The Institute of
Tibetan Plateau Research said on Wednesday that it is seeking
leading scientists from around the world to work on research into
the environment of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
Director Yao Tandong told Xinhua News Agency that the institute,
part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), needs
to exploit international knowledge and experience in glacier and
environmental research.
Those invited are expected to focus on geodynamics and
environmental and climate change, as well as atmosphere and earth
surface processes.
Successful candidates must hold doctoral degrees, be under the
age of 45 and have a minimum of eight years' relevant experience.
They should also have published at least four academic papers in
journals cited by the Science Citation Index, said a human
resources official from the institute.
Lonnie Thompson, a world recognized glacier expert who is also a
professor at Ohio State University, has already been appointed as
vice institute director of academics.
Through Thompson, the institute is cooperating with US research
groups on joint programs. One endeavor is to take ice cores from
icecaps in southwest Tibet in the latter half of this year.
The CAS institute is providing 10 senior research
positions, with annual salaries ranging from 80,000 to 150,000 yuan
(US$9,700-18,000).
Research on the plateau by the CAS began roughly 50 years ago,
and in March 2003 it reorganized its glacier research resources and
renamed the research body.
The institute targets its efforts toward the toughest subjects
in the field, rather than spreading limited resources over numerous
research projects.
In contrast to other CAS organs, it is headquartered in Beijing
and has centers in Lhasa, capital of the Tibet
Autonomous Region, and Kunming, capital of Yunnan
Province.
Most researchers work in labs in Beijing, which are also
platforms for international academic exchange.
The Lhasa center oversees construction and maintenance of
outdoor observation stations, while the Kunming center is
responsible for establishing a plateau plant samples reserve and
coordinating biological research programs.
The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the world's highest.
(Xinhua News Agency April 14, 2005)
