By Chang Ai-Lien

TEN talented young researchers have just joined the million-dollar club.

They were hand-picked out of over 300 applicants for a prestigious new Nanyang Technological University post, which gives them up to $1million each to further their work here, and an annual pay of up to $160,000.

The new scheme is meant to attract the best young brains in all fields, said the university's senior science officer, Mr Tony Mayer.

'We are looking for excellent young researchers who have a passion for their research, who have a passion to pass on their knowledge to others,' he said.

But despite its wide scope, the university has not yet been able to rope in any scholars in the arts and humanities, social sciences and business, despite funding which is 'almost unheard of' in such fields.

The Nanyang Assistant Professorship scheme, launched last year, aims to bring different disciplines together to produce winners.

For example, research in water and energy called not just for scientists and engineers, said Mr Mayer. Also in demand were sociologists, psychologists and media experts who looked at how issues in the field affected society, as well as economists and business specialists to translate this knowledge into sustainable business development.

NTU plans to recruit 10 such scholars each year.

The scheme is modelled after the European Young Investigator Awards scheme launched in 2003. They were designed to create a high-profile incentive for the best and brightest researchers to build careers in Europe.

However, NTU's initial recruitment drive saw the bulk of applicants - and all those selected - coming from science and engineering. But it is determined not to have a dearth of other scholars.

'For the next call, we will be making a particular effort to ensure that this opportunity is well publicised among the humanities and business disciplines,' said Mr Mayer.

He explained that it had been harder to reach out to such groups initially because of the large and diverse number of specialist journals, which made it more difficult to cast the net wide, unlike in science, where the entire community was likely to turn to a few top journals.

Other carrots being dangled at the chosen candidates include early tenure and speedier promotions.

'They could well be full professors by the time they are in their early 40s. That's very young indeed,' said Mr Mayer. This promotion usually happens in the mid-to late 40s.

But the fast track also comes with high expectations, as the young guns will be expected to take research to a higher level.

'We hope that many of our recruits will develop further into world leaders in their chosen subjects,' he said.

Arriving here fresh from his post-doctoral studies at Harvard University is Russian Eugene Makeyev, 36.

The generous funding given to him has allowed him to dive straight into research, said Dr Makeyev, who hopes to better understand the nervous system, and contribute to treatments for neuro-degenerative diseases and cancer.

'I expect this to be one of the most exciting experiences of my life.'

This article was first published in The Straits Times on July 28, 2008.