Academic Staff

For more info on my research, please be welcomed to visit:

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Research Group Activities & News

I am looking for highly motivated and self-disciplined students majoring in Mechanical/Material/Chemical Engineering with a Computational Modelling background to join the group. For consideration of PhD studies, please also refer to the document detailing my research project: 

PhDProjects

Supervisor Profile

Apply for Research Position (Google form)

Research Interests

Fire Modelling, Fire Materials, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Molecular Dynamics, Battery Thermal Management, Pyrolytic Plastic Recovery.

I am an Assistant Professor, Presidential Young Scholar (2022-25) and the programme leader of the Master of Science in Fire and Safety Engineering (MSc FSE), at the Dept of BEEE, HK PolyU. In addition, I am a corporate member of the HKIE Fire Division and a PolyU Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE) member. Internationally, I am an Adjunct Lecturer at UNSW Sydney. I am also an Associate Investigator for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Carbon Science & Innovation. I was a former Lecturer/Centre Manager for the ARC Training Centre for Fire Retardant Materials and Safety Technologies, UNSW Sydney.  I specialise in computational material science modelling techniques to deliver in-depth characterisations of the atomistic physiochemical behaviours of nanocomposites such as interfacial and surface science reactions between molecules. In addition, he also contributes to the fabrication of novel, bio-inspired and multifunctional nano-architectured composite materials. I am currently aiming to synergise his expertise to formulate a systematic, state-of-art fire assessment platform to effectively and physically described the flaming and degradation processes, thermal/electrical conductivities, charring and self-extinction behaviours of advanced materials (presentations). I have been listed as one of the "Top 2% Scientists in the world" by Stanford University in 2023-24. More info can be found at Google Scholar and my personal website. 

Here is my short academic bio: CV_Yuen_ACY

Career Profile

2023: Assistant Professor, Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, HK PolyU
2023-25: Presidential Young Scholar, HK PolyU
2021: Lecturer and Centre Manager, ARC Training Centre for Fire Safety, School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, UNSW Sydney
2018: Centre Manager, ARC Training Centre for Fire Safety, School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, UNSW Sydney
2015: Research Associate, School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, UNSW Sydney

Research and outputs

I research on computational materials synthesis models techniques for novel bio-inspired and advanced multifunctional nanocomposite flame retardants. I develop simulation approaches involving Molecular Dynamics (MD) and computational multiphase fluid dynamics (CMFD) simulations to study the fire retardant mechanisms and other material functional properties (i.e. electric, thermal). I have applied my self-written models and kinetics search algorithm codes on a range of topics across fire safety science topics including characterisation/decomposition kinetics for polymer composites, MD on polymer degradation, infrastructure and wildland fire modelling and in-depth realisation of flame retardant mechanisms. Recently, I am formulating a systematic, state-of-art numerical modelling platform to effectively and physically describe the thermal degradation, chemical decomposition, thermal/electrical conductivity, charring and self-extinction behaviours of Advanced Materials (i.e. MXene). Additionally, I am developing an intergrated material database for polymer composites, utilising for building fire assessments and thermal runaway preventions for battery systems. The following are my research highlights:

• Top 2% Scientists Worldwide consecutive 2023, 2024 by Stanford University and Elsevier Data Repository
• >160 research publications with >150 journal articles, 3 book chapters, and >20 conference papers (Jan 2024)
• My H-Index is 47 in Google Scholar with >8,300 citations, my H-index is 44 in Scopus with >6,900 citations 
• Published 7 highly cited papers from 2018-2024 (Top 1% cited of the academic field)
• Published >65 papers in the top 10% journal by SJR from 2017-2023 according to Scopus
• My journal articles are published across top journals in their respective fields and can be categorised into Multifunctional Materials: 8 Chemical Engineering Journal (IF=13.3), Composites Part B: Engineering (IF=12.7); Battery and Energy Storage Systems: 1 Applied Energy (IF=10.1), 2 Journal of Energy Storage (IF=8.9), 2 Journal of Power Sources (IF=8.1); Computational Heat Transfer: 3 Applied Thermal Engineering (IF=6.1), 6 International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer (IF=5.0).

