than 180 days) study in China.

(1) The original and a copy of the Acceptance Letter issued by the recruiting organization in China.

(2) The original and a copy of the "Visa Application Form for Foreign Students Coming to China" (Form JW201 or JW202).

【Note】The holder must apply for a residence permit from the Immigration Bureau of the local public security organ of the people's government at or above the county level within 30 days after entering China.

X2 Character Visa - For short-term (not more than 180 days) study in China.

The original and a copy of the acceptance letter issued by the recruiting unit in China.

Application Guide for Doctoral Degree Programs 2023

http://iczu.zju.edu.cn/admissionsen/2022/1020/c68990a2649391/page.htm

Documents for Application:

Applicants must log in to the Online Application System for International Students of Zhejiang University (Link), fill in clearly and upload completely the original or notarized scanned copies of the following materials as required.

1. A photocopy of passport.

2. Highest degree certificates. If applicants are university students, they shall provide an official pre-graduation certificate. The original or notarized copy of the academic qualification certificate must be submitted after admission (the degree certificate must be obtained no later than registration).

3. Academic transcripts during Master’s and Bachelor’s degree study, which must be original documents or notarized copies.

4. Language proficiency certificates. (Download)

5. Personal statement, in Chinese or English, should include study and work experience, reasons for application and study proposal. No less than 1500 words.

6. Two letters of recommendation from full professors or associate professors. (Professors’ signature, contact phone number and email address must be put on the letter.)

7. Published academic papers or other academic achievements. (If applicable)

8. 2023 version of Form for Provisional Acceptance of International Student by ZJU Supervisor. (If applicable，Click the filename to download)

Applicants shall provide the above form for supervisors to fill. Old versions will not be accepted. Applicants of some programs must provide acceptance letter, please refer to the catalog of doctoral degree programs.

9. Applicants are encouraged to provide GRE、NTS-GAT test score.

10. Applicant who has given up their original Chinese citizenship and become foreign citizens shall provide the documents certifying the cancellation of Chinese nationality, according to the policy of Ministry of Education of the PRC.

11. If the applicant has acquired foreign citizenship automatically at the time of birth in a foreign country, whose parents were both Chinese citizens, or one of the parents was a Chinese citizen, please provide

(1) documents certifying acquiring foreign citizenship at the time of birth;

(2) documents certifying parent’s (with Chinese citizenship) permanent residence in foreign country before the birth of applicants.

Scholarships

Applicants for doctoral degree programs can apply for the following scholarships:

1. Chinese Government Scholarship-Bilateral Program (CSC Type A) (Link)

2. Chinese Government Scholarship-Chinese University Program (CSC Type B, application deadline is January 31, 2023)（Link）

3. Zhejiang University International School of Medicine Scholarship (for applicants of programs offered by International School of Medicine) (Link)