Faculty of Engineering
ENTRY
Jan 2027 Entry
STUDY MODE
Full-time, Part-time
Application Deadline
PhD & MPhil
30-Sep-2026
What's New
- Undergraduate
- Undergraduate
Introduction
The Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering (AAE), formerly the Interdisciplinary Division of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering, was established under the Faculty of Engineering in 2016 to lead the development of the field of aeronautical and aviation engineering by amalgamating the experts in the Faculty and the industry.
AAE strives to play a leading role in bridging innovative research and development in the field of aeronautical and aviation engineering that accommodates the needs and demands of the aeronautical and aviation industry. AAE currently leads/hosts the following research centres/consortiums: the Aviation Research Consortium, the Joint Research Centre of Advanced Aerospace Propulsion Technology, the Research Centre for Low Altitude Economy and the Research Centre for Unmanned Autonomous Systems and the Research Institute for Large Aircraft. The close collaborations with the industry, dedicated research centres, excellent facilities, and staff expertise enable our various stakeholders, including students, staff, and industrial partners, to achieve sustainable growth and competitiveness.
There are 6 main research areas in AAE:
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Aerodynamics
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Aerospace Propulsion and Combustion
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Aerospace Structures and Materials
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Aviation Engineering
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Flight Mechanics and Control
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Satellite Communication and Navigation
Research Area
Aerodynamics
| Supervisor | Specialisation |
|---|---|
| Prof. Chih-Yung Wen cywen@polyu.edu.hk | Aerothermodynamics and boundary layer transition of hypersonic/supersonic vehicles; Shock/droplet and shock/bubble interactions; Applications of DBD actuators on flow control; Experimental fluid mechanics and CFD; Numerical simulations and assessment of urban wind field and air pollution |
| Prof. Jiaao Hao jiaao.hao@polyu.edu.hk | High-Speed Aerodynamics; Hypersonic Nonequilibrium Flows; Shock-Wave/Boundary-Layer Interactions; Computational Fluid Dynamics |
| Prof. Siyang Zhong siyang.zhong@polyu.edu.hk | Acoustics & Aeroacoustics (aircraft noise); Urban air mobility aerodynamics & noise; Rotor noise prediction and low-noise design; Environment noise assessment and low-noise path planning; Performance sports aerodynamics |
| Dr Peixu Guo peixu.guo@polyu.edu.hk | Transition reversal on blunt bodies; Direct numerical simulation on breakdown of hypersonic boundary layer; Stability of shock wave/boundary layer interaction; Unified theory of instability mechanisms for boundary layer; Control of boundary layer instability by porous coatings; Sensitivity and modeling of boundary layer stability and transition |
| Dr Zhengtong Li zheng-tong.li@polyu.edu.hk | Numerical simulations and assessment of urban wind field and air pollution; Sports Aerodynamics; Smart Cities and Urban sustainability; Real-time Computational Fluid Dynamics; AI-accelerated Computational Fluid Dynamics; AI-based aerodynamic shape optimization |
Aerospace Propulsion and Combustion
| Supervisor | Specialisation |
|---|---|
| Prof. Chih-Yung Wen cywen@polyu.edu.hk | Scramjet and Oblique Detonation Engines; Detonation |
| Prof. Sangdi Gu sangdi.gu@polyu.edu.hk | Thermochemical nonequilibrium; Hypersonic impulse facilities; Optical diagnostics; Experimental hypersonics |
| Prof. Yu Guan yu.guan@polyu.edu.hk | Combustion dynamics in gas turbines and rockets; Combustion instability; Clean combustion; Nonlinear dynamics; Data-driven methods |
Aerospace Structures and Materials
| Supervisor | Specialisation |
|---|---|
| Prof. Xi Shen xi.shen@polyu.edu.hk | Polymer nanocomposites containing graphene and other low-dimensional nanofillers; Rational design and synthesis of nanocomposites in the form of 1D fibers, 2D films, 3D aerogels; Thermal management composites with anisotropic thermal conductivities; Functional composites for solar-thermal heating and cooling applications; Composite sensors for multidirectional and multimodal sensing |
| Dr Kit Ying Chan kit-y.chan@polyu.edu.hk | Boron nitride nanosheets reinforced nanocomposites for thermal-optical management; Carbon fibre reinforced polymer composites and polymer nanocomposites for energy storage; Carbon-based nanocomposites for solar-thermal conversion |
Aviation Engineering
| Supervisor | Specialisation |
|---|---|
