Source: Academia Sinica - Press Releases
President Lai Ching-Te appointed Academician Chen Chien-Jen as the 13th President of Academia Sinica on January 2. His term of office will run from June 21, 2026, to June 20, 2031.
President-elect Chen is currently a Distinguished Research Fellow at Academia Sinica’s Genomics Research Center. His research expertise spans epidemiology, human genetics, public health, and preventive medicine. Chen has earned international acclaim for his pioneering work on blackfoot disease and chronic arsenic poisoning, which led to the establishment of global standards for arsenic levels in drinking water. His research on hepatitis B and liver cancer has also become a cornerstone of clinical guidelines worldwide, making substantial contributions to global public health.
Dr. Chen graduated from the Department of Zoology at National Taiwan University and obtained his Ph.D. in Epidemiology from Johns Hopkins University. He previously served as a faculty member at NTU’s College of Public Health, where he held such positions as the Director of the Institute of Public Health, Founding Director of the Institute of Epidemiology, and Dean of the College of Public Health. He became a Distinguished Research Fellow at Academia Sinica’s Genomics Research Center in 2006 and served as Vice President of Academia Sinica from 2011 to 2015, helping to advance institutional development and interdisciplinary research.
Academician Chen enjoys an outstanding international academic reputation. He was elected an Academician of Academia Sinica in 1998, and was subsequently elected as a Fellow of The World Academy of Sciences (2005), an International Member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences (2017), and a Pontifical Academy of Sciences Academician (2021). He has also received numerous prestigious honors, including the Presidential Science Prize (2005), the First Class Professional Merit Award of the Executive Yuan (2005), the Executive Yuan Outstanding Science and Technology Contribution Award (2013), and the First Class Order of Brilliant Star bestowed by the Office of the President (2024).
In addition to his academic achievements, Chen has long been dedicated to public service and science and technology administration. He has served as Minister of the National Science Council and Minister of Health, contributing to the shaping of Taiwan’s science and technology policies and the strengthening of public health and epidemic prevention systems. From 2016 to 2020, he served as Vice President of the Republic of China, assisting in the implementation of major national policies. He later served as Premier of the Executive Yuan from 2023 to 2024, focusing on stabilizing governance, promoting technological innovation, and advancing public administration.
During the tenure of current President James C. Liao, Academia Sinica has undergone significant institutional reforms aimed at fostering an environment for world-class research. President Liao has vigorously promoted quantum technology, net-zero technology, and epidemic-prevention technology, addressing critical societal challenges. He has also actively recruited outstanding overseas scholars and established various incentive programs to nurture young talent. Under his leadership, Academia Sinica has made substantial impacts in multiple key fields. His term will conclude on June 20 of this year.
In accordance with regulations of the “Academia Sinica Presidential Selection Guidelines,” an independent Presidential Selection Committee was convened to oversee the selection process. At the 5th meeting of the 25th Academia Sinica Council on December 13, 2025, the top three presidential candidates were lawfully selected and submitted to the President for the final decision. The new President was officially appointed on January 2, 2026.
