About this position
Pioneer the Future of Smart Materials
Postdoctoral Fellowships
Center for Advanced Smart Materials (CASM) | Yongjiang Laboratory (Y-Lab) | Ningbo, China
Yongjiang Laboratory (Y-Lab) , established in 2021 with robust and sustained government backing, is one of China's most heavily capitalized new R&D institutions—dedicated to research that bridges fundamental science and transformative technology. At its heart is the Center for Advanced Smart Materials (CASM) , a flagship 7,000 m² research facility designed for full-chain innovation: from discovery-level condensed matter physics to real-world technology transfer.
A Track Record of Global Impact
Led by Prof. Xiaobing Ren , an internationally recognized pioneer in ferroic smart materials ( 300+ publications; 30,000+ citations ), CASM has established global leadership in strain-glass physics and high-performance piezoelectrics. Recent landmark results:
- Science (2026): Super piezoelectric ceramics far exceeding conventional performance limits
- Nature (2024): "Super-flexible yet super-strong" strain glass metals—a new paradigm in metallic materials
- Aerospace deployment (collaborative): Strain-glass alloys—built on the foundational concept proposed by Prof. Ren and characterized by his group—were developed by our aerospace partners and successfully deployed in China's Chang'e-5 and Chang'e-6 lunar missions.
These achievements reflect 30+ years of sustained fundamental research and a proven capacity to translate frontier discoveries into cutting-edge technologies.
We Are Expanding — Join Us
CASM invites exceptional scientists with expertise in smart materials broadly defined, including but not limited to:
- Shape-memory and ferroelastic alloys
- Piezoelectric and ferroelectric materials
- Magnetostrictive and ferromagnetic materials
- Computational and AI-driven materials design
- Smart materials for advanced applications
Open Positions
Postdoctoral Fellows
We invite driven researchers with demonstrated excellence and the clear potential to become future scientific leaders.
We offer:
- Highly competitive salary — top-tier among Chinese research institutions
- World-class experimental and computational infrastructure
- Mentorship from internationally leading scientists
- Opportunities to drive innovative research directions within a highly collaborative environment
- A fast-track pathway to PI / Associate Professor appointment for exceptional candidates
Why CASM?
- Scale: Purpose-built 7,000 m² facility integrating discovery science, advanced characterization, and technology transfer under one roof
- Impact: Publications in Nature and Science — with continuing momentum
- Innovation: Strong backing to pursue ambitious, long-term research programs
- Resources: One of the most generously funded materials research centers in Asia Pacific
- Location: Ningbo — a beautiful, dynamic coastal city with excellent international connectivity, approximately 2 hours from Shanghai
How to Apply
Submit the following as a single PDF to casm-hr@ylab.ac.cn :
- Cover Letter — Specify your target position, outline your research vision, and highlight key accomplishments
- Curriculum Vitae — Including a complete publication list
- References — Contact details for three referees (letters requested upon shortlisting)
Email subject line: Application for [Postdoctoral Fellow] – [Your Name]
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Early submission is encouraged.
Center for Advanced Smart Materials (CASM)
Yongjiang Laboratory (Y-Lab)
1519 Xinghai South Road, Zhenhai District
Ningbo, Zhejiang 315201, China
Email: casm-hr@ylab.ac.cn
Web: https://www.ylab.ac.cn/en/casm/positions/
Funding
Annual salary 450,000-550,000 RMB (＄67,000-82,000)
How to apply
- Read the full advert on the source site — it carries the authoritative terms.
- Email the contact below with your CV and a short, specific message. See Emailing Professors.
- Prepare your SOP, CV, transcripts and referees before the deadline.
- Apply through the university's own portal. Never pay a fee to a third party.