Latest news with #SoutheastUniversity
South China Morning Post
27-06-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Digital embryo gives China a powerful tool to decode the secret of life: scientists
Scientists in China have developed the world's first 3D model of early mouse embryos , revealing how life forms in its initial stages at single-cell resolution. The team said this was a first step towards a deeper understanding of how diseases such as congenital heart defects develop, while providing insights into organ regeneration and cancer treatment. 'Early organogenesis is a crucial stage in embryonic development, characterised by extensive cell fate specification to initiate organ formation but also by a high susceptibility to developmental defects,' they wrote in an article published in the peer-reviewed journal Cell last week. The researchers are from Southeast University in Nanjing, BGI-Research, Fujian Medical University, Sichuan University, the Chinese University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen, Guangzhou Laboratory and the University of Science and Technology of China. Cell fate specification is the process where cells are guided by molecular signals and genetic cues towards developing into cell types with different functions. 'A single fertilised egg gives rise to hundreds of cell types that form different tissues and organs. This process is intricately orchestrated. If abnormalities occur, they are likely to lead to diseases,' co-corresponding author Fang Xiaodong, vice-president of BGI-Research, said.
Borneo Post
23-06-2025
- Health
- Borneo Post
Chinese researchers uncover key mechanism triggering organ formation in embryos
NANJING (June 24): Chinese researchers have identified a crucial signaling region in early mammalian embryonic development, providing essential theoretical insights to address congenital disorders such as heart defects and to advance regenerative medicine, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Cell. During early mammalian development, clusters of embryonic cells determine the formation of vital organs such as the heart, lungs and liver, a process central to life sciences research. To uncover the origins of organ malformations, a team led by Lin Chengqi, a professor at Southeast University, performed single-cell spatial omics analysis on mouse embryos, mapping the dynamic process of organ formation. Their work revealed a primordium determination zone, a critical region where early organ primordia, the first rudimentary structures of developing organs, emerge during embryonic development. 'Spatial omics acts like a cellular GPS, simultaneously tracking spatial position data and gene expression profiles,' explained Lin, noting that his team spent six years constructing full digital embryos at single-cell resolution and analyzing gene expression in over 100,000 cells. They found that when mouse embryos develop to 7.75 days, a unique signaling domain appears at the embryo's inner-outer boundary — the primordium determination zone. This zone expresses multiple receptor signaling genes, creating a unique microenvironment capable of integrating multi-germ layer regulatory inputs to coordinately drive the development of cardiac and foregut primordia. These microenvironmental signals are subsequently translated into selective gene expression programs that initiate the formation of the heart and other organ primordia. 'The discovery confirms that disruptions to this zone's microenvironment, whether genetic or environmental, during this sensitive developmental phase can lead to malformed organ primordia,' said Luo Zhuojuan, a professor at the university. She emphasized that the research offers unprecedented single-cell-level insights into the timing and spatial positioning of organ development, helping to prevent birth defects and opening new avenues for studying organ regeneration and the origins of cancer. – Xinhua
News18
05-06-2025
- Business
- News18
Bizarre Vacancy: Rs 21.5 Lakh Salary To Manage A Canteen — But Only If You Have A PhD
Last Updated: A university in China has advertised a canteen manager job with a Rs 21.5 lakh salary, but the surprising eligibility requirement of a PhD has left many people stunned If you're a student or someone searching for a job, this news might surprise you. A top university in China has advertised a vacancy for a canteen manager with a salary of Rs 21.5 lakh per year. However, there's a twist. Southeast University in Nanjing, China, has listed a vacancy for a canteen manager. The role involves overseeing food preparation, ensuring food safety, handling contractors, and managing related paperwork. Does this job profile sound straightforward and easy? Well, the eligibility criteria have left many stunned. To apply for this job, you need a PhD degree. What's On offer? The job comes with an annual salary of $25,000 (around Rs 21.5 lakh). According to a university staff member, cooking experience isn't necessary, but a degree or certification in Food, Nutrition, or Culinary Arts would be a bonus. Who Can Apply? Candidates must have a PhD, be fluent in English, and be proficient in MS Office and other basic software. Prior work experience is preferred. This unusual job posting has triggered sharp reactions online. One user wrote, 'Do we really need a PhD to manage a canteen now?" Others pointed out that intense job competition in China might be forcing institutions to raise their eligibility bars in strange ways. Southeast University is one of China's top 39 universities, and its graduates are usually assured of high-paying roles. But this job listing has left many scratching their heads. First Published:
Time of India
01-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Chinese university demands PhD for canteen manager role. Netizens ask: 'Since when does a cafeteria need a doctorate?'
