News

Celebrating Academic Excellence at the 31st PhD Congregation

On 10 May, PolyU hosted its 31st PhD Congregation (May Session) at the Jockey Club Auditorium. The ceremony began with an inspiring speech from Guest of Honour, Professor Wang Zuankai, Associate Vice President (Research and Innovation). He shared his ups and downs during his research pursuit and encouraged PhD graduates to persevere through obstacles, as such determination can lead to meaningful breakthroughs. Graduate Representative Dr Alex Chan Siu-wing then delivered the valedictory speech, reflecting on his fruitful journey at PolyU. He emphasised the invaluable mentorship he received, his personal growth, and the importance of balancing rigour with resolve. Following Dr Chan’s speech, Professor Jin-Guang Teng, President of PolyU, presented the Best Research Postgraduate Student of the Year 2024 award to Mr Fan Dingqing from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) and Ms Wang Haoqing from the Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies (LMS) for their outstanding accomplishments. The ceremony concluded with President Teng’s address in which he articulated PolyU's vision of innovation and excellence. He congratulated all the PhD graduates and encouraged them to connect research with societal needs, driving innovation for a better future globally.

Editor Workshop at Nexus Forum 2025: Elevating Research Impact

On 8 May, the Graduate School (GS) co-organised the Editor Workshop at Nexus Forum 2025, an event designed to elevate research impact by connecting PolyU's research community with editors from top-tier journals. The workshop began with an introduction from Professor Louise Cummings, Associate Dean of the GS, who highlighted the importance of the School's Transferable Skills Workshops. These workshops are instrumental in enhancing RPg students' academic, communication, writing, and publishing skills, thereby equipping them for diverse career paths. Professor Jerry Yan, Editor-in-Chief of Nexus, reflected on the journal's first-year milestones and its unique interdisciplinary publication approach. Dr Alex Zhang, Chief Editor of Nature Energy, provided insights into what distinguishes research in high-impact energy publications. Dr Yuqing Lin, Scientific Editor at Matter, explained the publication process in material science, from submission to decision. Meanwhile, Dr Yuen Yiu, Senior Scientific Editor of Device, offered strategies for crafting compelling manuscripts and promoting published work. Last but not least, Professor Yingru Zhao, Associate Editor of Applied Energy, concluded the workshop with an editor's checklist for perfecting case reports, focusing on structure and technical presentation. Together, these inspiring sessions provided a comprehensive view of academic publishing excellence. 

Reflecting on Best Practice in Research Supervision

The Graduate School, in collaboration with the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, hosted a professional development workshop on 29 April, featuring Professor Rod Barrett, a distinguished Professor of Biomechanics from Griffith University, Australia. Drawing from his extensive experience in PhD supervision, Professor Barrett shared evidence-based strategies to enhance supervisory practices, offering valuable insights for research students preparing for future academic roles. Participants acquired tactics to enhance their supervisory relationships, fostering a more productive and supportive academic environment crucial for successful research outcomes. The workshop also delved into mentorship excellence across various disciplines, providing a comprehensive understanding of effective supervision that is essential for navigating the complexities of doctoral research.

Webinar on Short-Term Visiting Postgraduate Programmes

On 29 April, the Graduate School (GS) hosted a webinar introducing the visiting programmes for global postgraduate students. Professor Louise Cummings, Associate Dean of GS, shared valuable perspectives on how visiting students can thrive on the Research Student Attachment Programme (RSAP), highlighting the programme’s academic benefits and unique learning environments. Designed for international PhD students seeking collaborative research experiences, they can immerse themselves in cutting-edge research for three months to one year under the guidance of a PolyU supervisor, fostering academic growth and cross-cultural exchange. Professor Cummings also introduced the Joint PhD Supervision Scheme and other PhD taster programmes. The webinar featured valuable testimonials from current RSAP students, Mr Oleg Sautenkov from Russia and Mr Duc-Tuan Truong from Vietnam, who shared their positive experiences conducting research at PolyU and discovering Hong Kong. Watch the webinar recording: https://polyu.hk/kqJmO Learn more about RSAP: https://polyu.hk/rGLOg

PolyU Best Research Postgraduate Student of the Year 2024

The Graduate School is delighted to announce the results of the Best Research Postgraduate Student of the Year 2024. The awardees have demonstrated exceptional research and academic performance throughout their studies. Their hard work and commitment to advancing knowledge are worthy of appreciation. Congratulations to the award recipients!

