PRI people

Prof. Puxiang Lai received his Bachelor from Tsinghua University in 2002, Master from Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2005, and PhD from Boston University in 2011. In September 2015, he joined Department of Biomedical Engineering at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University as a Tenure-track Assistant Professor. He was promoted to Tenured Associate Professor in July 2021 and Full Professor in July 2026.

Prof. Lai's research interests focus on deep-tissue optics and modulation of diffused light. Current research projects include, but are not limited to, wavefront shaping, photoacoustic imaging, neuron stimulation, computational optics, and artificial intelligence. His research has fueled more than 150 publications in premium journals, such as Nature Photonics, Nature Communications, Science Advances, The Innovation, etc. He has been invited to give more than 120 seminars or invited talks worldwide. Since 2015, his research has been supported by various national and local funding agencies, such as National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), Mission of Science and Technology (MOST) of China, Hong Kong Research Grant Council (RGC), Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC), Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province, Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission (STIC), and Gates Foundation.

Prof. Lai has been recognized as a Highly Cited Researcher and is ranked among the World’s Top 2% Scientists by Stanford University. He was awarded the 2016-2017 Hong Kong RGC Early Career Award, the 2018/2021/2023 Hong Kong Polytechnic University Faculty of Engineering Research Grant Achievement Award, the 2019 PolyU K.C. Wong Belt and Road Visiting Fellowship Award, and the 2020/2023 Hong Kong Polytechnic University Faculty of Engineering Faculty Research Award. As a recognition for his contribution to the field, currently Puxiang serves as Executive Editor-in-Chief for The Innovation Photonics, and Associate Editor or Editorial Board for a few premium journals, such as The Innovation, Journal of Visual Computing for Industry, Biomedicine, and Art (VCIBA), Advanced Photonics Nexus, Advanced Imaging, The Innovation Medicine, The Innovation Insights, Journal of Innovative Optics in Health and Science (JIOHS), PhotoniX: Life, and Advanced Clinical Engineering (ACE). He also serves as a Council Member of the World Association for Chinese Biomedical Engineers (WACBE), the Director of Chinese Laser Press (CLP)- Hong Kong Branch, Visiting Professor of Southern Medical University (China), and Visiting Chair Professor of Xidian University (China).

• Bachelor of Engineering, Tsinghua University
• Master of Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences
• Doctor of Philosophy, Boston University