News

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.

New joiner – Dr Deming Zhu

Dr Deming Zhu received his Ph.D. degree in Civil Engineering from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2023. Working at the intersection of structural engineering, coastal engineering, and infrastructure resilience, his research focuses on the performance, vulnerability, and life-cycle resilience of coastal bridges under extreme wave and multi-hazard conditions. Before being appointed as a Research Fellow, Dr Zhu worked as a postdoctoral researcher at PolyU for three years. His current research bridges experimental investigation, numerical simulation, and data-driven approaches, with an emphasis on wave–bridge interaction, bridge resilience under cascading hazards, and intelligent predictive maintenance of civil infrastructure. Dr Zhu has reported on 13 July 2026.

Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU CEE 2026

We are proud to announce that Ir Alfred Wong Kwok Fai, Prof. Hannah Zhou Wan-Huan and Dr Chen Tiantian have been honoured with the Outstanding Alumni Award in Professional Achievement, Outstanding Alumni Award in Scholarly Achievement, and Outstanding Young Alumni Award in Scholarly Achievement of PolyU CEE 2026 respectively. The award recognizes their exceptional achievements, exemplary leadership, and contributions to their alma mater. Ir Alfred Wong Kwok Fai, graduated from BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering in 1988, is the Chief Executive Officer of the Building Technology Research Institute (BTRi). Ir Wong started his career in public service by joining the Government in 1993 and has held various key leadership positions, including Deputy Director of Water Supplies in Water Supplies Department, where he oversaw water supply policies, large-scale infrastructure projects, and drinking water quality standards. With over three decades of dedicated public service, Ir Wong is a distinguished civil engineer who has made transformative contributions to Hong Kong's built environment, bringing positive impact to our society and inspire our students.  Prof. Hannah Zhou Wan-Huan, who earned her PhD in Geotechnical Engineering in 2008, is a Professor and Head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at University of Macau, where she specializes in Geotechnical Engineering. Her pioneering research has been successfully implemented in landmark projects, including the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and Macao Light Rail East Line, delivering tangible societal and engineering safety benefits. Prof. Zhou is a valuable research collaborator with CEE, demonstrating her leading position in geotechnical engineering and commitment to knowledge transfer. Dr Chen Tiantian, who obtained her PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering in 2021, is an Associate Professor at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). As one of the leading young researchers in smart mobility and traffic safety in Asia, Dr Chen’s research addresses societal challenges, including autonomous driving safety, crash risk mitigation, and inclusive mobility for aging populations. She maintains strong ties with CEE and PolyU, actively facilitating international academic exchanges and showcasing the global impact of our alumni network. We extend our warmest congratulations to our three distinguished alumni on this remarkable recognition. We look forward to their ongoing success and future contributions to the advancement of civil and environmental engineering.  

CEE Members Received HKIE Geotechnical Division Prizes

HKIE Geotechnical Division Prize Award Presentation Ceremony 2026 was successfully held on 23 June 2026. We are proud to announce that 6 CEE members have been recognized with prestigious awards established by the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (Geotechnical Division), including the AECOM Prizes, the Geotechnical Contractors Scholarship, the Fugro Prize and the Ringo Yu Prize for Best PhD Theses in Geotechnical Study. These honors highlight the dedication and passion of our students and scholars in the field of geotechnical engineering. AECOM Prize for Best Students of the Year Awardee: Ms Tsz Tung Chan, CEE Graduate AECOM Prize for Best FYP of the Year Awardee: Mr Baokang Wang, CEE Graduate Award: 1st Runner-Up Title of Paper: Stress-Strain Behavior of Cemented Clay under Different Stress Paths Geotechnical Contractors Scholarship Scheme Awardee: Mr Tsz Shun Lee, CEE Graduate Ringo Yu Prize for Best PhD Thesis in Geotechnical Studies  Awardee: Dr Yuan Zou, CEE Research Associate supervised by Prof. Qi Zhao Fugro Prize Awardee: Mr Zhiqi Zhan, CEE PhD Graduate & Dr Pei-Chen Wu, CEE Research Assistant Professor Award: 2nd Runner-Up Title of Paper: Analyzing a Catastrophic Loose Fill Landslide in Hong Kong by Material Point Method We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Ms Chan, Mr Wang, Mr Lee, Dr Zou, Mr Zhan, and Dr Wu on their remarkable accomplishments. We wish them continued success in their academic and professional journeys and we are confident that they will make a positive impact to the field of geotechnical engineering and the global environment.