Teaching

Over the years, I have been teaching mainly computational modelling, thermal fluid and numerical methods related courses. Since joining PolyU as the Deputy Program Leader of the Bachelor of Engineering in Building Sciences Engineering & Structure and Fire Safety Engineering, and the programme leader for the Master of Science in Fire and Safety Engineering (MSc FSE), I have also been involved in a range of fire safety-related courses. Recently, I have been awarded the Departmental Teaching Excellence Award 2024-25 in recognition of my contribution to teaching excellence and development in learning experiences. The following are the courses I have been involved in lecturing/coordinating:

• BSE3322       Fire Safety Systems
• BSE3713       Research Methods in Building Services Engineering
• BSE3716       Research Methods in Building Sciences and Engineering
• BSE4726       Capstone Research Projects (Final Year Project)
• BSE4728       Integrated Research Projects (AIDA secondary major students)
• BSE531         Computational Fire Modelling for Building Design
• BSE5511       Occupational Health and Ergonomics
• BSE558         Accident Prevention, Hazard Assessment and Control
• BSE2215       Fluid Mechanics
• BSE574         Research Methods - FSE
• BSE6001       Computational Fluid Dynamics
• MECH4620   Computational Fluid Dynamics (at UNSW in 2017-2022)
• MATH2089   Numerical Methods (at UNSW in 2018-2022)

Significant Research Grants

2026: Anthony Chun Yin Yuen (PI), et al., PolyU RISUD, Joint Research Fund, Sustainable Urban Fire Resilience – Upcycling Municipal Waste into Deployable Fire-Retardant Coating Solutions. (HKD$1.2M)
2026: Anthony Chun Yin Yuen (PI), et al., PolyU PAIR, PAIR Seed Funding Scheme for Joint Research Projects with Leading Universities - PolyU/UNSW, Advancing Next-generation Flame-retardants for Energy Storage Systems via 2D Carbon Materials. (HKD$1M)
2026: Anthony Chun Yin Yuen (PI), PolyU BEEE, AI Teaching Innovation Grants, Integrating AI-driven Analytics and Optimisation into Computational Modelling for Building Sciences Engineering Education. (HKD$1M)
2025: Anthony Chun Yin Yuen (PI), Research Grant Council (RGC), General Research Fund - Early Career Scheme (GRF-ECS) [25200925], Development of a Molybdenum Carbide MXene and Bio-based Flame Retardants Interlayer Coating on Lightweight Polymers for Building Fire Safety Performances. (HKD$901K)
2025: Anthony Chun Yin Yuen (PI), PolyU SGFLI, Seed Fund for Developing Learning Signature Showcase, Developing Flipped Learning Signature Showcase for BSE531 Computational Fire Modelling for Building Design. (HKD$40K)
2025: Bin Fei, Anthony Chun Yin Yuen, Linli Xu, Innovation and Technology Fund - The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (ITF-HKRITA) – “Novel Arc Flash PPE from Durable Flame Retardant Fabrics with High Nylon Contents”. (HKD$3.67M)
2025: Liming Jiang, Shipeng Zhang, Anthony Chun Yin Yuen, et al. PolyU, FCE Large Equipment Fund, A hybrid mechanical-thermal testing system towards an international research hub and FCE ACT (Advanced Construction Technology) Lab. (HKD$2M)
