News

Professor Sun Defeng Named 2026 Fellow of the American Mathematical Society

We are proud to announce that Chair Professor Sun Defeng, Head of the Department of Applied Mathematics, has been named a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society (AMS) for 2026. Professor Sun joins a distinguished group of forty mathematicians from around the world who have been selected for this honor in the program’s fourteenth year. The AMS Fellows program recognizes members who have made outstanding contributions to the creation, exposition, advancement, communication, and utilization of mathematics. Being elected as an AMS Fellow is an acknowledgement of Professor Sun’s excellence and leadership in the mathematical sciences, as well as his significant impact on the profession. Professor Sun is internationally renowned for his research in optimization, operations research, and numerical analysis. He has made pioneering contributions to the theory and algorithms for large-scale optimization problems, including semidefinite programming, conic programming, and matrix completion. His work has been widely published in top-tier journals and has had a profound influence on both theoretical developments and practical applications in areas such as data science, engineering, and finance. In addition to the AMS Fellowship, Professor Sun’s outstanding achievements have been recognized with numerous prestigious honors. He was elected Fellow of the Operations Research Society of China (ORSC) in 2024, and named Fellow of both the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) and the China Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics (CSIAM) in 2020. He received the RGC Senior Research Fellow Award for 2022/23, and was honored with the Beale–Orchard-Hays Prize for Excellence in Computational Mathematical Programming by the Mathematical Optimization Society in 2018. This prestigious recognition is awarded by peers in the international mathematical community, highlighting Professor Sun’s dedication and achievements in advancing mathematics. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Professor Sun Defeng on this remarkable accomplishment. To view the names and institutions of the full 2026 Class of AMS Fellows, please visit the AMS Fellows webpage.

Dr Charles LEE Receives Inaugural Faculty Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Teaching 2025

We are delighted to announce that Dr Charles LEE Kei Fung has been honored with the inaugural Faculty Award for Outstanding Achievement in Teaching 2025, presented by the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences. This distinguished award recognizes Charles' dedication and significant contributions to teaching excellence. His passion and commitment have made a significant impact on our students and the academic community. Please join us in congratulating Charles on this well-deserved recognition.

Chair Professor Qiao Zhonghua Honored as CSIAM Fellow 2025

Congratulations to Chair Professor Qiao Zhonghua for being awarded the prestigious CSIAM Fellowship 2025. The award was presented and announced during the 23rd Annual Conference of the China Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (CSIAM), held in Changsha from October 23 to 26, 2025. The CSIAM Fellowship is a lifetime honor recognizing distinguished members for their outstanding contributions to the field of industrial and applied mathematics. About CSIAM Founded in 1990, the China Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (CSIAM) is a leading non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting collaboration between academia and industry in applied mathematics. Supervised by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, CSIAM fosters communication among mathematicians, engineers, and industry professionals to address mathematical challenges that impact economic and technological development. For more details, please visit: https://m.csiam.org.cn/1003/202510/2524.html (Chinese only) We warmly congratulate Professor Qiao Zhonghua on this well-deserved recognition and his continued excellence in advancing applied mathematics.

AMA Dr Zhang Minyi Awarded Prestigious 19th Zhong Jiaqing Mathematics Prize

We are delighted to announce that Dr Zhang Minyi, Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Applied Mathematics, has been honored with the 19th Zhong Jiaqing Mathematics Prize (鍾家慶數學獎)—China’s highest accolade for mathematicians under 35, awarded by the Chinese Mathematical Society. Named after the renowned mathematician Zhong Jiaqing, the prize was established in 1988 to recognize outstanding young mathematicians in China who have made significant contributions to mathematical research. Since its inception, the award has been presented nineteen times to a total of 86 young scholars, many of whom have become leading figures across various fields of mathematics. Dr Zhang completed her bachelor’s degree at Guangdong University of Finance & Economics and earned her PhD under the supervision of Professor Zhu Changjiang at South China University of Technology in June 2024. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow conducting research under the guidance of Chair Professor Tong Yang at PolyU. Together with her collaborators, Dr Zhang has made significant breakthroughs in nonlinear partial differential equation (PDE) theory, addressing complex well-posedness problems spanning multiple dimensions, wave types—including rarefaction waves and viscous shocks—and a wide range of perturbation scales from small to large. Congratulations to Dr Zhang on this exceptional recognition! Read the official announcement (in Chinese):  https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/r7kkGbdZdUBd3Pya4VbR9w