| Prof. Wei Liu wei.w.liu@polyu.edu.hk | Multimodal Transport Network Modeling and Analytics; Transport and Aviation Economics; Low-altitude Air Mobility and Logistics; Electrified, Automated, and Shared Mobility |
| Prof. Kam Hung Ng kam.kh.ng@polyu.edu.hk | Air traffic control, air traffic flow management and aviation management; Operations research and data-driven modelling; Deep-learning in aviation meteorology and weather hazard prediction; Urban traffic management in future air mobility; Aviation safety |
| Prof. Siyuan Feng siyuan.feng@polyu.edu.hk | Machine learning and reinforcement learning for multi-modal transportation systems; Low-altitude air mobility and logistics; Data driven aviation management; Aviation and transportation simulation; Shared mobility |
| Prof. Hailong Huang hailong.huang@polyu.edu.hk | Planning, navigation and control of UAVs and mobile ground robots; Multi-agent systems; System modelling and simulation |
| Prof. Yiping Jiang yiping.jiang@polyu.edu.hk | Satellite navigation; Air navigation, and aviation integrity for civil aviation; Autonomous driving, and urban air mobility |
| Prof. Ang Li ang-joy.li@polyu.edu.hk | Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management (UTM); Regional Air Traffic Management (ATM); UAV Path Planning, Conflict Detection and Resolution (CD&R); Multi-modal Transportation Systems; Last-mile Urban Parcel Delivery; Mechanism Design and Resource Allocation; Congestion Management; Transportation Economics; Large-scale Optimization, Stochastic Optimization, Machine Learning, Network; Science, Data Analytic |
| Prof. Fan Li fan-5.li@polyu.edu.hk | Human factors and ergonomics: Human fatigue management; Safety management systems; Human-centred design; Risk model; Non-technical skills assessment; System evaluation; Advanced technology acceptance analysis; Accident analysis Cognitive modelling: Eye-tracking data analytics; Eye-tracking algorithm; Bio signal data-driven systems; Artificial intelligence; Multi-source data analytics; Electroencephalography data analytics |
| Prof. Lingxiao Wu lingxiao-leo.wu@polyu.edu.hk | Data-driven Optimization; Aviation Operations Modelling and Optimization; UAV Service Network Design; Shipping and Port Operations Modelling and Optimization |
| Prof. Gangyan Xu gangyan.xu@polyu.edu.hk | Data-Driven Optimization and Control, Complex Networked Systems, UAV Applications in Emergency Management, Aviation Safety and Reliability, Internet of Things (IoT) Systems and Applications |
| Dr Qinbiao Li qinbli@polyu.edu.hk | Human factors engineering and experiment-oriented ergonomics in the transportation system; ‘Human-centred’ intelligent transportation system; Neuro-ergonomic technologies for studying human performance and mental states; Brain-computer interaction, neuro networks and AI-driven applications; Investigation and cognitive modelling on situational awareness, fatigue, stress, and cognitive load; ‘Human-centred’ intelligent design, interaction, and assessment |
Flight Mechanics and Control
| Supervisor | Specialisation |
|---|---|
| Prof. Wen-Hua Chen wenhua.chen@polyu.edu.hk | Unmanned aerial vehicles, autonomous vehicles, sensor fusion, navigation, computer vision, dynamics, advanced control, autopilot, situational awareness, decision making, path planning, mission planning, fault detection and condition monitoring, safety, Bayesian inference, dual control, active learning, collision avoidance, system integration, verification and validation, uncertainty, autonomous systems, safety, flight tests, agriculture, precision farming, environment monitoring, remote sensing, intelligent manufacturing, wave energy |
| Prof. Chih-Yung Wen cywen@polyu.edu.hk | UAV/MAV technology research and development |
| Prof. Hailong Huang hailong.huang@polyu.edu.hk | Planning, navigation and control of UAVs and mobile ground robots; multi-agent systems; system modelling and simulation |
| Prof. Bing Wang bing-w.wang@polyu.edu.hk | 3D Computer Vision (3D Reconstruction, Scene Understanding, Neural Rendering); Machine Learning (Supervised/Unsupervised/Reinforcement Learning); Intelligent Spatial Perception (Detection, Tracking, Prediction, Planning); Visual and LiDAR SLAM (Fusion, Localization, Matching, Optimization) |
| Prof. Weisong Wen welson.wen@polyu.edu.hk | Multi-sensory integrated positioning, GNSS, LiDAR-aided GNSS positioning, LiDAR/Visual SLAM, safety-assured control and path planning, reinforcement learning, safety-assured autonomous systems, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), connected autonomous driving vehicles |
| Dr Shiyu Bai shiyu.bai@polyu.edu.hk | ISAC-enabled Low-altitude Target Sensing and Localization; AI-enabled Navigation; Multisensor Fusion for Robust Localization |
