Congratulations to Dr Siyuan Wu, CEE postdoctoral fellow supervised by Prof. Qi Zhao, on being awarded the RGC Junior Research Fellow Scheme (JRFS) 2026/27. Dr Wu is one of the 11 PolyU recipients among 60 awardees across Hong Kong.
The fellowship supports Dr Wu’s innovative research, “Intelligent characterization of lunar regolith: an in-situ testing-driven deep learning approach”. The project utilizes laboratory testing on lunar regolith simulants to establish relationships between geomechanical/geophysical properties of lunar regolith and in-situ drilling data. While characterizing lunar regolith is essential for exploration and resource utilization, it remains constrained by high retrieval costs and limited sample availability. By integrating data from real Chang’e-5 and Chang’e-6 samples and high-fidelity simulants, an AI-driven platform for real-time in-situ analysis will be deployed. Automating these predictions provides the reliable, continuous geotechnical assessments necessary for lunar construction and will directly support upcoming exploration missions.
The JRFS aims to support promising local and non-local postdoctoral researchers at the early stages of their careers, and assist with their transition to Assistant Professor or Research Assistant Professor roles, thereby nurturing research talent and advance research and development in Hong Kong.
We congratulate Dr Wu on this outstanding achievement and wish her continued success in her research endeavours as she contributes to the advancement of her field in Hong Kong and beyond.