AMA Scholars Ranked the World’s Top 2% Scientists 2025

We are delighted to announce that 11 scholars from the Department of Applied Mathematics have been recognized among the World’s Top 2% Most-Cited Scientists for 2025, as compiled by Stanford University using Scopus data. This recognition is based on a comprehensive composite citation indicator (c-score), which takes into account standardized metrics such as total citations, h-index, co-authorship, author positions, and more. The World’s Top 2% Most-Cited Scientists list is divided into two categories: one highlights scholars’ career-long contributions (1960–2024), while the other focuses on their single-year impact for 2024. Scientists are classified into 22 scientific fields and 174 sub-fields according to the Science-Metrix classification. The selection includes the top 100,000 scientists by c-score (with and without self-citations) or those who are in the top 2% of their sub-field. This prestigious recognition celebrates both lifetime achievement and recent research excellence. The data is based on Scopus author profiles as of August 1, 2025, and the published database is archival and will not be updated retroactively. Congratulations to all our distinguished scholars on this remarkable achievement! Your dedication and impactful research continue to inspire the entire AMA community. For more details, please visit: https://elsevier.digitalcommonsdata.com/datasets/btchxktzyw/8

Warm Welcome to our New Faculty Members to the AMA Family

To strengthen our research capabilities and build a dynamic, innovative team, the Department of Applied Mathematics regularly invites distinguished researchers at all career stages to join us. We are delighted to introduce the newest members of the AMA family, whose diverse expertise and experiences will undoubtedly enrich our academic community and contribute to our continued success. Prof. Leng Chenlei, Chair Professor of Statistics and Machine Learning Professor Leng joined us on 30 September 2025. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of Science and Technology of China (1998) and a PhD in Statistics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2004). He began his academic career at the National University of Singapore’s Department of Statistics and Applied Probability in 2004, becoming Associate Professor in 2010. He held visiting positions at Peking University and the University of Munich during 2011–2012, and in 2013, he joined the University of Warwick as a full Professor of Statistics. A leading statistician, Professor Leng develops innovative methods for analyzing large, complex, high-dimensional, correlated, and networked data. His research spans high-dimensional statistics, model selection, statistical learning, network data analysis, corrected data analysis, and artificial intelligence. He actively contributes to the scholarly community, serving on editorial boards of the Journal of Computational and Graphical Statistics and Computational Statistics and Data Analysis, and previously as Associate Editor of the Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Series B. Professor Leng is a Fellow of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics and an Elected Member of the International Statistical Institute. He was a Turing Fellow at the Alan Turing Institute (2016–2022) and has received numerous awards, including the Teaching Excellence Award, Young Scientist Award (2009), Outstanding Scientist Award (2012) at NUS, and the Humboldt Fellowship (2012). He has also chaired the Research Section Committee of the Royal Statistical Society and co-directed the Oxford-Warwick Statistics Centre for Doctoral Training. Dr Li Hao, Research Assistant Professor Dr Li joined the Department of Applied Mathematics as a Research Assistant Professor on 1 July 2025. He holds a PhD in Applied Mathematics from Purdue University and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of Science and Technology of China. His research interests include machine learning, numerical analysis, and scientific computing. Dr Liu Wei, Research Assistant Professor Dr Liu, also a Research Assistant Professor who joined on 1 August 2025, earned his PhD from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. His research focuses on the design and analysis of (stochastic) first-order methods for nonlinear optimization problems, with an emphasis on developing algorithms that are both simple and efficient. Dr Selena Qian Yihe, Lecturer Dr Qian joined us on 4 August 2025. She holds a PhD from the University of Macau, a Master of Finance from the University of New South Wales, and a Bachelor of Finance from Yangzhou University. Her research interests lie in FinTech, machine learning, and asset pricing.   Dr Terry Tong Kam Hung, Teaching Fellow Dr Tong assumed duty on 18 August 2025. He earned his PhD and MPhil in Mathematics from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from The Chinese University of Hong Kong. His research focuses on algebraic combinatorics and representation theory. Dr Wang Di, Teaching Fellow Dr Wang joined us on 1 September 2025. She holds a PhD in Finance from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, a Master of Financial Engineering from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, and a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Mathematics with a Statistics option from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Her research interests include demography, modelling of actuarial assumptions, risk management, and financial data modelling. We warmly welcome all our new colleagues to the AMA family and look forward to their valuable contributions to our department’s growth and excellence.  

