News

AMA and DSAI Student Win the Championship in Startup Track at SEA Hacks Hackathon 2026

We are proud to share that Mr. WIJAYA Nikolas Jonathan, our student of the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Quantitative Finance and FinTech, and his teammates won 1st place in the Startup Track at the 48-hour SEAHacks Hackathon, held on 4–5 July 2026. Nikolas teamed up with two students from the Department of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Mr. Michael Arya Wijaya and Mr. Joseph Berachah, as well as a graduate of The University of Hong Kong. The team competed in the Startup track and built a venture-scale product - Weft, an open-source, privacy-first desktop application designed to help users better manage their personal relationships across messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram. This application organizes conversation history into useful relationship context, including important memories and follow-ups. It can also generate context-aware reply suggestions through machine learning. A key focus of the project is to keep users in control of their own data, with conversations and generated information stored locally on the user’s device. The team’s project stood out among 25 submitted projects in the competition. About the SEAHack Hackathon As a part of the Hong Kong’s AI Week, SEA Hacks is 48-hour hackathon where students and teams pick from multiple tracks to build prototypes that address real industry or community challenges. For more information, please visit https://seahacks.mentormates.ai/challenges. Congratulations to Nikolas and his team on this outstanding achievement!

In Memoriam: Mr. Shih Tsi-Min, Retired Faculty Member of AMA

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Mr. Shih Tsi-Min, a retired Associate Professor of the Department of Applied Mathematics (AMA) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). Mr. Shih joined AMA in 1977 and served until his retirement in 1997. He was an enthusiastic and passionate educator who devoted himself to nurturing the younger generation and mentored many outstanding PhD graduates during his tenure. Following his retirement, Mr. Shih founded and chaired the People Charity Foundation Limited. He generously supported AMA students by establishing a scholarship spanning the 2022/23 to 2024/25 academic years, thereby continuing his lifelong commitment to developing the next generation. We extend our deepest condolences to his family. Mr. Shih will be deeply missed by the AMA community.

Assistant Professor Zhang Shijun Wins the 2026 Frontiers of Science Award

Congratulations to Assistant Professor Zhang Shijun on receiving the prestigious 2026 Frontiers of Science Award from the International Congress of Basic Science (ICBS)! Prof. Zhang was honored in the Mathematics (Numerical Analysis) category for the paper, "Deep network approximation for smooth functions," published in the SIAM Journal on Mathematical Analysis (2021). He shares this distinction with esteemed co-authors Jianfeng Lu (Duke University), Zuowei Shen (National University of Singapore), and Haizhao Yang (University of Maryland). About the Award and Categories The Frontiers of Science Award recognizes exceptional, highly original research published over the past decade that has made a significant impact in its field. The awards span three primary disciplines: Mathematics, Physics, and Information Science and Engineering, aiming to inspire young scholars to push the boundaries of basic science and achieve breakthrough discoveries. For the 2026 selection, scientific works in both basic and applied research were chosen across 40 specific areas within these three broader fields. To be selected for this highly competitive award, a scientific achievement must meet three rigorous requirements: It must have been published within the last 10 years. It must be of the highest scientific value and originality, making an important impact on its area. It must have been evaluated and accepted by scholars within its field. Please join us in congratulating Prof. Zhang Shijun and his co-authors on this outstanding academic achievement! For more details, please visit the official ICBS website.