2024: Anthony Chun Yin Yuen (PI), Richard Kwok Kit Yuen, Eric Wai Ming Lee, MTR Research Funding Scheme [PTU-23019], Coupling Fire and Toxicty Predictions Using CFD-MD Simulations for Enhanced Pedestrian Movement Modelling and Fire Resilience Designs of Metro Stations. (HKD$970K)
2023: Guan Heng Yeoh, Bijan Samali, Hao Wang, Gilian Yeo, Sean Li, Anthony Chun Yin Yuen, et al. (total 31 CIs), ARC Research Hub for Fire Resilience Infrastructure, Assets and Safety Advancements (FRIASA) [IH220100002] in Urban, Resources, Energy and Renewables Sectors, 2023. (totalling AUD$4.97M)
2022: Anthony Chun Yin Yuen (PI), Guan Heng Yeoh, Innovation Connection 2022, Development of Fire Retardant and Non-Combustible Coatings for Signage (collaborator: Cooper Neon Pty Ltd) [ICG001937]. (totalling AUD$74.7K)
2022: Guan Heng Yeoh, Anthony Chun Yin Yuen, Jaime Grunlan, ARC Discovery Project [DP220101427], Engineered interlayers of bio-retardant and nano-reinforcement on polymers. (totalling AUD$332K)
2021: Anthony Chun Yin Yuen, Guan Heng Yeoh, Shaun Chan, Wei Wang, Eric Wai Ming Lee, Nadia Chek Lun Chow, UNSW International Seed Grant 2021, Artificial Neural Network Modelling Integrated with Molecular Dynamics Data for Detailed Description of CFD Pyrolytic Process. (totalling AUD$5K)
2021: Guan Heng Yeoh, Shaun Chan, Anthony Chun Yin Yuen, MME Collaborative Research Infrastructure Scheme 2021, High-speed camera for next-generation fire retardant/safety technologies and engine combustion research. (totalling AUD$50K)
2020: Guan Heng Yeoh, Anita Ho-Baillie, Chun Wang, Anthony Chun Yin Yuen, CRC-P Round 8: Solar Skin: Next generation perovskite solar polymer membrane. (totalling AUD$3M)
2020: Guan Heng Yeoh, Anthony Chun Yin Yuen, Shaun Chan, UNSW-SJTU Collaborative Research Seed Grants: Formation and evolution of soot in flames based on laser diagnostics and high-fidelity models. (totalling AUD$10K)
2019: Victoria Timchenko, Anthony Chun Yin Yuen, Guan Heng Yeoh, Project CONDOR - nsw techvoucher project, CFD Study on Propeller Thrust via Flow and Turbulence Characterisation, funded by ANGLO PACIFIC IMPORT EXPORT PTY LTD. (totally AUD$9K)
2019: Guan Heng Yeoh, Shaun Chan, Anthony Chun Yin Yuen, Jeremy Fewtrell, Greg Buckley, Graham Kingsland, David O’Brien, Morgan Cook, Kim Thai, CRC for Bushfire and Natural Hazards -  Tactical Research Fund: A strategic analysis of risks associated with non-complying building products. (totalling AUD$100K)
2018: Guan Heng Yeoh, Chun Wang, Anthony Chun Yin Yuen, Shaun Chan, Cyrille Boyer, Vicki Chen, CRC-P Round 5: Development of an Advanced Fire Retardant for Polymers and Textiles. (totalling AUD$3M)
2017: Guan Heng Yeoh, Shaun Chan, Anthony Chun Yin Yuen, Chun Wang, Shuying Wu, UNSW MME Collaborative Research Infrastructure Funding: Micro-scale calorimeter: A powerful tool for next-generation fire retardant materials and safety technologies research. (totalling 50 k)
2017: Guan Heng Yeoh, Chun Wang, Evatt Hawkes, Shaun Kook, Shaun Chan, Shuying Wu, Anthony Chun Yin Yuen, Sahajwalla Veena, Farshid Pahlevani, Vicky Chen, UNSW Research Infrastructure Scheme: Advanced automatic interactive cone calorimeter for flammability test of novel bio-inspired fire retardant and green materials and durable coatings. (totalling AUD$330K)

