Seven CityUHK scholars awarded inaugural Overseas Research Fellowship Scheme; leading Hong Kong in awardees and funding
Seven scholars from City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) have been selected in the inaugural Overseas Research Fellowship Scheme (ORFS), securing total funding of over HK$2.14 million. CityUHK ranks first among all Hong Kong universities in both the number of awardees and total funding received. The awarded scholars represent a wide range of disciplines, including communication, physics, mechanical engineering, chemistry, energy and environmental studies, and biomedical engineering.
Professor Nancy Dai Yue, Associate Professor in the Department of Media and Communication, earned a Bachelor’s degree from CityUHK and later returned as a faculty member. Her research focuses on person perception and social influence processes in mediated environments and through communication technology. During her visit to Seoul National University, Professor Dai will utilise the funding to advance collaborative research on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the scientific investigation process and its implications for academic integrity and public trust in science.
Professor Dai Liang, Associate Professor in the Department of Physics, joined CityUHK in 2018. He previously worked as a research scientist at the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) and as a postdoctoral fellow at Indiana University. His research applies multi-scale modelling, machine learning, and statistical mechanics in soft matter physics and biophysics, with close collaboration with experimental groups. Professor Dai will initiate two research projects applying AI in protein design with scholars from Nanyang Technological University and the National University of Singapore, laying the foundation for future biomedical advances and innovative materials technologies.
Professor Walid Daoud, Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, joined CityUHK in 2012. His current research focuses on energy harvesting and smart wearable technologies, which has earned him three Gold Medals at the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva (IEIG). His research team is developing approaches for harvesting free or waste energy and associated storage solutions. With this funding, he will collaborate with scholars from the Université de Lorraine, the KTH Royal Institute of Technology and the University of Technology Sydney to advance the development of flexible devices for AI and new energy.
Professor Lau Kai-chung, Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry, integrates state-of-the-art computational resources with advanced theoretical methods to address complex problems in chemistry. His research uses ab initio theory to elucidate reactivity and reaction mechanisms in organic and organometallic systems, while also employing coupled-cluster methods to predict the thermochemistry of reactive and transient chemical species. During his visit to Washington State University, Professor Lau aims to explore how machine learning can accelerate fundamental research in heavy-element chemistry and contribute to the design of next-generation functional materials and energy-related technologies.
Professor Li Xiao, Associate Professor in the Department of Physics, joined CityUHK in 2019. His research explores novel phases of matter arising from the intricate interplay of topology, disorder and electron–electron interactions. His current work centres on correlated and topological electronic phases in moiré heterostructures and multilayer graphene. A defining feature of his work is the close integration of many-body theory with state-of-the-art experiment. Professor Li will begin a six-month research collaboration with scholars from the University of Manchester on graphene-based moiré and multilayer systems, strengthening Hong Kong’s capabilities in quantum materials and condensed matter physics.
Professor Carol Lin Sze-ki, Professor in the School of Energy and Environment, focuses on circular waste-based biorefinery for sustainable production of chemicals, materials and fuels, contributing to the enhancement of resource efficiency. During her visit to the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, Professor Lin aims to develop sustainable, fire-safe polyurethane (PU) foam derived from renewable resources. This advancement in the sustainable development of construction and building materials with enhanced fire performance is aligned with global sustainability goals, and supports Hong Kong’s initiatives for green construction and enhanced building safety.
Professor Xu Chenjie, Associate Dean of the College of Biomedicine and Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, specialises in research on nanomedicine. He develops new-generation microneedle devices for transdermal drug delivery and biosensing. He is also interested to develop intelligent formulations and devices for the delivery of biologics such as cells. Professor Xu will visit the University of Oxford and University College Dublin to conduct research on medical devices and life sciences, while also seeking additional funding opportunities. He plans to observe and draw on Oxford and Ireland’s successful innovation ecosystems to strengthen CityUHK’s research capabilities.
Professor Kenneth Leung Mei-yee, Acting Vice-President (Research) of CityUHK, remarked that this scheme is the first of its kind launched by the Research Grants Council (RGC) and is highly pioneering, making this round of selections particularly significant. The fact that CityUHK has the highest number of funded scholars in Hong Kong clearly demonstrates that the quality and global outlook of its researchers have gained wide recognition. He expressed confidence that the awardees would utilise the resources to translate their academic outcomes into tangible contributions and continuously give back to society.
To promote the internationalisation of universities funded by the University Grants Committee (UGC) and to encourage university faculty to visit overseas institutions/units for immersive collaboration experiences, the RGC launched the Overseas Research Fellowship Scheme on a pilot basis. From the 2026/27 to 2028/29 academic years, 40 fellowships will be awarded annually to mid-career researchers, supporting their work on research projects or to undergo research-related professional development in overseas institutional laboratories, research units or clinical settings.