News

New joiner – Dr Zhihang Xue

Dr Zhihang Xue obtained her Ph.D. degree in Civil Engineering from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2022. Prior to her appointment as a Research Assistant Professor, Dr Xue worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow at PolyU. Her research focuses on the development of resilient infrastructure, with particular interests in high-performance materials and structural optimisation, to provide practical solutions for innovative structural design. Dr Xue has reported on 15 August 2026.  

Two CEE Members Elected as Members of Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Young Member Section

Congratulations to Prof. Huan-Feng Duan, Associate Head (Research) and Professor of CEE and Prof. Chao Zhou, Associate Professor of CEE, on being elected to the Young Member Section (YMS) 2026 of The Hong Kong Academy of Engineering (HKAE). Prof. Duan was recognized for his innovation in engineering science and technology, which enhances the resilience of urban water infrastructure and supports climate sustainability, while Prof. Zhou was honored for his outstanding contributions to engineering advances in THM-coupled soil mechanics and geo-sustainability.   Established in 2023, the YMS is a subset of HKAE serving as a platform for young professionals in the field to connect, collaborate, and contribute to the advancement of Engineering. It is dedicated to fostering the professional growth of post-doctoral academics and engineers, facilitating translational research, aiding in process and product development, and providing support for startup ventures and funding endeavors.   We again extend our heartfelt congratulations to Prof. Duan and Prof. Zhou. Their recognition highlights CEE’s commitment to nurturing young talents and pushing the boundaries of innovative research. We look forward to their continued contributions to research excellence and the meaningful impact their work will bring to the society.   For more information about the YMS, please visit: https://hkae.hk/en/twenty-young-academics-and-industrial-leaders-elected-members-hkaes-young-member-section#gsc.tab=0

New joiner – Dr Shaoqun Lin

Dr Shaoqun Lin received his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2023, and his M.Eng. and B.Eng. in Civil Engineering from South China University of Technology. Before being appointed as a Research Assistant Professor, Dr Lin worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow at PolyU for over two years. His research focuses on intelligent monitoring and defect detection of underground structures, including diaphragm wall panels, piles, and tunnels, using distributed fiber optic sensing technologies, such as distributed strain sensing, distributed temperature sensing, and distributed acoustic sensing.   Dr Lin has reported on 10 August 2026.

New joiner – Dr Armin Rezayan

Dr Armin Rezayan completed both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering at Babol Noshirvani University of Technology (BNUT), Iran. He then pursued his doctoral studies in chemical engineering at Zhengzhou University (ZZU), China, receiving his PhD in 2023. After serving as a short-term postdoctoral fellow at ZZU, he joined the Advanced Biorefinery Laboratory (ABL) at the City University of Hong Kong (CityU) as a postdoctoral researcher, where he worked for nearly three years. His research focuses on thermocatalytic processes that convert biomass and waste into high-value products, including biofuels, platform chemicals, and functional materials, supporting a circular economy and carbon neutrality targets. Dr Rezayan has reported on 3 August 2026.  

New joiner – Dr Long Jiang

Dr Long Jiang received his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from The University of Hong Kong in 2023. His research lies at the intersection of hydrology, environmental modelling, and artificial intelligence. Prior to his current appointment as a Research Assistant Professor, he worked for over two years as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Washington. His current research focuses on ecohydrological modelling, urban flooding and water quality management, as well as intelligent environmental modelling. Dr Jiang has reported on 1 August 2026.  

CEE Graduate Receives the 2026 Global Korea Scholarship

We are thrilled to share that Miss Cleo Klossner, graduate of CEE, has been awarded the prestigious 2026 Global Korea Scholarship (GKS). Funded by the National Institute for International Education (NIIED) under the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea, the GKS is one of the most competitive scholarship programmes. It provides full financial support for top global talents to pursue advanced studies at leading universities in South Korea, aiming to nurture exceptional future leaders who possess outstanding academic calibre, research potential, and global adaptability. During her time at PolyU, Miss Klossner distinguished herself through her dedication to sustainable engineering. Under the supervision of Prof. Chi Sun Poon, she conducted cutting-edge research in eco-cement, carbonation curing, and green building technologies. With the support of the GKS, Miss Klossner will pursue her Master’s degree at the Seoul National University. Her goal is to deepen her expertise in low-carbon construction materials and smart urban infrastructure. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Miss Klossner. We wish her every success as she takes this exciting next step in her research and professional journey.

