Young scientists and teachers have made huge contributions to the steady and rapid growth of China's top universities.

One example is the University of Science and Technology of China, or USTC, where more than 70 percent of the staff are scientists aged below 45, with some professors in their early 30s.

As a young scientist at USTC's School of Engineering Science, Wu Heng'an, 34, realized that he needed to broaden his perspective on graphite research, which only the top scientists in the field could help him with.

After learning that USTC encouraged young scientists like himself to seek overseas experience by covering their expenses, Wu emailed Andre Geim, laureate of the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics.

Professor Geim replied and Wu was admitted to his laboratory at the University of Manchester in 2010.

After two years of collaboration with the world-renowned scientist, Wu achieved some major breakthroughs in his field and published a joint article with Geim in January 2012, followed by another in February, 2014.

Many young scientists lack the funds to conduct research, so to attract the best talent, USTC said it is never tight-fisted about funding.

Xu Ning, a young physicist at the university, is another beneficiary.

The former undergraduate of USTC got his PhD degree in Yale University in 2005 and then worked at the University of Pennsylvania, University of Chicago and the Chinese University of Hong Kong until 2010, when he returned to USTC through a major talent recruiting program.

USTC gave Xu a total of 2.7 million yuan ($440,500) in the first year as his initial fund for his research at the university and more was provided to him in the following years.

"It is a considerably big sum of money even compared with amounts I got overseas," said Xu, who added that he enjoyed his time at USTC and achieved several research breakthroughs in the past four years.

Apart from the initial money given by USTC, the university also helps young scientists to apply for supporting funds, including those from the government and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Apartments are also provided to help the scientists settle in as soon as possible."Scientific research is a process of accumulation and discovery, each researcher should work at his own pace, and interference with the process may hinder the researcher's work," said Li Chuanfeng, a 41 year-old professor.

"In the years from 2006 to 2008, when I didn't make any significant progress with my research, the university gave me no pressure but full freedom to go at my own pace," said Li.

Since 2009, Li emerged as a well-known scientist on quantum communication by achieving multiple breakthroughs in the field and publishing several influential articles in Nature journals.

"By firmly supporting the young scientists from various angles, we aim to help them reach further in their scientific careers," said Chu Jiaru, head of the university's human resources department.

Contact the writer at zhulixin@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily European Weekly 09/19/2014 page31)