CityU Academy of Innovation

CityU Academy of Innovation

The primary objectives of CityU Academy of Innovation (the “Academy”) are to uphold the University’s prominent position in the region and to strive for global leadership in innovation education and talent development.

The Academy will offer a series of innovative academic programmes at the PhD, Master of Science (MSc) and undergraduate (UG) levels, focusing on deep-tech venture creation, to develop a leading international ecosystem that nutures young entrepreneurs, incubates deep-tech start-ups and promotes university-industry collaboration.

The Academy will work closely with the colleges, schools and departments in CityU, and industry partners and governments in Hong Kong and beyond. The faculty of the Academy will be composed of selected professors from relevant CityU academic units and external experts with extensive industrial and investment experience.

The PhD by Innovation programme will offer doctoral candidates an opportunity to pursue research in innovation-driven fields while emphasizing commercialization-ready ideas and real-world impact. The programme is primarily administered by the Academy, with academic processes supported by the home department of the Chief Supervisor. Industrial advisors from companies and organizations outside CityU will also be appointed to provide guidance and support.

As an integral component of the coursework requirement, a Graduate Research and Innovation Trek (GRIT) Integrated Project (CAI8001) will offer an immersive and intensive experience for students. It will provide them with valuable opportunities to engage in entrepreneurial activities, collaborate with industry partners, and develop essential skills in technology transfer and commercialization, including development of business proposals.

Candidates may opt for PhD by Innovation when applying for a regular PhD programme. Please apply via the respective college, school, or department.

Research Degree Coordinator

CityU Academy of Innovation
cai@cityu.edu.hk


Go to Department Website 

College of Business

collegue of business.jpg

We aim to be a globally-oriented business school, producing innovative and impactful business knowledge, and nurturing leaders for a sustainable future: a key business education hub — in China for the world. The College of Business is internationally accredited by AACSB International and EQUIS. According to the latest UTD World Rankings of Business Schools, the College is also ranked 40th worldwide and 5th in Asia based on its research contributions in 2017-2021. With a team of over 200 faculty members recruited from around the world, the six academic departments in the College will admit and nurture research students in a diverse range of inter-disciplinary research areas. Our demonstrated strength and international competitiveness in some main research areas are listed below.

PhD Programme Director

Prof. YU Yangxin
 3442-7962 (Direct line) / 3442-7760 (General enquiry)
3442-0349
yangxin.yu@cityu.edu.hk


Department of Accountancy

Research in accounting covers a broad spectrum of issues in the areas of financial accounting, auditing, and corporate governance. The major foci in the department include: (1) various accounting issues related to Debt Contracting such as debt covenant violation, debt monitoring, credit quality assessment and the Credit Market in general and Credit Pricing in particular (particularly the market for credit instruments such as credit default swaps); (2) Corporate Governance and External Monitoring issues in the China, US, and international settings as they relate to ownership structures, institutional infrastructures, legal regimes, information environments; (3) Fraud Detection and Tax Avoidance issues such as financial restatement and accounting and auditing enforcement by regulators such as the SEC and/or the CSRC and economic consequences of corporate tax avoidance, economic consequences of internal control reporting, accounting quality versus credit quality, tax complexity and tax compliance; (4) Accounting Disclosure issues such as disclosure and audit quality, earnings management, accounting conservatism, voluntary disclosures or management earnings guidance, and audit pricing.


Research Degree Coordinator

Prof. YU Yangxin
3442-7962 (Direct line) / 3442-7760 (General enquiry)
3442-0349
yangxin.yu@cityu.edu.hk



Department of Economics and Finance

Economics research expertise of the Department includes: (1) International Economics: Trade Policy; Intellectual Property Protection; FDI and  Global Sourcing; International Migration; International Financial Crises; Exchange Rate Economics; Purchasing Power Parity; Capital Mobility; Globalization; (2) Microeconomics: Auction Theory; Mechanism Design; Experimental Economics; Game Theory; Industrial Organization; Contract Theory; Political Economy; (3) Macroeconomics: Business Cycles; Endogenous Growth; Structural Change; Fiscal and Monetary Policy; Real Estate and Urban Economics; Labor Economics; Consumer Credit; and (4) Econometrics: Econometric Theory; Economic Forecasting; Bayesian Econometrics.

 

Finance research expertise includes: (1) Corporate Finance: Capital Structure; Payout Policy; Capital Raising; Real Investment; Firm-bank Relationship; Mergers and Acquisitions; Restructuring; Hedging; Corporate Governance and Control; (2) Asset Pricing: Equilibrium Asset Pricing; Equity Return-risk Relationship; Term Structure of Interest Rates; Derivatives Pricing; Financial Engineering; and (3) Investments and Capital Markets: Financial Investments; Market Microstructure; Anomalies; International Financial Management; Financial Services and Intermediation; Fund Management; Credit Risk Management.


