In order to implement the operational management principles of the Ministry of Education’s key laboratories – “Openness, Mobility, Collaboration, and Competition” – and with a view to both laboratory development and the establishment of a sound academic echelon, the laboratory invites outstanding scholars from both domestic and international institutions to work at the laboratory. The aim is to build a research team that is adequately staffed, highly competent, structurally balanced, and orderly in its mobility, so as to continuously raise the overall level of the research force and strive to make the laboratory a centre for scientific research, talent cultivation, and academic exchange. Taking into account the laboratory’s specific characteristics and practical circumstances, these regulations are hereby formulated.

Article 1: Appointment Categories
Researchers are divided into two categories: permanent researchers and non‑permanent (temporary) researchers.

Article 2: Appointment Duration
The appointment period for permanent researchers is generally three years; for non‑permanent researchers, the appointment period ranges from six months to three years.

Article 3: Appointment Principles

1. Appointments shall be made based on the needs of laboratory development and the construction of academic echelons, taking into account both current research requirements and the long‑term development of the laboratory.

2. The principles of overall size control, demand‑based position setting, open recruitment, fair competition, merit‑based selection, clear rights and responsibilities, strict assessment, and contract‑based management shall be adhered to.

3. The process shall be open, institutionalised, and proceduralised.

Article 4: Duties and Obligations of Researchers

1. Researchers shall use the Key Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry (Shaanxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, or its English name as their affiliated institution when participating in academic conferences, publishing papers, applying for awards and research projects, etc. In the acknowledgements of their research outputs, they shall include the following funding attribution: “Supported by the 111 Project (B14041)” (or “高等学校学科创新引智计划资助 (B14041)” in Chinese).

2. Researchers are entitled to use the laboratory’s research equipment and instruments.

3. Researchers are entitled to use the working, research, and academic funds provided by the laboratory.

4. Researchers are eligible for academic and research awards offered by the laboratory.

5. Researchers have the right to propose, supervise, participate in, and make decisions on matters concerning laboratory management and development.

Article 5: Assessment of Permanent Researchers
To ensure and promote the improvement of the research capacity of permanent researchers and the optimisation of the team structure, the laboratory conducts annual assessments of the work performance of permanent researchers.

1. The assessment and evaluation work shall be carried out under the guidance of the Academic Committee.

2. Academic leaders (principal investigators of each research direction) are exempted from the assessment, but they are responsible for the development of their research direction and the achievement of five‑year goals.

3. Within a three‑year period, permanent researchers are required to accomplish the following minimum workload (at least three of the following items must be completed):
(1) Serve as the principal investigator of at least one national‑level vertically‑funded project (e.g., National Natural Science Foundation of China) that is currently in progress;
(2) Publish at least two papers in SCI Q1 journals (as first author or corresponding author);
(3) Undertake a national‑level research project (or sub‑project) with funding exceeding RMB 1 million as the primary responsible person;
(4) Accumulate industrial/contract research funding exceeding RMB 1 million as the primary responsible person;
(5) Deliver at least one invited talk or presentation at a major international academic conference;
(6) Publish at least one high‑level monograph or textbook (among the top three authors);
(7) Receive one national‑level science and technology award (as the first‑ranked institution and personally ranked within the top 10; or as the institution ranked within the top three and personally ranked within the top 10 while being the first‑ranked person from our institution);
(8) Receive one provincial/ministerial first‑class science and technology award (as the first‑ranked institution and personally ranked within the top 10; or as the institution ranked within the top two and personally ranked within the top 10 while being the first‑ranked person from our institution);
(9) Receive one provincial/ministerial second‑class science and technology award (as the first‑ranked institution and personally ranked within the top three);
(10) Obtain at least two authorised invention patents (as the first inventor);
(11) Supervise at least one postgraduate student who receives a provincial‑level outstanding doctoral dissertation or three students who receive university‑level outstanding dissertations;
(12) Supervise undergraduate students to publish two SCI(E) papers or achieve one provincial‑level innovation/entrepreneurship project or “Challenge Cup” award;
(13) Organise an international academic conference with more than 20 overseas scholars attending (as the primary organiser);
(14) Organise a national academic conference with more than 100 scholars attending (as the primary organiser);
(15) Plan and organise academic/scientific activities that have significant influence on national economic and social development.

Article 8: Mobility of Permanent Researchers (Note: Articles 6 and 7 are not present in the original document; numbering follows the source.)

1. Criteria for newly appointed permanent researchers:
(1) In principle, candidates should be under 40 years of age, with preference given to outstanding non‑permanent researchers;
(2) Candidates recruited from abroad must have published at least two SCI papers in top‑tier international journals in their research field;
(3) Candidates recruited domestically must have previously served as principal investigator of at least one National Natural Science Foundation project and have published at least one SCI paper in their research field;
(4) Candidates must have at least one year of overseas study, research, or training experience;
(5) Candidates with significant research achievements may be exempted from the above criteria.

2. If a permanent researcher under appointment fails to complete the minimum workload stipulated by the laboratory within the three‑year assessment period, the Academic Committee may grant a two‑year extension. If the required workload is still not met after the subsequent assessment, the researcher will no longer be appointed as a permanent researcher.

3. The recruitment and removal of permanent researchers shall be subject to the approval of the Academic Committee.

Article 9: Appointment of Non‑permanent (Temporary) Researchers

1. Appointment of non‑permanent researchers from within the university:
Any staff member of Shaanxi Normal University who is willing to engage in research related to the laboratory’s main research directions may be appointed as a non‑permanent researcher. The appointment period is generally three years, subject to the consent of the academic leader of the respective research direction and approval by the Academic Committee.

2. Appointment of non‑permanent researchers from outside the university:
To promote laboratory development, scholars from domestic and international institutions who have substantial collaborative ties with the laboratory may be appointed as non‑permanent researchers. The appointment period is generally six months to two years, upon nomination by an academic leader and approval by the Academic Committee.

3. Once appointed, non‑permanent researchers must conscientiously fulfil their duties and obligations as researchers. Non‑permanent researchers who receive an “Excellent” evaluation in two consecutive annual assessments by the Academic Committee may apply to become permanent researchers.

Article 10: Supplementary Provisions
These regulations shall be interpreted by the Laboratory Affairs Committee. These regulations shall take effect from the date of promulgation.