10 scientists and experts who have left the US and UK for China so far in 2026

Dozens of scientists and experts have left the United States and Britain to pursue their careers in China this year, citing several reasons including insufficient funding and a lack of opportunities for Chinese academics to lead projects in the West.We have put together ten of them whose stories resonated with our readers. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.1. ‘Impossible for Chinese’: Yale scientist Zhang Kai leaves US for ChinaFor Zhang Kai, a pioneering scientist who is building an ultra-large-scale cellular structure group data bank with unprecedented precision, returning home to China was the natural choice to fulfil his ambition.2. Energy scientist Chen Peipei leaves Cambridge to build her own lab in Hong KongFor some early-career scientists, the prestige of British academia is being marred by shrinking research funding and a complex geopolitical climate, prompting top-tier talent to look elsewhere for stability and resources.3. Nobel-winning scientist Omar Yaghi joins China’s Tsinghua University from the USOmar Yaghi receives the Nobel Prize in Stockholm in December. Photo: Getty ImagesOmar Yaghi, the winner of last year’s Nobel Prize for chemistry, has joined China’s Tsinghua University to lead a new AI-driven research centre.4. Chinese black hole-hunting scientist Dai Liang quits US for Shanghai postA physicist who was awarded a fellowship reserved for the “brightest young scientists” in the US and Canada for his work hunting for black holes has returned to China.5. Rising star chip scientist Jiang Jianfeng leaves MIT for Peking UniversityJiang Jianfeng says the decision to return to his home country is a “natural choice”. Photo: HandoutMost academics take eight to 10 years after earning a PhD to become doctoral supervisors. But semiconductor scientist Jiang Jianfeng has done it in just 18 months.6. Noted neurobiologist and ex-taekwondo captain Chih-Ying Su leaves US for ChinaCelebrated neurobiologist Chih-Ying Su, who specialises in research on the sense of smell using fruit flies and mosquitoes, has left her position as faculty vice-chair at the University of California San Diego to join the Shenzhen Academy of Medical Sciences (SMART).7. AI scientist Ling Haibin, father of first plant ID app, leaves US for ChinaLing Haibin is a former Empire Innovation Professor at Stony Brook University in New York and IEEE Fellow. Photo: HandoutAI scientist Ling Haibin, the acclaimed computer scientist behind the world’s first mobile plant identification app, has left his position in the United States to take up a full-time role at Westlake University in Hangzhou, eastern China.8. North America’s top computer vision scientist Liang Jie returns to ChinaTwenty years ago, technologies developed by Liang Jie at Microsoft were incorporated into products like the Windows Media Video Player and Blu-ray discs used by millions worldwide.9. Award-winning memory chip expert leaves US for job at Chinese semiconductor firmAn expert on semiconductor packaging and memory chips has left the University of California, Irvine after more than two decades to join a leading conductive materials company in eastern China.10. World-leading EV motor expert joins Hong Kong PolyU after 38 years in BritainZhu Ziqiang, who has joined Hong Kong Polytechnic University as chair professor of electrical machines and control systems. Photo: HandoutZhu Ziqiang, one of the world’s leading experts in electric motor engineering, has left his four-decade career in Britain to take up a full-time position at Hong Kong Polytechnic University.Further Reading