Research Degree Coordinator

Economics and Finance Disciplines

Prof. MA Yue
3442-2405 (Direct line) / 3442-9583 (General enquiry)
3442-0289
yue.ma@cityu.edu.hk

 

Economics Discipline

Prof. LI Yunan
3442-5231 (Direct line) / 3442-9583 (General enquiry)
3442-0289
yunanli@cityu.edu.hk

 

Finance Discipline

Prof. ZHAO Shan
3442-7407 (Direct line) / 3442-9583 (General enquiry)
3442-0289
shanzhao@cityu.edu.hk



Department of Information Systems

The Doctor of Philosophy Program in Information Systems provides comprehensive training to analyse, develop, implement, evaluate, and manage information systems in various contexts, i.e., from individual to organizational and societal contexts. The research training draws on theories, concepts, and methods from domains such as business information systems, management, operations research, cognitive and social psychology, strategy, and economics to study complex and advanced information systems. Particular emphasis is placed on the links between theory and practice and the practical application of innovative information systems methods and techniques to create business values and societal impacts. The research methodologies employed include behavioral methods (qualitative and quantitative), technical modeling, and econometrics. The main areas of research include (1) Digital Transformation and Digital Society; (2) Technological Innovation and Entrepreneurship; (3) AI in Business; (4) AI/IS/IT Governance Issues and Policies; (5) Business Analytics and Big Data; (6) Online Social Networks and Platform Economy; (7) Smart City, Smart Health, and FinTech; (8) Virtual Worlds, Metaverse and NFT; (9) Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technology; and (10) Cognitive Neuroscience.


Research Degree Coordinator

Prof. SIAU Keng Leng
3442-9735
3442-0370
klsiau@cityu.edu.hk



Department of Management

Research foci/expertise in the Department include (1) Organizational Behaviour: Leadership; Motivation; Decision-making; Creativity and Proactivity; Citizenship and Counterproductive Work Behaviour; Conflict Resolution and Negotiation; Risk and Uncertainty Management; Ethics; Organizational Justice; Work Stress; Emotions; Job Attitudes; Team Dynamics; Cross-Cultural Management, etc; (2) Human Resources Management: Strategic Human Resource Management; Recruitment & Selection; Training & Development; Selection and Assessment, etc; (3) International Business: Internationalization Strategy; International Entry Modes; MNC Control and Staffing; Intercultural Communication; Comparative Management; Culture and Cognition, Cross-Cultural Research Methods, etc; (4) Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship: Corporate Strategy; Corporate Governance; Competitive and Cooperative Strategy; Strategies in Emerging/Transition Economies; Organizational Decision-making; Organizational Changes; Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A); Top Management Teams; New Venture Creation and Management; Venture Capital Firm; IPO; Organizational Innovation and Management, etc; (5) Corporate Social Responsibility: Business Ethics; Stakeholder Management; Corporate Social Responsibility, etc.

 

 


Research Degree Coordinator

Prof. WANG Long
3442-7181
3442-0309
longwang@cityu.edu.hk



Department of Management Sciences

Research expertise in the Department can be grouped into two streams: (1) Operations research and operations management in a broad sense, including specific areas such as healthcare management, inventory management, revenue management, financial engineering, sustainable operations, supply chain and logistics management, and interdisciplinary research between operations and risk management/marketing/finance/accounting;  (2) Business analytics in a board base sense, including  big data analytics, data mining, econometrics, credit risk management, optimization, simulation/decision models,  marketing analytics, healthcare analytics, and market research.


Research Degree Coordinator

Prof. GUO Pengfei
3442-8672
3442-0189
penguo@cityu.edu.hk



Department of Marketing

Research foci/expertise in the Department include: (1) Strategic Marketing and International Business: international strategic alliance, foreign direct investment, global sourcing strategy, knowledge management, organizational learning, marketing channels, interfirm governance, relationship marketing, network theory; (2) Consumer Behavior: psychological, social and cultural aspects of consumer behavior; (3) Quantitative Marketing: analytical modeling and empirical modeling.


Research Degree Coordinator

Prof. XU Zibin
3442-4430
3442-0346
zibinxu@cityu.edu.hk



College of Engineering

College of Engineering

The College comprises seven academic units providing quality education programmes with an emphasis on interdisciplinary studies: Architecture and Civil Engineering; Biomedical Engineering; Computer Science; Electrical Engineering; Materials Science and Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; and Systems Engineering.

