L O A D I N G

Research & Faculty

Overview

The chemistry disciplines of Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), and Tongji University form a premier research cluster in Shanghai, covering organic, inorganic, physical, analytical, polymer, energy, catalytic, analytical and chemical biology chemistry.
Fudan’s Department of Chemistry, founded in 1926 and reorganised in 1952, has produced 36 CAS/CAE academicians. Its chemistry ranks 26th in QS 2026 and 18th in US News, and is Shanghai’s Peak Discipline in chemistry.
SJTU’s School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering traces to 1928, has nurtured over 20 CAS/CAE members, and its Chemistry is a National Double First-Class Discipline, ranking top 1.16‱ in ESI and top 29 in QS 2026, with an A grade in China’s latest evaluation.
Tongji’s chemistry, founded in 1937, has produced six CAS academicians and ranks among the ESI top 0.608‰. Tongji also hosts the Center for Frontier Interdisciplinary Research in Fundamental Sciences (FIRFS), integrating eight disciplines with five frontier divisions including Energy Chemistry & Advanced Materials and AI for Science, offering unique cross-disciplinary platforms that benefit all three institutions.

FacultyExplore More

The combined faculty exceeds 430 full-time members, including numerous CAS/CAE academicians, national talent awardees, and internationally recognised scholars. Fudan has 191 staff, including 6 academicians (4 full-time) and over 30 high-level national talents. SJTU has ~193 faculty, with ten Highly Cited Researchers and 18 highly cited Chinese scholars, plus over 200 postdoctoral researchers. Tongji has nearly 50 professors and over 20 associate professors, >90% with overseas experience, including 4 academician-level scholars, 5 national high-level talent recipients, 3 NSFC Distinguished Young Scholars, and 16 young national talents. FIRFS adds interdisciplinary expertise from mathematics, physics, biology, and materials science, enriching mentorship and collaborative research.

  • 190+

    Faculty & Staff

    6

    Academicians

    30+

    National High-Level Talents

  • 190+

    Faculty & Staff

    7

    Academicians

    30+

    National High-Level Talents

  • 50+20

    Professors + Associate Professors

    4

    Academicians

    3+16

    Distinguished Young Scholars + Young National Talents

Scientific Research

The three institutions operate world-class platforms. Fudan hosts National Key Laboratories for Porous Materials and for Green Chemical Synthesis, plus multiple provincial key labs. It leads an NSFC Basic Science Center and won both 2020 National First-Class Natural Science Awards (Zhao Dongyuan, Bao Xinhe). Breakthroughs include Fudan-named mesoporous materials, allene chemistry, cost-cutting drug processes, and the discovery of nonavalent iridium that “rewrites textbooks”. SJTU runs the State Key Laboratory of Synergistic Chemistry-Biology Synthesis and has co-built labs on fluorinated membranes and polyolefin catalysis. Over five years, it secured ~RMB 1.29 billion funding, published >8 Nature/Science papers and >700 high-level papers, with major grants on nucleic-acid materials, aerospace polymers, and drug synthesis. Tongji operates the International Joint Research Center for Photoresponsive Functional Materials, China-Australia Joint Centre, and Shanghai Key Lab of Chemical Analysis. It has secured >100 grants, averages 20-30 publications annually, and holds >28 patents. FIRFS adds an AI-for-Science data factory and intelligent experimental platforms, enabling data-driven chemical discovery across the partnership.

Zhao Dongyuan's mesoporous materials (world-leading); Zhou Mingfei's nonavalent iridium discovery ("rewrites chemistry textbooks"); Chen Fen'er's drug processes (RMB 1B+ annual output)

2

National Key
Laboratories

4

Provincial/Ministerial
Platforms

RMB 1.29B research funding (5-year); Nucleic-acid materials NSFC Basic Science Center (2021); Aerospace polymer Innovative Research Group (2024)

1

National Key
Laboratory

5

Provincial/Ministerial
Platforms

100+ high-level grants; 28+ patents; AI + Chemistry strategy.

3

Provincial/Ministerial
Platforms

International Collaboration

  • Fudan University

    Partners with MIT, UC Berkeley, NUS;
    Nobel laureates hosted via 4 flagship lecture series;
    >50% graduate students receive overseas exchange aid;

  • Shanghai Jiao Tong University

    Nobel laureates Feringa & Sharpless as honorary professors;
    International open-access journal Transformative Chemistry;
    Regular international conferences & graduate forums;

All three have deep global engagement. Fudan partners with MIT, UC Berkeley, NUS, and hosts Nobel laureates via four lecture series; >50% of graduate students receive overseas exchange aid. SJTU has appointed Nobel laureates Feringa and Sharpless as honorary professors, runs international conferences, and publishes the open-access journal Transformative Chemistry. Tongji collaborates with dozens of universities in the US, Europe, Asia, and Australia, including a China-Europe Nanophononics Lab; its faculty serve as editors of leading journals. FIRFS further strengthens international networks through joint programmes and visiting scholars. The three collectively participate in major global projects, offering students abundant opportunities for overseas research and conference presentations.

  • Tongji University

    Collaborations with US, Europe, Australia, Asia;
    China-Europe Nanophononics Lab;
    Faculty serve as editors of leading journals;
    >90% faculty with overseas experience;

Talent Cultivation

The three universities offer comprehensive doctoral training. Fudan’s academicians and high-level national talents form the supervisors team, with all graduates joining research groups and many receiving NSFC youth funding; dedicated scholarships support all outstanding students. SJTU provides master’s and doctoral programmes with close mentorship from senior and rising researchers; its postdoctoral community of >200 enriches the research environment. Tongji’s direct-entry PhD (5.5 years, 43 credits) requires English-taught core courses, electives in AI and green chemistry, a qualifying exam, thesis proposal, mid-term evaluation, six progress reports, 16 seminars, and mandatory international experience. FIRFS adds mission-oriented interdisciplinary training, preparing graduates for emerging fields where chemistry meets AI, materials, energy, and life sciences. Graduates are highly sought after: many pursue postdoctoral and faculty positions at top global universities, while others join leading companies (Huawei, CATL, SMIC, Sinopec, BYD) or national research institutes, consistently demonstrating excellent career outcomes.

Collectively, the three institutions produce graduates who are rigorously trained, globally competitive, and highly regarded by employers in academia, research institutes, and industry worldwide. Their strong track record of placements and career success underscores the excellence of this joint chemistry endeavour.


Fudan University

Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Tongji University

Doctoral ProgrammeAcademicians and high-level national talents form the supervisors teamMaster's & doctoral programmes across Chemistry & Chemical EngineeringDirect-entry PhD (5.5 years, 43 credits)
International Experience>50% receive overseas exchange aiGlobal conference participationMandatory overseas visits/joint trainin
Key FeaturesNSFC youth funding; Ruiqing & Solvay Scholarship200+ postdoctoral researchers as peer mentorsAI/Green Chemistry electives; Qualifying exam; 6 progress reports; 16 seminars
Graduate DestinationsTop global universities (MIT, Yale, Caltech, NUS); Huawei, CATL, SMIC, Sinopec, BYDAcademic positions worldwide; National industries & leading firmsTop academic institutions; Fortune 500 chemical/pharma companies
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