July 06, 2026 Page views: 493
From May 18 to 22, Zhang Jie, Director of Tsung-Dao Lee Institute, led a TDLI delegation to leading research institutions and universities in Spain, Germany and France. The visit focused on joint doctoral training, joint postdoctoral recruitment, and collaboration on major scientific platforms, with the aim of expanding TDLI’s global partnership network and strengthening substantive cooperation in talent development and frontier research.
On May 18, the delegation visited the Institute for High Energy Physics (IFAE) in Spain. The two sides introduced their institutional development, research structure and key scientific directions, and exchanged views on theoretical physics, neutrino experiments, gamma-ray astronomy, cosmology, gravitational waves and artificial intelligence. Several IFAE research groups expressed strong interest in further cooperation with TDLI in research collaboration, student exchange and joint postdoctoral programs. Both sides agreed to identify overlapping research interests, organize focused online workshops, and develop actionable cooperation plans.
On May 19, the delegation visited the Department of Physics at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in Germany. Discussions focused on TUM’s physics research structure, mechanisms supporting international mobility in graduate education, TDLI’s research progress in particle and nuclear physics as well as astronomy and astrophysics, and opportunities for doctoral and postdoctoral collaboration. The TUM Department of Physics expressed strong interest in promoting doctoral student mobility and joint postdoctoral cooperation.
On May 20, the delegation visited the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA) in Heidelberg, Germany. The two sides exchanged views on exoplanets, galaxies and cosmology, astronomical observations, early-career talent development, and the construction of observing platforms. The delegation presented recent progress on TDLI’s JUST Spectroscopic Telescope. MPIA showed interest in JUST’s future open science mechanism, potential collaboration on high-resolution spectrographs, and online scientific seminars. Both sides will continue to explore concrete areas for collaboration.
On May 21, the delegation visited the AstroParticule et Cosmologie Laboratory (APC) at Université Paris Cité in France. The two sides discussed research in particle physics, high-energy astrophysics, gravity, theory and cosmology, with a particular focus on TRIDENT, KM3NeT-related observations, joint doctoral supervision and postdoctoral cooperation. APC expressed strong interest in advancing student and postdoctoral exchange as well as project-based collaboration.
Later that afternoon, the delegation visited the Department of Physics at Sorbonne University and signed a bilateral memorandum of understanding. The two sides discussed cooperation on doctoral and postdoctoral programs, joint academic workshops, early-career talent exchange, and alignment of future research directions. In connection with several international conferences on particle physics, astrophysics and interdisciplinary frontiers to be hosted by TDLI later this year, the two sides also explored the possibility of organizing a TDLI–Sorbonne bilateral workshop in Shanghai, with the goal of moving cooperation from framework-building toward concrete projects.
On May 22, the delegation visited the headquarters of CNRS Nuclei & Particles / IN2P3 in France. The two sides exchanged views on particle physics, astroparticle physics, cosmology, the organization of major scientific platforms, and China–France research collaboration mechanisms. The TDLI delegation introduced the Institute’s scientific platforms, including PandaX and TRIDENT, as well as its international student and postdoctoral programs. IN2P3 expressed its willingness to maintain close communication and support the development of future cooperation in relevant areas.
This visit was an important step in TDLI’s continuing efforts to deepen its global collaboration network, expand international student recruitment channels, and promote high-level training of early-career researchers. During the visit, the host institutions responded positively to TDLI’s progress in frontier research in basic physics and astronomy, the construction of major scientific platforms, and international talent development.
Going forward, TDLI will continue to advance research alignment, exchange cooperation opportunities, organize focused online seminars, promote student and postdoctoral programs, and prepare joint workshops, turning the outcomes of the visit into stable, practical and sustainable mechanisms for international collaboration.
The delegation also included Liu Jianglai, Deputy Director of TDLI and Hongwen Distinguished Fellow; Li Shushu, Deputy Secretary of the CPC TDLI Committee; Chen Yifan, tenure-track fellow of TDLI; Thomas Baycroft, T. D. Lee Postdoctoral Fellow; and Zhao Yu, Secretary to the Director and Foreign Affairs Coordinator.