Prof. Kaiming Bi Receives The Nishino Prize 2026 at EASEC-19

We are thrilled to announce that Prof. Kaiming Bi, Associate Professor of CEE, has been awarded the Nishino Prize at the 19th East Asia-Pacific Conference on Structural Engineering and Construction (EASEC-19) 2026. The conference, themed “Advancing Sustainability in Structural Engineering and Construction Through Emerging Technologies”, was successfully held from 13 – 15 July 2026 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. As one of the most influential international academic conferences in structural engineering and construction, EASEC was inaugurated in Bangkok, Thailand, in 1986 and has been held biennially ever since. To honor its founder, the conference established the Nishino Medal and the Nishino Prize to recognize outstanding scholars in the field. The Nishino Prize recognizes a young engineer (age below 45 years) from the Asia-Pacific region who has made significant contributions and shown potential for great future achievements in the area of structural engineering and construction through research, development or practice. This award recognizes Prof. Bi’s significant contributions in the fields of Earthquake Engineering and Structural Vibration Control, particularly in seismic ground motion modelling and simulation, structural response prediction, structural performance enhancement, and adverse vibration mitigation. He has generated over 220 papers in leading international journals, securing over 11,000 citations on Google Scholar and an H-index of 56. His research outcomes have been widely applied in engineering practice and incorporated into seismic design guidelines. Prof. Bi also serves as an Associate Editor of Engineering Structures, a flagship journal in structural engineering.   Congratulations to Prof. Bi again on this well-deserved honor and look forward to his continued contributions to the advancement of structural engineering. For more details about the award, please visit: https://www.ukm.my/easec19/award-nominations/   

Twenty-six CEE Projects Secured General Research Fund and Early Career Scheme 2026/27

We are pleased to announce that 26 CEE projects have been granted a total funding of HK$24.3 million from the Research Grants Council’s (RGC) General Research Fund (GRF) and Early Career Scheme (ECS) 2026/27. Demonstrating the department’s constant pursuit of research excellence and technological advancements, CEE scholars secured 26 of 50 PolyU funded projects under the RGC subject area of “Civil Engineering, Surveying, Building & Construction”. The GRF and the ECS are individual research funding schemes under the RGC. The GRF supplements universities' own research support for researchers who have achieved or have the potential to achieve excellence, while the ECS aims to nurture junior academics and prepare them for a career in education and research. We extend our warmest congratulations to all CEE scholars whose dedication has led to this remarkable milestone. We wish them continued success as they advance their research and shape the future of civil and environmental engineering.  

Prof. Yi-Qing Ni Receives the 16th Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Award

We are pleased to announce that Prof. Yi-Qing Ni, Chair Professor of Smart Structures and Rail Transit of CEE and Director of National Rail Transit Electrification and Automation Engineering Technology Research Center (Hong Kong Branch), has been honoured with the 16th Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Award by the Chinese Academy of Engineering.  Presented biennially, the award is widely regarded as “the highest accolade in China’s engineering sector”. It aims to honour Chinese engineers and scientists who have made outstanding achievements and significant contributions in engineering science and technology, and engineering management. This year, Prof. Ni was selected as one of 40 awardees from a competitive pool of 471 candidates, making him one of only three recipients from Hong Kong. Prof. Ni is world-renowned scholar whose research spans structural health monitoring, structural dynamics and control, smart materials and structures, and sensor technologies.  As a core member of PolyU’s multi-disciplinary rail technology research team, he has contributed to the development of fibre Bragg grating sensors that have significantly enhanced the safety and stability of railway services. These devices can be installed on railway tracks and connected to fibre-optic cables, helping maintenance staff more effectively monitor wheel flats and rail conditions, carry out repairs in a timely manner, and safeguard passenger safety. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Prof. Ni. His dedication to engineering excellence continues to elevate PolyU's global research standing, strengthen cross-border collaborations, and drive impactful contributions to national development and societal well-being. We look forward to the positive impacts his ongoing research will bring to the society.  Online coverage (Chinese Only): Wen Wei Po: https://www.wenweipo.com/a/202607/10/AP6a5009e4e4b0b49ad1c2b65a.html Ta Kung Pao: https://www.tkww.hk/epaper/view/newsDetail/2075286996259049472.html   

Sharing Session with CEE JUPAS Applicants 2026

The Sharing Session with CEE JUPAS Applicants 2026 held on 8 July 2026 (Wednesday) was a resounding success. The event commenced with an informative session on JUPAS admission criteria hosted by Prof. Andy Leung, Associate Head of CEE and an inspiring session on how AI is transforming civil engineering by Prof. Jacqueline Lo, Assistant Professor of CEE. To have a closer interaction with secondary school students, three current CEE students took the stage to share their university experiences. The sharing session provided prospective students with invaluable, first-hand insights into our programmes while offering words of encouragement to the 2026 DSE candidates. We look forward to welcoming future engineers to the CEE family in the coming academic year and supporting them throughout their educational journey.