| Dr Tianqi Wang tianqi-aae.wang@polyu.edu.hk | Satellite control system design; Satellite attitude control; Multi-agent systems; Nonlinear control theory; Optimization-based control theory and applications; Space sustainability using advanced control methodologies |
Satellite Communication and Navigation
| Supervisor | Specialisation |
|---|---|
| Prof. Wen-Hua Chen wenhua.chen@polyu.edu.hk | Unmanned aerial vehicles, autonomous vehicles, sensor fusion, navigation, computer vision, dynamics, advanced control, autopilot, situational awareness, decision making, path planning, mission planning, fault detection and condition monitoring, safety, Bayesian inference, dual control, active learning, collision avoidance, system integration, verification and validation, uncertainty, autonomous systems, safety, flight tests, agriculture, precision farming, environment monitoring, remote sensing, intelligent manufacturing, wave energy |
| Prof. Li-Ta Hsu lt.hsu@polyu.edu.hk | Global navigation satellite system; Beidou; Integrated navigation system; Autonomous driving; Simultaneous localisation and mapping |
| Prof. Yiping Jiang yiping.jiang@polyu.edu.hk | Satellite navigation; Air navigation, and aviation integrity for civil aviation; Autonomous driving, and urban air mobility |
| Prof. Weisong Wen welson.wen@polyu.edu.hk | Multi-sensory integrated positioning, GNSS, LiDAR-aided GNSS positioning, LiDAR/Visual SLAM, safety-assured control and path planning, reinforcement learning, safety-assured autonomous systems, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), connected autonomous |
| Prof. Bing Xu pbing.xu@polyu.edu.hk | Satellite positioning and navigation; GNSS receiver design and signal processing; GNSS security reinforcement; Low Earth orbit positioning, navigation, and timing (LEO PNT); Wireless communications |
| Dr Guohao Zhang gh.zhang@polyu.edu.hk | GNSS Positioning in Challenging Environments; 3D Mapping aided GNSS; Collaborative positioning; Signal propagation modelling; Multipath and NLOS reception mitigation; Multi-sensor integration; Machine learning; GNSS-based remote sensing; and Indoor positioning |
Research Facilities
Please visit our website for more information about our research facilities.
Other Information
For full-time PhD admission, preference will be given to applicants who apply for the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme, for which the application period starts in early September each year. All research postgraduate applicants are recommended to approach potential supervisors and, preferably, put their names on the applications. For details, please refer to
AAE Research Overview page: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/aae/research/overview/.
AAE staff website: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/aae/people/academic-staff/.
Supporting Documents
Academic Referee's Report
Compulsory - Two Academic Referee's Reports are required.
- Applicants of the HKPFS are required to have two online academic referee’s reports submitted before the application deadline for HKPFS.
- Non-HKPFS applicants should provide academic referee’s reports before the application deadline.
- To provide academic references, please follow the steps below:
- Identify and invite two academics who are familiar with your academic performance and achievements. Proposed supervisor(s) from the PolyU, proposed supervisor(s) from the partner institution (if any), and persons from non-academic backgrounds are not considered appropriate academic referees.
- Politely approach the two academics and seek their consent to be your referees.
- In your online application, provide complete and accurate information on your referees, including their email addresses under a university or an organisation.
- Submit your application as early as possible to leave sufficient time for your referees to complete the online academic referee’s reports before the application deadline, as a system-generated email invitation will be sent to your referees only after submission of your online application.
Curriculum Vitae
Compulsory
Research Proposal
Compulsory - A standard form must be used for the submission of the research proposal. Please click HERE to download the form.
Transcript / Certificate
Compulsory
– Please upload all academic qualifications, including Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree (if any), according to the University’s admission requirements; and
- Refer to the ‘Procedures – Guidelines for Submitting Supporting Documents’ to follow the submission requirements.
Others
Optional - Publication records, scholarships, awards/prizes and class rankings (with supporting documents).
Employer's Recommendation
Optional
Requirements
Study Information
Procedure
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