PolyU and Huawei Jointly Establish Mathematical Optimization Innovation Laboratory to Advance AI Innovation

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei) signed a collaboration agreement on 17 September 2025 to officially launch the PolyU–Huawei Mathematical Optimization Innovation Laboratory (MOI) at PolyU. As the first joint laboratory of Huawei in Hong Kong focusing on developing XPU-based advanced optimization solver, the MOI marks a significant milestone in the institutions’ long-standing partnership, which began in 2007 and has fostered collaboration across communications, big data, algorithms, and materials science. The MOI will focus on advancing mathematical optimization theory, developing cutting-edge algorithms, and applying XPU-accelerated solvers to artificial intelligence and data science challenges. Leveraging PolyU’s strengths in mathematics, statistics, and operations research—ranked 31st globally in Statistics and Operations Research by the 2025 QS World University Rankings and 36th in Mathematics by U.S. News, the highest in Hong Kong—the collaboration aims to drive research and innovation at the intersection of academia and industry. Witnessed by Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU; Prof. Daniel LUO, Associate Dean (Research) of the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences of PolyU; Ms. Jie FU, Director of the Technology Cooperation Department of Huawei; and Mr. Bo BAI, Director of the Theoretical Research Department of Huawei, the agreement was signed by Prof. Defeng SUN, Head of the Department of Applied Mathematics of PolyU, and Mr. Yanhui GENG, Director of the Huawei Hong Kong Research Centre. The plaque unveiling for the MOI was officiated by representatives from both organizations, formally inaugurating the laboratory. Prof. Christopher Chao expressed his appreciation to Huawei’s continued support to PolyU, emphasizing that the partnership will nurture innovative talent, promote knowledge transfer, and accelerate the commercialization of research outcomes. Together, PolyU and Huawei are committed to advancing mathematical optimization and technological innovation, creating greater value and contributing to economic development.

Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU Department of Applied Mathematics 2025

We are delighted to announce the recipients of the 2025 Outstanding Alumni Award from the Department of Applied Mathematics at PolyU. This year, both awardees are under 40 years old and have been recognized for their remarkable achievements as “Outstanding Young Alumni of PolyU Department of Applied Mathematics.” Nominated and selected in July, they have demonstrated exceptional accomplishments in their professional fields, strong support for their alma mater, and meaningful contributions to the community. Since 2022, the Outstanding Alumni Award (OPAA) has included specific categories—Professional Achievement, Entrepreneurial Achievement, Scholarly Achievement, and Community Service Achievement—to celebrate the diverse successes of our graduates. The award is presented at three levels: departmental, faculty/school, and university, fostering engagement across the PolyU community. Please join us in congratulating the following awardees on their well-deserved recognition and outstanding achievements: Scholarly Achievement (Young Alumni) Dr LIN Qianying PhD in Applied Mathematics, 2019 MPhil in Applied Mathematics, 2017 Dr LIN Qianying is a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Division of Biostatistics at The Ohio State University, USA. She continues her research at Los Alamos National Laboratory, focusing on phylogenetic methods for segmented RNA viruses. Dr LIN is recognized for her influential research in molecular epidemiology and infectious disease modelling, with a particular focus on the quantitative analysis of disease transmission. She has published 27 peer-reviewed journal articles and 4 preprints covering topics such as COVID-19, MERS, Lassa fever, tuberculosis, and influenza, with her work appearing in leading journals like Nature Communications. Her research has been cited over 5,700 times, with an h-index of 18, ranking her among the top 1% of cited epidemiologists worldwide. Dr LIN’s models and analyses are widely adopted by the scientific community, providing essential insights that shape both research directions and public health policy globally. Professional Achievement (Young Alumni) Mr. TU Yizi MSc in Applied Mathematics - Actuarial and Investment Science, 2014 Mr. TU Yizi is currently Regional Actuary at Munich Reinsurance Singapore Branch, having previously served as Actuarial Supervisor at Munich Reinsurance Hong Kong. In 2021, he was recognized as a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA), a prestigious credential reflecting his technical mastery and leadership in the field. Mr. TU has built a distinguished career in the insurance and reinsurance industry across Asia and South Africa, specializing in reinsurance pricing for life and health products. He has led the design and pricing of innovative and cross-border reinsurance solutions, enabling insurers to manage risk, achieve capital efficiency, and introduce inclusive products to underserved markets. Passionate about advancing actuarial science, he has also driven process automation and knowledge sharing within his organization. Mr. TU has contributed to PolyU as a speaker and workshop facilitator, inspiring future actuaries with his commitment to technical excellence and socially meaningful innovation.  To learn more about our previous awardees, please visit our Alumni Corner. *** END***