Prof. Chen Xiaojun and PhD student Miss Li Yiyang present at ICM2026

Chair Professor Chen Xiaojun delivered a 45-minute invited lecture at the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) 2026 on 25 July 2026 (Eastern Time). ICM 2026 is being held in Philadelphia, USA, from 23 to 30 July 2026. Professor Chen was invited to speak in the “Stochastic and Differential Modelling” section. Her lecture, titled “Differential Stochastic Variational Inequalities and Optimization,” presented her latest research insights in this important field. Professor Chen’s PhD student, Miss Li Yiyang, also participated in this prestigious international event. Her paper, titled “First-Order Algorithms for Stochastic Multi-Objective Optimization Problems,” was selected to be showcased in the ICM poster session. Posters at the congress are scientific presentations of recent research developments, proposed by registered participants and selected by the Local Organizing Committee. Held every four years, the ICM is the premier global event in mathematics, uniting leading mathematicians to exchange ideas and shape the future of the field. An invitation to speak at this distinguished congress is a significant honor, highlighting Professor Chen’s international recognition and expertise in mathematical optimization. Miss Li’s participation in the poster presentation also reflects the quality and promise of her research, as well as the strong research training and academic environment fostered by the Department.  

Congratulations to Chair Professor DAI Min on Award of Prestigious RGC Senior Research Fellowship (SRFS) 2026/27

We are delighted to extend our warmest congratulations to Professor DAI Min, Chair Professor of Applied Statistics and Financial Mathematics, on being awarded the prestigious RGC Senior Research Fellowship (SRFS) for 2026/27. In this highly competitive round, the Research Grants Council (RGC) received numerous high-caliber nominations from the eight UGC-funded universities in Hong Kong. Following a rigorous peer-review and assessment process, Professor DAI was selected as one of only nine outstanding SRFS awardees. As an SRFS Fellow, Professor DAI will receive a fellowship grant of approximately HK$8.5 million over a period of 60 months to support his groundbreaking research. About Professor DAI Min Professor DAI is the Chair Professor of Applied Statistics and Financial Mathematics, jointly appointed by the Department of Applied Mathematics and the School of Accounting and Finance at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Prior to joining PolyU in 2021, he taught at the National University of Singapore and Peking University. He obtained his PhD from Fudan University in 2000. An internationally recognized scholar, Professor DAI’s research focuses on financial derivative pricing, portfolio selection with market imperfections, corporate finance, and financial technology. He has published extensively in top-tier, peer-reviewed journals across multiple disciplines, including the Journal of Finance, Review of Financial Studies, Management Science, Journal of Economic Theory, Journal of Econometrics, Mathematical Finance, and various SIAM Journals. Currently, Professor DAI serves as a Co-editor of Digital Finance and is on the editorial boards of several prestigious journals, including Operations Research, Finance and Stochastics, Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, and the SIAM Journal on Financial Mathematics. He is frequently invited to speak at major international conferences and workshops, notably serving as a plenary speaker at the 12th World Congress of the Bachelier Finance Society. About the RGC Senior Research Fellow Scheme (SRFS) The RGC Senior Research Fellow Scheme (SRFS) aims to provide sustained support and significant relief from teaching and administrative duties to exceptionally outstanding researchers at full Professor rank at UGC-funded universities in Hong Kong. This prestigious initiative facilitates their full dedication to research and development, helping Hong Kong universities attract and retain world-class research talent. For more details, please visit the RGC website: https://awards.ugc.edu.hk/award/rgc-senior-research-fellow-scheme?page=1      

Online Booking for Exam Paper Review, 20 - 21 July 2026

The online registration for exam paper review would be scheduled between 20 - 21 July 2026. Make appointment here

