CityUHK Physicist honoured with 2025 Asian Young Scientist Fellowship as Hong Kong’s sole awardee
Professor Denver Li Danfeng, Associate Dean (Research and Postgraduate Education) of the College of Science and Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK), has been honoured with the 2025 Asian Young Scientist Fellowship (AYSF) for his outstanding achievements in the physical sciences. He is the only awardee from Hong Kong this year. The Fellowship recognises outstanding young scientists across Asia and supports them in pursuing innovative and transformative research.
Professor Li specialises in nickelate superconductors and the exploration of unconventional superconductivity. During his postdoctoral research at Stanford University, he led the team for the discovery of the world’s first nickelate thin-film superconductor, opening a new frontier in superconductivity studies. The AYSF committee commended his breakthroughs in this field and acknowledged his ongoing commitment to advancing research on novel superconductors.
In response to this recognition, Professor Li said, “It is a great privilege to be recognised as an AYSF Fellow for my contribution to the discovery of the nickelate superconductor, which has expanded the frontiers of superconducting materials beyond previous knowledge. Superconductors are fascinating materials with tremendous potential for revolutionising technologies such as clean power grids and next-generation electronics. Following this honour, I hope to continue to develop new superconductors and advance discoveries that have a significant impact."
Professor Li holds a bachelor’s degree from Zhejiang University, an M.Phil. from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and a Ph.D. from the University of Geneva. He joined CityUHK in 2020 and has since received numerous international honours, including being named to MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 (TR35) China in 2021, receiving the Chen-Ning Yang Award in 2023 and the Oxide Electronics Prize for Excellence in Research in 2024, and being included on Stanford University’s “World’s Top 2% Most-cited Scientists” list in both 2023 and 2024.
The Asian Young Scientist Fellowship is a philanthropic research funding programme that selects about 12 young scientists across Asia each year. Each fellow receives a total of US$100,000 over two years to pursue creative and transformative research and to promote international collaboration and exchange.
Media enquiries:
Winnie Li, Communications and Institutional Research Office, CityUHK (Tel: 3442 5221)
Professor Li specialises in nickelate superconductors and the exploration of unconventional superconductivity. During his postdoctoral research at Stanford University, he led the team for the discovery of the world’s first nickelate thin-film superconductor, opening a new frontier in superconductivity studies. The AYSF committee commended his breakthroughs in this field and acknowledged his ongoing commitment to advancing research on novel superconductors.
In response to this recognition, Professor Li said, “It is a great privilege to be recognised as an AYSF Fellow for my contribution to the discovery of the nickelate superconductor, which has expanded the frontiers of superconducting materials beyond previous knowledge. Superconductors are fascinating materials with tremendous potential for revolutionising technologies such as clean power grids and next-generation electronics. Following this honour, I hope to continue to develop new superconductors and advance discoveries that have a significant impact."
Professor Li holds a bachelor’s degree from Zhejiang University, an M.Phil. from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and a Ph.D. from the University of Geneva. He joined CityUHK in 2020 and has since received numerous international honours, including being named to MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 (TR35) China in 2021, receiving the Chen-Ning Yang Award in 2023 and the Oxide Electronics Prize for Excellence in Research in 2024, and being included on Stanford University’s “World’s Top 2% Most-cited Scientists” list in both 2023 and 2024.
The Asian Young Scientist Fellowship is a philanthropic research funding programme that selects about 12 young scientists across Asia each year. Each fellow receives a total of US$100,000 over two years to pursue creative and transformative research and to promote international collaboration and exchange.
Media enquiries:
Winnie Li, Communications and Institutional Research Office, CityUHK (Tel: 3442 5221)