Dual Initiative to Foster World-Class Researchers
National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) is implementing a two-pronged strategy to further attract outstanding scholars: establishing the NTNU Young Scholar Lectureship and unveiling a fully-renovated faculty housing complex on its Gongguan Campus. These actions reflect the University’s determination to build a comprehensive, people-centered academic environment. NTNU faculty are not only well-supported in their research careers, but in every aspect of their daily life.
Fostering Quality Research
Officially launched in 2025, the NTNU Young Scholar Lectureship was made possible by a generous NT$10 million donation from Distinguished Alumnus Li-Cheng Yeh, a graduate of NTNU's Department of Physics. The program provides promising early-career faculty members with up to NT$1.5 million in research funding over a three-year period, serving as a vital bridge to the Taiwan Ministry of Education's Yushan Young Scholar Program. The lectureship offers young academics sustained stability and financial support to build internationally competitive research programs.
The program's administration was formalized by NTNU's Office of Research and Development. The selection criteria identify faculty members who demonstrate exceptional research potential and a clear commitment to international collaboration. The inaugural recipient was Dr. Huan-Yu Ku, an assistant professor in the Department of Physics, who received the program's maximum funding award.
Dr. Gu is a quantum information theorist with postdoctoral training at the University of Vienna and the Austrian Academy of Sciences as well as research experience in Japan. Since joining NTNU, his group has built active collaborations with RIKEN, KAIST, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, giving students early access to international networks and co-authorship on globally disseminated work.
Building on this strong start, the program is now seeking more applicants. Four faculty members from the Departments of Physics, Earth Sciences, and Computer Science and Information Engineering have submitted applications, with awards expected to be confirmed in 2026. NTNU views the lectureship as a long-term institutional investment, one that will compound in value as each cohort of supported scholars advances in their careers and deepens the university's international research reputation.
Housing for Researchers
As part of ensuring pleasant living conditions for researchers, NTNU's Office of General Affairs has completed a comprehensive renovation of the faculty residential complex at Gongguan. The project, representing an investment of approximately NT$100 million, created 50 newly appointed residential units immediately available for incoming international faculty and returning Taiwanese scholars.
The five-story building, fully equipped with elevator access, offers units in three sizes (approximately 26, 51, and 59 square meters). A communal lounge area in the building's basement has been designed to serve as an informal gathering space, fostering cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary exchange among faculty from around the world. It is precisely in these informal settings, NTNU believes, that the conversations that spark new research collaborations often begin.
Faculty residences have officially opened for occupancy on 1 March, with multiple new faculty members already registered and in the process of moving in.
Investing in NTNU
As global competition for academic talent intensifies, NTNU's dual investment in research support and quality of life sends a clear message: Taiwan's leading university of education is ready to welcome, support, and grow alongside outstanding scholars worldwide.
The Young Scholar Lectureship is looking for investors who share the University’s vision of supporting up-and-coming researchers. Direct donations to the lectureship fund may be given in two ways:
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NTNU's official giving platform at https://give.ntnu.edu.tw
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Select 'Talent Recruitment' as the donation category
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Designate the 'NTNU Young Scholar Lectureship' as the intended purpose.
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Personalized assistance by contacting Ms. Serena Chu at the Center of Public Affairs
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Phone: 02-7749-1260
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Email: give@ntnu.edu.tw