AMA Secures RGC Funding for 20 Research Projects in 2026/27 Round

The Department of Applied Mathematics (AMA) has achieved a highly successful funding round, securing HKD 14.5 million across 20 research projects in the latest Research Grants Council (RGC) exercise. Following the announcement of the General Research Fund (GRF) and Early Career Scheme (ECS) results for the 2026/27 academic year, AMA has once again demonstrated its academic strength. As these RGC schemes are highly competitive, our strong showing in this round underscores our department's commitment to research excellence and our continuous contributions to the field of applied mathematics. With this vital support, AMA is well-positioned to drive impactful research that delivers meaningful benefits to society. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated faculty members, whose hard work, perseverance, and intellectual curiosity have made this accomplishment possible. Warmest congratulations to the following colleagues whose projects have been awarded funding in this round: Principal Investigator Project Title Prof. CAO Xinlin Mathematical Analysis of Acoustic Wave Propagation by Subwavelength Anisotropic Sheets Prof. CHEN Kexin Beyond Smoothness: A Stochastic Intertemporal Framework for Lumpy Consumption in Today's Economy Prof. CHEN Xiaojun Multiple Nonsmooth Optimization Problems in a Dynamic Stochastic System Prof. CUI Jianbo Structure-preserving Numerical Methods for Stochastic Nonlinear Schrödinger Equations with White Noise Dispersion Prof. HE Daihai Forecasting the Risk of Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika in China: Investigating the Inner Mechanisms and Heterogeneities of Outbreaks of the Mosquito-borne Viruses, Climate and Socio-economic Thresholds, and Cross-interaction Prof. HU Xianpeng Quantitative Regularity and Weak Solutions for Isentropic Compressible Navier-Stokes Equations Prof. JIANG Zhaoli Differential Games and Second-mover Advantage Prof. LI Buyang Finite Element Methods for Intrinsic Geometric Flow Prof. LI Xun Optimal Controls of Partially Observed Forward-Backward Stochastic Systems with Input Constraints and Their Financial Applications Prof. LIN Yanping Numerical Methods and Optimal Convergence Analysis for the Cahn-Hilliard-MHD Model Dr LIU Wei Oracle Complexity Bounds of First-order Methods for Nonsmooth Optimization with Nonconvex Function Constraints Prof. PONG Ting Kei Non-Lipschitz Nonsmooth Stochastic Zeroth-order Optimization with Complexity Analysis Prof. QIAO Zhonghua Efficient and Energy Stable Numerical Methods for Phase Field Modeling of Multicomponent Membranes Prof. SHEN Guohao Symmetries in Deep Learning with Applications to Optimization and Communication-Efficient Distributed Learning Prof. SUN Defeng GPU-Accelerated Augmented Lagrangian Methods for Large-Scale Semidefinite Programming Prof. WANG Zhian Nonlinear Stability of Traveling Wave Solutions of Chemotaxis Models with Logistic Source Prof. WONG Kin Yau, Alex Statistical Methods in Biomedical Studies with Proxy Variables, Machine Learning Predictions, and Missing Data Prof. ZHANG Zhu Stability Analysis of Three-dimensional Boundary Layers in the High-Reynolds-Number Limit Prof. ZHAO Xingqiu Nonparametric Hypothesis Testing Methods for Recurrent Event Processes Prof. ZHOU Zhi Convergence Analysis of Parareal Algorithms for PDEs with Nonsmooth Data  

Warm Welcome to Dynamic Young Scholars Joining AMA

To foster a vibrant academic culture and continuously drive innovation, the Department of Applied Mathematics (AMA) is dedicated to bringing in passionate, early-career researchers who represent the future of the field. We are delighted to welcome three young scholars to the AMA family this summer. As forward-thinking minds working on the cutting edge of modern mathematics, their fresh energy and innovative approaches to research will undoubtedly inspire our students and invigorate our academic community. Prof. Tang Rong | Assistant Professor Prof. Tang Rong joined the Department on 1 May 2026, bringing fresh perspectives to our computational mathematics group. She recently completed her PhD in Mathematics at Johns Hopkins University, following her Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of Science and Technology of China. Prof. Tang is passionate about exploring new frontiers in numerical analysis and scientific computing, and her youthful drive will be asset to both our research initiatives and classroom teaching. Prof. Huang Yilie | Assistant Professor Prof. Huang Yilie joined us on 1 June 2026. He earned his PhD in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, along with a Master of Science in Operations Research, from Columbia University, after completing his undergraduate studies at Zhejiang University. Prof. Huang's research operates at the highly modern intersection of reinforcement learning, generative AI diffusion models, stochastic control, and financial engineering. By developing advanced model-free algorithms and continuous-time learning methods to solve real-world uncertainties, he represents the new generation of scholars driving AI-integrated mathematical research. Dr Wang Qi | Research Assistant Professor Dr Wang Qi joined the department on 8 June 2026, bringing modern computational insights to energy research. He received his PhD from Tsinghua University. Dr. Wang's research is highly forward-looking, focusing on optimization algorithms for large-scale power systems. In particular, he is developing innovative methodologies that integrate machine learning with traditional optimization techniques, aiming to solve complex, real-world problems in modern, sustainable energy systems. We warmly welcome Prof. Tang, Prof. Huang, and Dr. Wang to the AMA family. We are excited to see how these bright, young minds will shape the future of our department, inspire our students, and contribute to the next wave of mathematical breakthroughs.

