With clinical experience, Hsu wanted to expand his knowledge of theoretical research. Because he often went into mountainous areas to do medical work, especially in Nan-ao and Tatung townships inhabited by Atayal tribal groups, in 1966 Hsu decided to apply to NTU to reasearch the anthropology of the Atayal people, working under the guidance of Yu Chin-chuan, a professor of anatomy.
有了臨床經驗，許文政又希望加強理論研究，由於經常深入山區義診，加上南澳、大同等鄉以泰雅族居多，便決定以泰雅族的人類學作為主題，1966 年向台大申請為「研究員」，由台大解剖學教授余錦銓指導。