To further promote international academic exchange and research collaboration, and to cultivate high‑level talents with a global perspective, we are pleased to announce the admissions guidelines for the Joint Doctoral Training Program at the Wenzhou Research Institute in collaboration with NTU (hereinafter referred to as "the Institute" or "WRIN"). This program aims to provide outstanding doctoral candidates with joint training opportunities at world‑class universities and research institutions, fostering academic innovation and enhancing cross‑cultural research capabilities. Eligible students are encouraged to apply.
1. Introduction to WRIN and the College of Engineering, NTU
The Wenzhou Research Institute in collaboration with NTU (WRIN) was established on May 23, 2025. It integrates research teams from Wenzhou and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU) to conduct sustainable research and innovation in key areas and to promote high‑quality international scientific and technological cooperation. The College of Engineering at NTU is one of the largest engineering schools in the world, with nearly 9,000 undergraduate and 4,000 postgraduate students. As a globally renowned research‑intensive university, the College ranks 2nd in Engineering in the U.S. News & World Report 2025 Best Global Universities rankings. In the latest 2025 QS World University Rankings by Subject, six of its disciplines rank among the global top 10, with Materials Science ranking the highest at 2nd worldwide. With world‑class facilities, a vibrant research ecosystem, and deep industry partnerships, NTU provides an ideal environment for doctoral students to conduct cutting‑edge interdisciplinary research.
2. Program Information, Duration, and Training Mode
Degree Awarded: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Participating College: College of Engineering, NTU
Study Mode: Full‑time
Program Duration: 4 years (thesis submission is required before the end of the 4th year; the Ph.D. defense is scheduled 6 to 12 months after thesis submission)
Intake Date: August 2026
Research Directions:
Biotechnology, Biomaterials, Biophotonics, Bioimaging, Biomedical Devices, Nanomedicine, Tissue Engineering, In Vitro Diagnostics, Ophthalmic Technology, Wearable and Smart Sensors, Robotics and Automation, Data Analysis Engineering, and related fields.
3. WRIN Sponsorship and Training Arrangement
Admitted students will receive a full scholarship for 4 years (funded by the Wenzhou Municipal Government), covering full tuition fee waiver and a monthly stipend. The monthly stipend is consistent with the NTU scholarship.
Admitted candidates are required to sign a sponsorship and training agreement with the Institute and the Wenzhou Eye Valley Development Service Center, which includes the following main obligations:
During the 4‑year doctoral program, before submitting the doctoral thesis, the student must complete a cumulative work period of at least 1 year at WRIN, with each continuous work period lasting no less than 3 months;
After submitting the doctoral thesis, the student must work full‑time at WRIN or at a relevant Wenzhou institution in research or related positions for a continuous period of no less than 1 year.
4. Eligibility Requirements
4.1 Basic Requirements
We welcome outstanding students with research potential, a passion for scientific innovation, and a determination to develop in related fields. Candidates should:
Uphold the leadership of the Communist Party of China, have a correct political orientation, love their country, be willing to serve the socialist modernization drive, and be law‑abiding citizens of the People's Republic of China;
Have a strong academic background and research potential;
Meet the physical and mental health requirements for admission as stipulated by Chinese regulations and by WRIN;
Provide two academic letters of recommendation;
Candidates of Wenzhou or Zhejiang origin will be given preference under equal conditions.
4.2 Admission Criteria
Candidates will be evaluated and selected based on the following comprehensive criteria:
Graduation from a Chinese "985" or "211" institution, a "Double First‑Class" university, or a university ranked among the top 300 in the QS World University Rankings;
For bachelor's degree holders: preference given to those with an average subject score of ≥ 80/100;
For master's degree holders: preference given to those with an average subject score of ≥ 80/100 in both bachelor's and master's studies;
Academic performance: preference given to those with published papers;
English proficiency: preference given to TOEFL scores of ≥ 600 (paper‑based), ≥ 250 (computer‑based), or ≥ 100 (internet‑based), or IELTS overall score of ≥ 6.5 (test date must be within 2 years prior to application);
GRE: preference given to Verbal (V) and Quantitative (Q) scores ≥ 149 each, with a total (V+Q) ≥ 319, and Analytical Writing (AW) ≥ 3.5 (test date must be within 5 years prior to application).
5. Application Process
5.1 How to Apply
Interested applicants should send all required materials (as listed in 5.2 below) via email to HR_WRIN@163.com, with the subject line formatted as: "Name – Major – Highest Degree". After the initial review of materials, the Institute will contact applicants promptly regarding further procedures.
5.2 Required Documents
CV/Resume in both Chinese and English;
Research proposal in English (demonstrating alignment with the intended supervisor's research interests);
Scanned copy of passport information page and a recent color photo (taken within the last 3 months);
Standardized test score reports (TOEFL/IELTS within 2 years, GRE within 5 years, if applicable);
All degree certificates and official transcripts (non‑English documents must be accompanied by notarized translations);
Two academic letters of recommendation (must include the recommender's name and institutional/university email address).
6. Application Deadline: January 25, 2026
7. Additional Information
Applicants who have already submitted their applications through the NTU Ph.D. admission system are requested to provide their corresponding application reference number for verification.
List of Supervisors/Advisors
教授 | WRIN PhD Project | Research Themes | University Appointment | PhD Candidate | |
Pu Kanyi | TBC | Disease Detection and Smart Therapeutics | Associate Dean (Research), CoE | Vice Dean (Research) of the College of Engineering, NTU | Li Hongyan |
Chen Xiaodong | Integrated wearable ophthalmic devices: Combining electrooculography and electrochemical sensing for comprehensive eye-related healthcare | Flexible bioelectronics and Wearable Sensing | NTU Distinguished Professor | NTU Distinguished Professor | Chen Xuanjie |
Zhao Yanli | Rhein Hydrogel with Reversible Thixotropy for Sustained Ocular Drug Delivery and Enhanced Therapy of Dry Eye Disease | Materials Chemistry for Nanomedicine | Associate Chair (Research) CCEB | Vice Dean (Research) of the School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, NTU | Zou Shidong |
Chen Peng | Reversing imbalances in enzymes and biomolecules by targeted hybrid-zyme system for inflammatory diseases | Bio-Inspired Enzymes and Nanozymes for Health | Associate Chair (Faculty) CCEB | Vice Dean (Faculty Affairs) of the School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, NTU | Wang Qiankun |
Duan Hongwei | MetaCap-Eye: Rapid Detection and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing for Ocular Bacterial Infections | Rapid Diagnostics and Precision Medicine | Assistant Chair (Research) CCEB | Assistant Dean (Research) of the School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, NTU | Zhang Xuanrui |
Zheng Yuanjin | Design of Portable Photoacoustic Ophthalmoscopy for Non-invasive Imaging of Retinopathy and Corneal Disorder | Advanced Acoustics based Bio-imaging and Bio-sensing Systems | Director of Centre for Integrated Circuits and Systems (CICS) | TBC | Zou Hongyu |
Shunsuke Chiba | TBC | Drug discovery and Molecular Transformation | Chair, CCEB | Dean of the School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, NTU | Chen Yan Ni (Aug 2026 Intake) |
Huang Hengwei | Fovea-inspired machine vision endowing capsule endoscope with super spatial-temporal resolution | Medical robotics and Translational Medicine | Nanyang Assistant Professor | TBC | |
TBC | TBC | Materials Chemistry | Chair, MSE | Dean of the School of Materials Science and Engineering, NTU | TBC |