Editorship and Reviewing experiences

• Editorial Board Member for Scientific Reports (IF = 4.9)
• Editorial Board Member for Discovery Applied Science (IF = 3.8)
• Topical Advisory Panel Member for the Journal Polymers (IF = 5.8)
• Associate Editor for the Journal Fine Chemical Engineering
• Special Issue Guest Editor for the Journal Molecules (IF = 5.1) for the research topic "New Prospects in Flame-Retardant Materials"
• Guest Editor for the research topic "Advance in Polymer-Based Flame Retardant Materials" in the Journal Polymers (IF = 5.8),
• Guest Editor for the research topic "Flame-Retardant Polymeric Materials and Polymer Composites" in the Journal Frontiers in Materials (IF = 3.5)
• Local organising committee member of the AOFSM'5 conference at UNSW Sydney; the AOSFST2021 conference at Brisbane (i.e. in association with the Fire Safety Journal)
• Reviewed for Advanced Functional Materials, Chemical Engineering Journal, Applied Energy, Fuel, Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, Composites Part B: Engineering, Fuel, etc (More info)

Invited Keynote Speech

• 2026: Invited Keynote speaker at International Symposium on Fire Protection & Safety Engineering (ISFPSE2026), Sichuan, China.
• 2025: Invited Keynote speaker at 6th Asia-Oceania Symposium on Fire Safety Materials Science and Engineering (AOFSM'5 2025), Beijing, China
• 2025: Invited Keynote Speaker at the HKIE Fire Division Annual Symposium in May 2025
• 2024: Invited to the Distinguished Research Seminar at UNSW
• 2024: Invited Speaker and Section Chair at the International Conference on Fire Safety Engineering Research and Practice (iCFSERP-2024) in Sydney, Australia
• 2024: Invited Speaker at the 1st International Conference of Engineering Structure (iCES2024) Symposium, Guangzhou, China (link)
• 2023: Invited Keynote speaker at 5th Asia-Oceania Symposium on Fire Safety Materials Science and Engineering (AOFSM'5 2023), Sydney, Australia
• 2023: Invited Keynote Speaker at the HKIE Fire Division Annual Symposium in May 2023

Technology transfer, services to industry and awards:

Dr Yuen is a partner investigator for the National Science Foundation US-funded International Network - iFireNet: An international network of networks for prediction and management of wildland fires (link). In collaboration with the Fire Research Unit of Fire & Rescue, New South Wales, Australia, he contributed my expertise in a fire field model to aid the fire investigation of a tragic fire incident in an aged-care facility causing 14 fatalities. For the first time, in Australia, the numerical results were presented as evidence in court to convict the suspect for the arson fire. He was also involved in the development of the Online Fire Safety Training Tool: E-fire Investigation (http//www.efireinvestigation.com.au/) for firefighters to understand the compartment fire development relating to fire loads. In terms of media exposure, Dr Yuen was interviewed by the Guardian for the topic "Why are Sydney buses still going up in flames and what can be done about it?" My awards are detailed as follows:

• 2023-present: World’s Top 2% Scientists by Stanford University 2023, 2024 (link)
• 2026: Register Fire Engineering Scheme Interview Board Member
• 2025: Departmental Teaching Excellence Award 2024/2025 by Dept. of BEEE, PolyU (link)
• 2025: Best Student Paper Award of the 4th International Symposium of Lithium Battery Fire Safety
• 2025: Singtao News Headline "Hong Kong Register Fire Engineer Scheme"
• 2024: Most Cited Paper Award 2022 for Journal "Experimental and Computational Multiphase Flow" (link)
• 2024: Local Organising Comittee of the BS One Day Seminar 2024 (link)
• 2023: Local Organising Comittee of the Hong Kong Joint Sympsium 2023 (HKJS2023) (link)
• 2022: Interview article on Syndey Morning Herald: "Nuclear scientists think they’ve cracked the key to fighting fire in Australia,"
• 2022: News article on AuManufacturing newsletter: "Research Shows Usefulness of New Class of Materials in Beating the Heat,"
• 2022: News article on ANSTO News: “Investigating a prospective light-weight fire retardant material with superior properties,”
• 2021: Interview article on The Guardian: "Why are Sydney buses still going up in flames and what can be done about it?"
• 2021: Runner-Up for the AOSFST 2021 Best Presentation Award (video) (link)
• 2021: Best Papers Award for section “Computational Fluid Dynamics 3” in the 15th International ATE-HEFAT 2021 Conference Symposium
• 2021: Best Papers Award for the section “Nuclear Energy” in the 15th International ATE-HEFAT 2021 Conference Symposium
• 2021: Top 10 Cited Articles in 2021 for the Journal "Fire and Materials" (link)
• 2021: Certificate of Appreciation by Natural Hazards CRC Program (link)
• 2020: First price award for the Makers Game (ENGG3060) Design Project participating as the academic mentor sponsored by Jabobs Engineering on the topic Smart Fire Sprinklers
• 2019: Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) Certificate of Acknowledgement for key-note Seminar talk for the Fire Engineering Division
• 2017: Distinguish speaker award for the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) Fire Engineering Division
• 2011: Daikin Scholarship for outstanding performance in Building Design Project
• 2011: Daikin Scholarship for outstanding performance in Applied Research Project

Patents:

• 2025: US Non-Provisional Patent, APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BATTERY THERMAL MANAGEMENT, US 19/395,085.

• Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering (Building Services Engineering), The University of Hong Kong
• Doctor of Philosophy, The University of New South Wales
• PhD, University of New South Wales