Weekend Long Read: The Panic, Worry and Despair Gripping Chinese Young Researchers

Lin Hui, a 35-year-old researcher, has been haunted by a recurring nightmare — his family of three struggling to make ends meet.

Hui is facing a critical junction in his career, as this is the last year he is eligible to apply for the Youth Fund, one of many vital sources of funding that Chinese universities view as a stepping stone for associate professorship. Without the funding, he has no chance of promotion, and will be forced to find another job. The system dubbed “up or out” exacerbates the pressure as students either get promoted or have to leave the university. This is especially concerning given Lin’s wife is a full-time homemaker with no income.