Congratulations to AMA Scholars on NSFC Young Scientist Scheme Awards

We are delighted to announce that two outstanding young scholars from the Department of Applied Mathematics have been awarded highly competitive research grants under the 2025 National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) Young Scientist Scheme. This remarkable achievement highlights the excellence and innovation of AMA in advancing mathematical research. NSFC Young Scientist Scheme (Type A) 國家自然科學基金青年科學基金項目(A類) Principal Investigator: Prof. LI Buyang Project Title: 數值分析 Approved Funding: RMB 2,800,000 NSFC Young Scientist Scheme (Type B) 國家自然科學基金青年科學基金項目(B類) Principal Investigator: Prof. CUI Jianbo Project Title: 隨機偏微分方程數值方法 Approved Funding: RMB 2,000,000 The NSFC Young Scientist Scheme (Type A) was formerly known as the “Distinguished Young Scholars Fund” (原國家傑出青年科學基金項目), while the Type B scheme was previously the “Excellent Young Scientists Fund” (原優秀青年科學基金項目). These prestigious grants recognize the exceptional potential and research capabilities of our young scholars. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Prof. CUI Jianbo and Prof. LI Buyang for their outstanding achievements and wish them continued success in their research endeavors. AMA remains committed to fostering a vibrant research environment and supporting the next generation of scientific leaders.

AMA’s Research Centre for Intelligent Operations Research Announces Open-Source Release of Advanced GPU Solvers

The Research Centre for Intelligent Operations Research (IOR) at the Department of Applied Mathematics (AMA), PolyU, is proud to announce the open-source release of two powerful GPU solvers, HPR-QP and HPR-LP, developed in collaboration with Beijing University of Technology. The PolyU team was led by Professor Sun Defeng, Head of Department, Chair Professor of Applied Optimisation and Operations Research, and Director of IOR. HPR-QP and HPR-LP are Julia-based implementations of the Halpern Peaceman–Rachford (HPR) method, designed to efficiently solve large-scale convex composite quadratic programming (CCQP) and linear programming (LP) problems on GPUs. Now freely available to the global research community on the open-source platform GitHub, these solvers are poised to benefit both academia and industry by supporting advanced computational optimisation and a wide range of real-world applications. About the Research Centre for Intelligent Operations Research (IOR) Established in August 2024, IOR is dedicated to pioneering research in operations research, optimisation algorithm design, solver development, and their applications, leveraging state-of-the-art AI methodologies. Intelligent operations research is a dynamic and sophisticated scientific domain focused on developing cutting-edge algorithms and models to automate and enhance decision-making processes, and to uncover optimal solutions within highly complex systems. The Centre is committed to advancing knowledge and innovation in intelligent optimisation and operations research, while fostering a vibrant and responsible research community that delivers practical benefits to society at large. For more details and access to the solvers, please visit: HPR-QP: A GPU Solver for Convex Composite Quadratic Programming in Julia HPR-LP: A GPU Solver for Linear Programming