The Boston Taiwanese Biotechnology Association was founded in 2012 by a group of Taiwanese postdoctoral fellows and graduate students in Boston to promote networking and collaboration opportunities. The association held the 2-day the 2017 Boston Taiwanese Biotechnology Association (BTBA) Symposium at Harvard University on August 5 and August 6.

A delegation from Academia Sinica, led by its president Dr, James Liao, participated in the symposium, hoping to recruit more world-class people for Taiwan’s premier research institute. Dr, Liao; Academia Sinica vice-presidents Dr. Liu Fu-Tong, and Dr. Chou Mei-Yin; Dr. Chen Yu-Ju, Director of the Institute of Chemistry; Dr. Chaw Shu-Miaw, Director of the Biodiversity Research Center; and Dr. Chen Sheng-Hong, an assistant research fellow who recently returned to Taiwan from Boston, all spoke about Academia Sinica and encouraged overseas researchers from Taiwan to return and contribute to the academic community there.

Dr. Liao described Academia Sinica as a very diverse workplace, with approximately 700 scholars from around the world, 60 faculty and staff, and 300 international students. It provides the Taiwan International Graduate Program for European and Southeast Asian students, taught in English, and it is currently building a National Biotechnology Research Park to strengthen collaboration between the academic world and various industries which will house thirty startup companies.

Academia Sinica is planning to strengthen its international marketing and international studies brand, to attract more foreign students to study and work in Taiwan. When asked how Academia Sinica can compete with other countries that are also trying to recruit outstanding researchers, Dr. Liao pointed out that as well as offering competitive salaries, Academia Sinica offers such incentives as employee accommodation, child care, and other benefits.

Dr. Lily Yeh Jan, an academician at Academia Sinica, shared some of her experience with young researchers. She encouraged them to take every opportunity to learn – including learning from their mistakes – to become stronger, reminding them that persistence, rather than intelligence, is the key to becoming successful researchers.

Photo：Speakers from Academia Sinica at the 2017 BTBA Symposium: From left, Dr. Chaw Shu-Miaw, Director of the Biodiversity Research Center; Dr. Chen Sheng-Hong, an assistant research fellow; Dr. Liu Fu-Tong, Vice President; Dr. James C. Liao, President; Dr. Chou Mei-Yin, Vice President; and Dr. Chen Yu-Ju, Director of the Institute of Chemistry.