A Job Post That Left the Internet in Disbelief Salary Offers Stability, Not Sensibility You Might Also Like: How a PhD dropout became the Indian Forest Service topper: Kanika Anabh's journey of grit and persistence University Responds, But Questions Remain Broader Concerns About Employment Discrimination You Might Also Like: PhD student rejects a career-defining opportunity at NASA. The reason will shock you Golden Rice Bowl or Just Stirring the Pot? A prestigious university in eastern China has come under fire after advertising a canteen manager job requiring a PhD, fluency in English, and even Communist Party membership. According to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), Southeast University in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, published the controversial recruitment notice on its official website on May University, one of China's elite institutions is known for academic excellence. However, its latest job post appears to have blurred the lines between scholarly achievement and routine administration, sparking widespread debate across Chinese social position, officially titled office manager for the university's canteen operations, includes responsibilities such as overseeing food preparation, managing canteen contractors, supervising hygiene and safety, and handling routine paperwork. While those duties are fairly standard, what shocked many was the academic threshold: a doctoral SCMP reported that candidates are also expected to be proficient in English and office software. Additional weightage would be given to applicants with majors in food, nutrition, or culinary arts, relevant work experience, and those with cooking certificates. Membership in the Chinese Communist Party was listed as a annual salary attached to the position stands at 180,000 yuan (approximately ₹20.8 lakh or USD 25,000). While this is significantly higher than the national average income—urban employees in non-private sectors earned 124,110 yuan on average in 2023—it has done little to justify the high academic SCMP noted that many online users were baffled by the listing. 'Since when does a canteen need a PhD to operate?' one user asked, while another cited 'neijuan', a term describing the intense and often irrational competition for limited resources and opportunities in Chinese response to the backlash, a staff member from Southeast University clarified to local outlet Shangyou News, as reported by the SCMP, that candidates would not be expected to cook themselves. The high qualification bar was intended to attract those with formal training or research backgrounds in food sciences or related this clarification has not stemmed public criticism. Some online commentators speculated that the post might be 'custom-built' for a specific candidate, noting the improbability of someone holding both a PhD and a culinary canteen job posting has reignited debates around educational discrimination in hiring. While Chinese laws protect against employment bias based on ethnicity, religion, and gender, academic qualifications are not covered. Given China's rising youth unemployment—15.8% for those aged 16 to 24, excluding students—the job market is increasingly under scrutiny. Netizens argue that job postings like this one reflect systemic issues that push young people toward overqualification without meaningful managerial role at Southeast University is seen by many as a 'golden rice bowl'—a term used to describe secure, high-status jobs in the public sector. With such positions becoming more desirable amid economic uncertainty, competition has intensified, and so have the standards, often at the cost of fairness and the university revises its listing or not, the debate it has triggered around educational inflation and employment policy is likely to simmer for some time. As one social media user aptly commented:'When a canteen needs a PhD, perhaps it's the hiring system—not the kitchen—that needs a rethink.'
NDTV
30-05-2025
- Business
- NDTV
Chinese University's Job Ad Requiring PhD For Canteen Manager Role Sparks Debate
A university in China has sparked controversy after posting a job advertisement for a canteen manager that requires a doctoral degree. According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the listing was posted on the official website of Southeast University in Nanjing. The institution is part of government-backed initiatives and is one of only 39 universities on the mainland considered a gateway to better job prospects or further study opportunities. The university triggered a heated online debate after the advertisement went viral. As per SCMP, the position is for an office manager overseeing the university's canteens. Responsibilities include supervising the development and preparation of dishes, managing canteen contractors, ensuring food safety, and handling administrative paperwork. Applicants must also demonstrate proficiency in English and office software. Preference will be given to candidates with relevant work experience and Communist Party membership. The expected annual salary for the position is 180,000 yuan (approximately $25,000), according to the listing. It was the requirement of a PhD that drew intense criticism online, with many questioning whether such a high level of education is necessary for the role. "Since when does a canteen need a PhD to operate?" one social media user asked. Some users also speculated that the position may be designed for a specific individual. "It seems too coincidental that a PhD graduate also holds a cooking certificate. It looks like the post is tailored for someone with connections," one person commented. Following the backlash, a university staff member clarified that candidates are not required to be cooks, but preference would be given to those with academic backgrounds in food, nutrition, and culinary arts, as well as those with cooking certifications. Notably, SCMP reported that competition for the position is expected to be fierce, as such a role at a prestigious university is viewed as a "golden rice bowl"-a stable job with excellent benefits.
