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Abandoning the US: top Chinese scientists return home
Top scientists have been leaving the US for China in a wave that is changing the landscape of global research. In this series, the Post focuses on some of the experts who have made the move.
Updated: 18 Nov, 2025
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[1]
Mathematician Qian Hong, son of top scientific clan, leaves US for China
Return of pioneering scientists’ latest generation prompts more attention than usual among a growing trend.
17 Nov, 2025
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[2]
World-leading cancer drug scientist Lin Wenbin joins China’s Westlake University
The move follows distinguished contributions at the University of Chicago towards developing more effective cutting-edge treatments.
10 Nov, 2025
[3]
Texas A&M deputy chemistry chair Fang Lei joins US$3 billion Chinese lab
Scholar mentored by late Nobel Prize winner hails ability in China to translate knowledge into ‘practical application and industrialisation’.
07 Nov, 2025
[4]
Harvard HIV scientist Xie Zhenfei joins China’s national virus lab in Wuhan
After winning accolades in the US for his outstanding research, Xie’s work will continue to focus on effective mRNA-based vaccines.
30 Oct, 2025
[5]
Return to China of cancer researcher Wang Qianben reunites esteemed family
Famous TCM researcher Wang Qi has seen his sons Qianfei and Qianben return from the US to lead institutes in China.
22 Oct, 2025
[6]
Maths star Yuan Yuan returns to China after more than 20 years in US
Internationally renowned complex geometry researcher leaves New York to join Hangzhou’s ‘first class’ Westlake University as maths professor.
27 Sep, 2025
[7]
Intel chip architect Su Fei returns to China after 20 years in the US
The award-winning engineer with a reputation for mentorship has taken up an endowed chair professorship at Tsinghua University.
12 Sep, 2025
[8]
Exclusive | Why did Harvard top mathematician Liu Jun leave the US for China?
Professor’s decision to return to Tsinghua University amid rising tensions and US funding cuts had ‘nothing to do with Trump’.
11 Sep, 2025
[9]
After 40 years in US, pioneering mathematician Zhongwei Shen returns to China
Shen will continue decades of research on partial differential equations and harmonic analysis at Westlake University in Hangzhou.
09 Sep, 2025
[10]
Harvard’s top mathematician Liu Jun leaves US for China
Patriotism, plus ‘a love for education and science’, amid Trump research cuts, sees leading US statistician Liu Jun return to China.
07 Sep, 2025
[11]
‘Will you leave US for China?’ It depends, mathematician Terence Tao says
Trump funding cuts have left situation more ‘fluid and unstable’ than at any time in the last 30 years, Tao says.
27 Aug, 2025
[12]
Award-winning HIV scientist Shan Liang exits US for Chinese research institute
Tenured professor at WashU Medicine is at least third senior researcher to leave the US for Shenzhen medical research academy SMART.
23 Aug, 2025
[13]
AI scientist Cao Ting leaves Microsoft lab for China’s Tsinghua University
Cao’s new role follows the tech giant’s decision to restrict work by Chinese scientists and relocate Beijing-based researchers to Canada.
22 Aug, 2025
[14]
Top engineer involved in Boeing 787 and A380 design leaves US for China
The industrial software specialist is joining the newly established Eastern Institute of Technology as dean of its engineering college.
19 Aug, 2025
[15]
Cancer scientist Feng Gensheng leaves US for China as Trump cuts funding
Feng, whose work focuses on liver cancer and immunotherapy, will lead research institute at Shenzhen Bay Laboratory after 40 years abroad.
12 Aug, 2025
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