Charles Lieber, the former Harvard University professor and internationally recognized nanoscientist who was convicted in 2021 for concealing ties to a Chinese talent recruitment program, has officially joined Tsinghua University as a chair professor at its Shenzhen International Graduate School.
Lieber, 66, renowned for his groundbreaking work in nanotechnology and its applications in biology and medicine, said he hopes to “realise more scientific dreams in the vibrant and innovative city of Shenzhen,” according to a statement released Thursday by the graduate school on Chinese social media.
After retiring from Harvard in early 2023, Lieber expressed interest in continuing his research in East Asia. Speaking to the South China Morning Post last year, he emphasized a desire to find an institution where he could best contribute to global scientific progress and support fellow researchers.
His new role in Shenzhen marks a significant chapter not just in Lieber’s career but in the ongoing global realignment of scientific talent. He will also serve as an investigator at the Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation, led by prominent biologist Nieng Yan, herself a returnee from Princeton University in 2022.
“Professor Lieber is a top scientist whom I have been following for the past 20 years,” Yan stated. “His arrival will open a new chapter for the development of education and scientific research in Shenzhen.”
Tsinghua University vice-president Wang Hongwei lauded the appointment as a strategic step forward. “The accession of globally renowned scientist Professor Lieber is a significant recognition of Tsinghua’s development,” he said. “It will boost advancement in materials science and biomedical engineering.”
Lieber’s appointment comes after a turbulent period. He was arrested in 2020 under the U.S. Department of Justice’s now-defunct China Initiative, aimed at curbing alleged economic espionage and unreported foreign affiliations. In 2021, Lieber was convicted of lying to investigators about his involvement with China’s Thousand Talents Plan and failing to report income from Wuhan University of Technology. He was sentenced in 2023 to time served and supervised release, including house arrest.
His move to Tsinghua comes amid a broader trend of Chinese and foreign-trained scientists relocating to China, drawn by robust funding, institutional support, and a growing reputation for innovation. For Lieber, it is both a new start and a continuation of a decades-long scientific mission—now rooted in one of China’s most dynamic tech hubs.
