Dr Huanyu Bao Wins Prestigious RGC Junior Research Fellow Scheme Award

28 Apr 2025 (Mon)

The Department of Media and Communication (COM) at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) is pleased to announce that COM Scholar Dr Huanyu Bao has been awarded the 2025/26 Research Grants Council (RGC) Junior Research Fellow Scheme (JRFS), a prestigious honor recognizing only 60 early-career researchers annually across Hong Kong’s eight University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded universities.

Since its establishment in 2019, Dr Bao is the second scholar who from COM to receive this distinguished fellowship. The two-year JRFS program supports exceptional young scholars in conducting postdoctoral research at UGC-funded universities, with the goal of fostering next-generation academic leaders and advancing groundbreaking research in Hong Kong.

Dr Bao specializes in health communication with a focus on developing strategies for inclusive digital health technologies development. Her work addresses the needs of underserved populations, particularly older adults who may face resource limitations. With the JRFS fellowship, Dr. Bao plans to further her research on creating inclusive health innovations for elderly communities in Hong Kong.


 
“The JRFS is a testament to Dr. Bao’s upward trajectory as a health communication scholar, dedicated to driving health innovations for social good, particularly among older adults,” said Associate Professor Edmund Lee, who was Dr Bao’s former PhD advisor and incoming JRFS supervisor.

Dr Bao expressed her gratitude for the award, stating, “I am deeply grateful for this fellowship and COM's tremendous support. This opportunity allows me to work alongside an exceptional mentor and a collaborative team that will help elevate my research. I am genuinely excited to contribute to COM's innovative environment while advancing inclusive digital health technologies that can make a meaningful difference in older adults' lives in Hong Kong.”

This achievement highlights COM’s commitment to impactful, socially relevant research in the age of artificial intelligence, reinforcing its reputation as an attractive and well-positioned department for pioneering work in the field of health communication and informatics.

“I am thrilled to welcome Dr Bao to COM, which provides a nurturing environment to support and shape her research,” said Professor Lee.  “I am confident her work will make a positive and significant impact on the ageing landscape in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.”