Recipient of the 2026 Outstanding Young Alumni Award

We are pleased to announce that the Outstanding Young Alumni Award 2026 (Professional Achievement) has been awarded to Dr Elvis Wong Hoi Shun, our 2010 graduate of BSc (Hons) in Investment Science programme with First Class Honours. This award recognizes alumni under the age of 40 who have demonstrated significant professional achievements, exemplary leadership, and a meaningful impact on their industry. Elvis’s impressive career path in the financial sector, combined with his continuous academic pursuits and ongoing support for his alma mater, led to his selection for this prestigious honor. As the Sales Team Head and Investment Advisor at Standard Chartered Bank, Elvis leads the sales strategy and business development for the Investment and Wealth Management division in Hong Kong. He previously built a distinguished career in wealth management at other top-tier institutions, including J.P. Morgan Private Bank, Julius Baer, and HSBC. His professional excellence has been recognized through numerous industry accolades, including the Gold and Silver Outstanding Financial Management Awards from the Hong Kong Institute of Bankers, and multiple top-performer awards at Standard Chartered Bank. Alongside his career, Elvis has maintained a strong commitment to academic and professional excellence. Following his studies at PolyU, he earned an MSc in Risk Management Science from The Chinese University of Hong Kong (2013) and a Doctor of Finance from the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (2025). To complement his academic achievements, he has also attained several of the industry's most prestigious professional credentials, including the CFA, FRM, CFP, and CIWM designations. Despite his demanding career, Elvis has dedicated over fifteen years to supporting the PolyU community as an alumnus mentor, promotional ambassador, and frequent guest speaker. Currently, he translates his real-world expertise into academic impact as an Adjunct Assistant Professor, teaching finance-related subjects to students in the Investment Science and Finance Analytics stream. We congratulate Elvis on his outstanding professional accomplishments and express our sincere appreciation for his continued service and dedication to the university and our students.   To learn more about our previous awardee, please visit our Alumni Corner. *** END***

PolyU Mathematics Secures National Top Spot in Research.com 2026

Mathematics at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has reached a significant milestone in academic excellence, ranking No. 1 nationwide and 72nd globally in the 2026 edition of the Best Mathematics Universities by Research.com. This recognition underscores the Department of Applied Mathematics (AMA)’s growing influence in the global scientific community and its commitment to driving innovation through mathematical research. The ranking is determined by the Discipline H-index (D-index), which evaluates a combination of publication and citation data to identify the world’s leading researchers and institutions. The top national ranking places AMA at the forefront of mathematical sciences in China, reflecting the Department’s dedication to fostering a robust research environment. By securing the 72nd position worldwide, AMA continues to demonstrate its competitiveness against long-standing international institutions, particularly in fields such as applied mathematics, computational methodolgy, and data science. Research.com’s ranking is highly regarded for its focus on the actual research output and impact of scholars within the discipline. This latest accolade highlights AMA’s success in attracting top-tier academic talent and producing impactful research that addresses complex global challenges in engineering, technology, and the social sciences.