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Academia Sinica held a welcome and farewell tea reception today, presided over by President Chien-Jen Chen, to mark the leadership transition of the Vice President for the Division of Mathematics and Physical Sciences and the Secretary-General. At the ceremony, Academician Yu-Ju Chen, Distinguished Research Fellow at the Institute of Chemistry, and Dr. Chi-Hon Lee, Distinguished Research Fellow at the Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, were announced as the incoming Vice President and Secretary-General, respectively. They will assume their new positions on August 1, succeeding Academician Mei-Yin Chou and Distinguished Research Fellow Chun-Houh Chen, whose terms conclude on July 31.

President Chen noted that, as Taiwan’s leading academic research institution, Academia Sinica plays a key role in the international academic community and draws on scientific expertise to provide forward-looking insights and policy recommendations at pivotal moments in Taiwan’s development. Fulfilling this mission relies not only on the dedication and hard work of researchers and administrative staff across Academia Sinica, but also on the selfless service and commitment of successive leaders and administrative teams, whose efforts have laid a strong foundation for the institution’s academic development and institutional administration. He expressed the hope that the new administrative team will embrace the spirit of interdisciplinary research, pursue world-class academic achievements, and ensure that research outcomes address societal needs and contribute to people’s well-being.

Leadership Transition in the Division of Mathematics and Physical Sciences Builds on a Legacy of Academic Excellence

Outgoing Vice President for the Division of Mathematics and Physical Sciences, Academician Mei-Yin Chou, received her Ph.D. in Physics from the University of California, Berkeley. A leading scholar in theoretical condensed matter physics, her research focuses on computational materials theory and first-principles electronic structure calculations. She was elected an Academician of Academia Sinica in 2014.

Since becoming Vice President in 2016, Academician Chou has advanced major research initiatives, strengthened talent recruitment, promoted international academic collaboration, and helped shape Academia Sinica’s institutional policies and research strategies. Known for her rigorous scholarship and pragmatic leadership, she is widely respected in the academic community and has made lasting contributions to Taiwan’s science policy, fundamental research, science outreach, and talent cultivation.

Incoming Vice President Yu-Ju Chen received her Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Iowa State University. Specializing in proteomics and biological mass spectrometry, she has devoted her career to developing innovative analytical technologies, including nanoprobe mass spectrometry, ultrasensitive proteomics, and single-cell proteomics. Her work has opened new avenues for decoding the human proteome and advancing biomedical research and clinical translation.

Academician Chen’s internationally-recognized achievements have earned her numerous honors, including the Distinguished Achievement in Proteomic Sciences Award from the Human Proteome Organization, the Distinguished Women in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering Award from the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, the Outstanding Research Award from Taiwan’s Ministry of Science and Technology, the Taiwan Outstanding Women in Science Award, the National Innovation Award, and the Academic Award from Taiwan’s Ministry of Education. She was elected an Academician of Academia Sinica in 2026.

She also leads the Taiwan Cancer Moonshot Program, bringing together the U.S. National Cancer Institute, Taiwan’s academic community, and clinical researchers to investigate cancer mechanisms and advance precision medicine. With her extensive experience in international collaboration and academic leadership, she is well-placed to promote interdisciplinary research and expand Academia Sinica’s global partnerships.

In keeping with Academia Sinica’s longstanding practice and to promote balanced development across its three divisions, the Academia Sinica President selects Academicians with distinguished academic achievements and extensive administrative experience from each division and submits the nominations to the President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) for appointment. The Vice Presidents assist in advancing the institution’s development and institutional administration.

Academia Sinica Marks Secretary-General Transition, Strengthening Academic and Administrative Support

Outgoing Secretary-General and Distinguished Research Fellow Chun-Houh Chen received his Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of California, Los Angeles. His expertise includes multivariate statistical methods, exploratory data analysis, and information visualization. In recent years, he has contributed to the Taiwan Biobank and the Taiwan Precision Medicine Initiative, helping strengthen Taiwan’s biomedical data infrastructure and advance precision health research through collaboration across academia, medicine, and research institutions. He also leads Academia Sinica’s AI Promotion Office, promoting the use of artificial intelligence in research and institutional development. Dr. Chen became Deputy Secretary-General in 2023 and Secretary-General the following year, helping ensure the institution’s smooth operation.

Incoming Secretary-General and Distinguished Research Fellow Chi-Hon Lee received his Ph.D. in Biophysics from The Rockefeller University and is an internationally-recognized neuroscientist. He conducted postdoctoral research at the University of California, Los Angeles, with support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and later served as an Investigator at the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Using the Drosophila visual system as a model, his research examines neural circuit formation and information processing in the brain and has made a significant impact in the field of neuroscience. Dr. Lee returned to Taiwan and joined Academia Sinica in 2018 as Director of the Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology. He has also served on numerous institutional committees, gaining extensive experience in scientific research, organizational governance, and institutional administration. His experience in both scientific leadership and institutional administration will support Academia Sinica’s continued development.