PolyU Appoints Professor Xiang-dong Li as Vice President (Research)
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has announced the appointment of Professor Xiang-dong LI as Vice President (Research), with effect from 1 October 2026.
In his new capacity, Professor Li will lead the strategic planning, formulation, and advancement of the University’s research agenda. He will spearhead efforts to further enhance the quality, impact, and relevance of PolyU’s research, and steer growth in strategic research areas to elevate the University’s research standing and influence in Hong Kong, the Nation, and the world.
Professor Li is currently Dean of the Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE), Director of the State Key Laboratory of Climate Resilience for Coastal Cities, Director of the Otto Poon Research Institute for Climate-Resilient Infrastructure, Ko Jan Ming Professor in Sustainable Urban Development, and Chair Professor of Environmental Science and Technology at PolyU.
A distinguished environmental scientist, Professor Li has devoted his career to advancing research in regional environmental pollution, urban air quality and public health, and the origin and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance. He has published over 250 scholarly papers, many in leading international journals. He has also served as Principal Investigator on numerous research projects funded by the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. His research spans a wide range of critical areas, including regional environmental pollution, urban environment and health, contaminated soil remediation, atmospheric pollutant transport and environmental impacts, and emerging contaminants.
Professor Jin-Guang Teng, President of PolyU, said: “Professor Li is a distinguished scholar in environmental science and technology with extensive experience in academic leadership, research management and interdisciplinary collaboration. Since assuming the Deanship of FCE in 2021, he has played a pivotal role in elevating the Faculty’s research capabilities and international profile, leading the team to pursue forward-looking and high-impact research, fostering strong interdisciplinary partnerships, and securing major research funding. These efforts have contributed substantially to advancing PolyU’s pursuit of research excellence and innovation. With his distinguished academic achievements, extensive management experience and strategic vision for research development, I am confident that Professor Li will further elevate PolyU’s research and innovation ecosystem, strengthen the University’s influence in Hong Kong, the Nation, and the world, and drive impactful research that addresses the evolving needs of society and national development.”
Professor Li holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Environmental Technology from Imperial College London, as well as a Master’s degree in Geochemistry and a Bachelor’s degree in Earth Sciences from Nanjing University. He is a Fellow of The Hong Kong Academy of Engineering; a Geochemistry Fellow of The Geochemical Society and the European Association of Geochemistry; and a Fellow of The International Association of GeoChemistry, The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, and The Society for Environmental Geochemistry and Health. In 2022, he received the Clair C. Patterson Award from the Geochemical Society in recognition of his pioneering contributions to environmental geochemistry and their significant societal impact.
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