CURI RC High Table Dinner 2025

The College of Undergraduate Researchers and Innovators Residential College (CURI RC) proudly hosted its annual High Table Dinner on 26 March at the PolyU Student Halls of Residence, bringing together students, faculty members and distinguished guests for an annual event of meaningful connections and recognised outstanding projects under the Undergraduate Research and Innovation Scheme (URIS). Professor Cao Jiannong, Dean of Graduate School and Head of CURI, kickstarted the evening with a warm welcome. Attendees then enjoyed an insightful sharing session by Professor Chai Yang, Associate Dean of Faculty of Science, who discussed his innovative research journey and emphasised the value of forward-thinking in academic pursuits. Subsequently, Professor Cao presented awards to URIS students who demonstrated exceptional achievements in their research. This year, three students received the Best URIS Research Project Award including Ms Ng Nga-ping from the School of Nursing (SN) who was honoured with the Grand Award while both Ms Jessica Lee Hiu-toon from SN and Mr Qin Qijun from the Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering (AAE) were awarded the Merit Awards. Professor Horace Mui, Associate Head of CURI and Master of CURI RC, concluded the evening with closing remarks. The combination of gourmet dining and stimulating conversation created the perfect atmosphere for meaningful dialogue between students and esteemed speakers. Learn more about CURI: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/gs/ug-research/curi/about-curi/

Entrepreneurial Science Talent Workshop Series #3

The Graduate School co-hosted the third Entrepreneurial Science Talent Workshop with the Industrial Centre (IC) on 27 March, featuring Dr Gail Chang, Research Assistant Professor from the Department of Food Science and Nutrition (FSN) and Co-founder of PolyU-backed startup Bo InnoHealth Biotechnology. She shared her research journey and the practical applications of AkkMore, a fungi- and plant-derived supplement targeting obesity and prediabetes. Professor Vincent Leung from the Department of Management and Marketing (MM) provided practical tools for market analysis and customer engagement. The workshop concluded with a tasting session of products made using AkkMore techniques, demonstrating the real-world impact of this innovative research. This workshop series aims to inspire PhD students by highlighting successful cases of research commercialisation and entrepreneurship.

Two PolyU PhD Students Awarded the Our Future Innovation and Technology Scholarship

The Graduate School is delighted to announce that Mr Ken Chan Kin-ho from the School of Optometry (SO) and Mr Ivan Wong Tak-fai from the Department of Health Technology and Informatics (HTI) have been awarded the Our Future Innovation and Technology Scholarship 2024/25 by the Greater Bay Area Homeland Youth Community Foundation. The scholarship aims to support research students and encourage local youth participation in innovation and technology fields. This year, two PolyU PhD students received a scholarship of HK$80,000 to support their pioneering work. Ken has developed a core algorithm for an innovative portable device that accurately measures corneal shape in children, addressing challenges in paediatric eye care. He said, “These advancements aim to empower front line clinicians with practical tools for early detection and treatment of eye conditions, particularly nearsightedness, which has reached an epidemic level, especially in Asia.” Ivan is focusing on understanding the complex dynamics of infectious disease outbreaks to devise effective prevention and mitigation strategies. His goal is to give back to society through his research: “I strive to translate complex scientific discoveries into accessible information and solutions that equip healthcare professionals to make informed decisions, contributing to a more resilient future.” Receiving this scholarship provides both students with a crucial opportunity to advance their research, broaden its impact, and bridge clinical practice with technological advancements to benefit a wide range of people.

Graduate School Collaborates with The University of Tokyo to Promote Global Research Opportunities

The Graduate School (GS) was invited by the Graduate School of Information Science and Technology at The University of Tokyo (UTokyo) to join an online session as a collaborating institution on 13 March to introduce our study programmes for visiting PhD students, highlighting opportunities for global research collaboration. Participants gained insights into studying abroad at PolyU, learning about the Research Student Attachment Programme (RSAP) which offers UTokyo’s PhD students global exposure through attachment studies, guided by a PolyU supervisor, for a period of 3 to 12 months. Additionally, Professor Louise Cummings, Associate Dean of GS, also introduced the Joint PhD Supervision Scheme with Leading Universities, a funding initiative designed to support the joint supervision of international PhD students, working as research assistants at PolyU under the mentorship of our faculty members. GS will continue to strengthen the international collaboration network and provide more exchange opportunities for RPg students from our partner universities.

Entrepreneurial Science Talent Workshop Series #2

On 18 March, RPg students participated in an engaging and enriching Entrepreneurial Science Talent Workshop. We were excited to welcome the Co-founders of PocNAT Limited, Professor Thomas Lee from the Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) at PolyU, along with our PhD alumna, Dr Wang Shiyao. They shared fascinating insights into their research and the practical applications of Gold-LAMP technology. The Portable Testing System, developed by the Industrial Centre (IC), was also demonstrated, giving students a hands-on understanding of how these innovative devices work. Additionally, the Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship Office (KTEO) provided a crash course on important legal considerations for launching a start-up. To wrap up, attendees enjoyed light refreshments and networking with fellow innovators during a relaxed chat session after the demonstration. The upcoming workshop series will showcase successful innovation and entrepreneurship cases at PolyU, offering RPg students inspiration to turn groundbreaking ideas into real-world impact.