The difference between visit scholars and postdoctoral fellow

The difference between visiting scholars and postdoctoral fellows lies in their qualifications and the nature of their work.

Visiting scholars are usually people who have certain academic experience and achievements and are invited to foreign universities or research institutions for short-term academic exchanges and cooperative research. Postdoctoral students refer to those who engage in independent academic research, academic exchanges and cooperative research after doctoral graduation.

Visiting scholars and postdoctoral fellows have a certain academic level and research experience, and they are all important personnel for academic exchanges and cooperative research. In the process of visiting or working abroad, they may also exchange academic ideas with each other and promote the progress and innovation of academic research.

Exchange visiting scholars refer to non-immigrant status that can legally reside in the United States, and some postdoctoral fellows refer to a job. Many postdoctoral fellows are engaged in scientific research and professional training in the United States as exchange visiting scholars, so some people mistakenly equate the two. In fact, many visiting scholars are not engaged in postdoctoral work, and many postdoctoral students go to the United States to study in other capacities.

In addition, in various documents and announcements of the National Scholarship Fund Committee, we often see that visiting scholars are always tied to postdocs. For example, the name of the study abroad program declared by everyone is called "National Public Visiting Scholar Program". This inertia constraint fully illustrates the inseparable relationship between visiting scholars and postdocs, and also reflects the subtle differences between them.

Brief introduction of visiting scholars:

Visiting scholars refer to overseas students who aim at further study and research. China State Education Commission 1987 issued "Detailed Rules for the Management of the Identity of Public Students Studying Abroad", which stipulates that the identity of public students studying abroad can be divided into college students, graduate students, advanced learners or visiting scholars according to their learning purposes.

They are all determined before going abroad and cannot be changed after going abroad. Scholars who go abroad for further study or visit are not allowed to study for degrees while abroad, but it is acceptable that foreign tutors and schools are willing to award degrees if they complete the study or research project plan determined before going abroad within the prescribed study period.