PolyU has announced the appointment of Professor Xiang-dong Li as Vice President (Research), with effect from 1 October 2026. The appointment places one of PolyU’s most accomplished research leaders at the helm of the University’s research development. 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.

Before the appointment, Professor Li was previously Dean of the Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE). He currently also serves as 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.

Professor Jin-Guang Teng, President of PolyU, expressed full confidence in the appointment, noting that Professor Li’s extensive experience in research management, academic leadership and interdisciplinary collaboration would further advance the University’s research and innovation ecosystem. He highlighted Professor Li’s contributions to enhancing the Faculty’s research profile since becoming Dean in 2021 and was optimistic that his strategic vision would help elevate PolyU’s influence and drive impactful research that responds to societal needs and national development priorities.

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.