CityUHK scholar elected a Fellow by the American Physical Society
Professor Ren Yang, Head and Chair Professor of the Department of Physics at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) has been elected a 2025 Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS). As cited by the APS, Professor Ren pioneered the development of high-energy synchrotron X-ray instrumentation and its transformative applications in materials physics, enabling unprecedented insights into structure-property relationships.
Professor Ren is also Chair Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at CityUHK and leads the JC STEM Lab of Energy and Materials Physics. This lab specialises in fundamental and applied research on advanced materials for green energy and technology advancements using state-of-the-art synchrotron and neutron scientific facilities. Prior to joining CityUHK, he was a Senior Physicist at Argonne National Laboratory and a lead beamline scientist at the Advanced Photon Source. Professor Ren specialises in synchrotron X-ray instrument development and application, and energy and materials physics.
Reflecting on his recent fellowship, Professor Ren said, “I’m deeply honoured to be elected as an APS Fellow. I’ve been dedicated to exploring the use of techniques such as synchrotron X-ray and neutron scattering to study phase transitions and the structure-property relationship of materials. Our latest research provides a solid scientific foundation for the development and application of new materials. I look forward to continuing to promote the application of other innovative materials, especially in the fields of green energy and sustainable development.”
Professor Ren was named in the “World’s Top 2% Scientists” list (both career-long and single year impact), published by Stanford University, from 2020 to 2025, and on the list of Highly Cited Researchers by Clarivate Analytics in 2022 and 2023. He was recognised with a Global STEM Professorship by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and the Argonne National Laboratory Board of Governors’ Distinguished Performance Award.
The APS Fellowship Programme recognises members who have made advances in physics through original research, innovative applications of physics, or service and leadership. Each year, no more than 0.5% of the APS members are elected to this Fellowship.
Media enquiries:
Venus Doon, Communications and Institutional Research Office, CityUHK (Tel: 3442 6377)
Professor Ren is also Chair Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at CityUHK and leads the JC STEM Lab of Energy and Materials Physics. This lab specialises in fundamental and applied research on advanced materials for green energy and technology advancements using state-of-the-art synchrotron and neutron scientific facilities. Prior to joining CityUHK, he was a Senior Physicist at Argonne National Laboratory and a lead beamline scientist at the Advanced Photon Source. Professor Ren specialises in synchrotron X-ray instrument development and application, and energy and materials physics.
Reflecting on his recent fellowship, Professor Ren said, “I’m deeply honoured to be elected as an APS Fellow. I’ve been dedicated to exploring the use of techniques such as synchrotron X-ray and neutron scattering to study phase transitions and the structure-property relationship of materials. Our latest research provides a solid scientific foundation for the development and application of new materials. I look forward to continuing to promote the application of other innovative materials, especially in the fields of green energy and sustainable development.”
Professor Ren was named in the “World’s Top 2% Scientists” list (both career-long and single year impact), published by Stanford University, from 2020 to 2025, and on the list of Highly Cited Researchers by Clarivate Analytics in 2022 and 2023. He was recognised with a Global STEM Professorship by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and the Argonne National Laboratory Board of Governors’ Distinguished Performance Award.
The APS Fellowship Programme recognises members who have made advances in physics through original research, innovative applications of physics, or service and leadership. Each year, no more than 0.5% of the APS members are elected to this Fellowship.
Media enquiries:
Venus Doon, Communications and Institutional Research Office, CityUHK (Tel: 3442 6377)