How has scientific performance of distinguished young scholars in China changed compared to their early careers?

Purpose This paper aims to conduct a comparative analysis of the scientific performance of distinguished young scholars in China during the pre-award and early stages of their research careers, aiming to provide insights into their growth pattern. Design/methodology/approach Spearman correlation was used to analyse the correlation between various academic ages and awarding age of the distinguished young scholars. The Wilcoxon matched pairs test was used to analyse variations in their scientific performance across different research stages. Findings The findings showed that: a) early successful research experiences significantly impact their emergence as outstanding scientists. While a low correlation exists between publication ages and awards, perseverance proves crucial for later-stage academic achievements; b) productivity increases before awards, with notable variations between first-author and non-first-authored publications; c) collaboration intensifies before awards, particularly in non-first author roles. However, discipline-specific variations highlight the importance of smaller teams and first-author roles, especially in the early career stage; d) the correlation between collaboration and productivity depends on research roles, emphasizing the evolving nature of collaboration dynamics as scholars progress in their careers. Originality/value This study could offer a reference for formulating well-founded talent training programs and reward mechanisms.