 

The College has a strong international reputation in research, as evidenced by recent international rankings:

 

Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) – by subjects (2022)

  • Automation & Control: 12th
  • Biomedical Engineering: 29th
  • Civil Engineering: 43rd
  • Computer Science & Engineering: 34th  
  • Electrical & Electronic Engineering: 36th  
  • Instruments Science & Technology: 29th
  • Materials Science & Engineering: 31st  
  • Metallurgical Engineering: 24th
  • Nanoscience & Nanotechnology: 21st  
  • Telecommunication Engineering: 35th

 

Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings

Worldwide: 70th(2024)

 

By subjects (2023)

Top 100 in:

  • Architecture & Built Environment
  • Materials Science

 

Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers for World Universities by National Taiwan University Ranking

By fields – Engineering (2022)

  • Worldwide: 17th   
  • Hong Kong: 1st  

 

By subjects (2022)

  • Biomedical Engineering: 41st
  • Chemical Engineering: 44th
  • Civil Engineering: 43rd
  • Computer Science: 13th   
  • Electrical Engineering: 16th  
  • Materials Science: 24th
  • Mechanical Engineering: 10th 

 

U.S. News and World Report University Rankings (2023)

  • Best Global Universities for Artificial Intelligence: 25th
  • Best Global Universities for Chemical Engineering: 44th 
  • Best Global Universities for Computer Science: 37th  
  • Best Global Universities for Electrical and Electronic Engineering: 20th  
  • Best Global Universities for Engineering: 18th
  • Best Global Universities for Materials Science: 15th  
  • Best Global Universities for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology: 12th

 

Furthermore, the remarkable achievements of the College are exemplified by the State Key Laboratory of Terahertz and Millimeter Waves, the Chinese National Engineering Research Center: Hong Kong Branch of National Precious Metals Material Engineering Research Center, and a number of research centres in Advanced Structural Materials, Complexity and Complex Networks, Robotics and Automation, etc.


Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering

Research expertise in the Department mainly focuses on Built Environment which includes: (1) Civil Engineering (including Structural, Geotechnical Engineering, Transportation, Smart City and Construction Engineering and Management): Computational mechanics; Engineering mechanics; Nano-mechanics; Composite structures; Wind engineering; Hydrology; Environmental engineering; Seismic response and disasters; Structural integrity and diagnosis; Construction materials; Experimental soil mechanics; Micromechanics of soils; Machine learning and data analytics in geotechnical engineering; Geotechnical risk; Reliability and uncertainty; Landslides; Infra-structural engineering; Transportation; Pedestrian flow; Smart city development; Construction Engineering and Management. (2) Architectural Engineering: Building systems and facilities management; Energy, natural and artificial lighting; Thermal comfort, indoor and regional air quality; Building sustainability; Fire safety engineering, Fire Evacuation.  (3) Architecture:  Construction and land economy; Architectural design, history, theory, ecology and technology; Landscape architecture; architectural science. (4) Surveying and Urban Planning: Building information modelling; Building contracts and laws, and Disputes and resolutions; Real estate development, Urbanism, urban design and planning, digital twin, blockchain.  


Research Degree Coordinator

Prof. WANG Yu
3442-7605
3442-0427
yuwang@cityu.edu.hk



Department of Biomedical Engineering

The Department offers BEng, MSc and MPhil/PhD degrees in Biomedical Engineering. Research areas of the Department include: (1) Biomedical Imaging and Bioinstrumentation: Advanced biophotonics and novel imaging systems, Image analysis and image-guided interventions, Bioinstrumentation for imaging, disease diagnosis, and therapeutics. (2) Cell and Tissue Engineering: Micro/nanotechnology for cellular engineering, Biomaterial design and engineering for regenerative medicine, drug delivery and nano-medicine, Biomechanics and mechanobiology. (3) Robotics and Artificial Intelligence for Biomedical Applications: Bio/medical robotics and control systems, Artificial intelligence for biomedical applications. (4) Biosensors and Health Informatics: Biosensor and largescale biomedical data, Machine learning facilitated biomedical clouds/service, integrative microfluidic platform for precision medicine, and wearable/smart materials for healthcare.

 


Research Degree Coordinator

Prof. Dongan Wang
3442-9542
3442-0172
dwang229@cityu.edu.hk



Department of Computer Science

Research focus and expertise in the Department include: (1) Multimedia Computing:  Computer Vision; Computer Graphics; Audio Analysis; Speech Processing; Natural Language Analysis; Computer Games; Virtual Reality; Augmented Reality; Mixed Reality; Medical Imaging; Image Processing; Image and Video Coding; Human Motion Analysis; Perception, Neuroscience and Brain Informatics; Multimedia Analytics; Multimedia Information Retrieval; Wearable Computing; Social Media; Mobile Media; Pen Computing; Human Computer Interaction; Multi-modal Data Fusion; (2) Computer Systems and Security: Information Security; Cloud Computing; Internet of Things (IoT); Mobile Computing; Distributed Algorithms and Systems; Data Center Networks; Cyber-Physical Systems; Vehicular Networks; Sensor Networks; Wireless Security; Wearable Sensing; Traffic Estimation; Urban Computing; (3) Applied Algorithms: Bioinformatics; Data and Internet Security; Equilibrium Algorithms; Scheduling; Applied Cryptography; Algorithmic Game Theory; Heuristics; Blockchain; Cryptocurrency; (4) Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Analytics: Knowledge Management; Data Science; Big Data Analytics; Machine Learning; Artificial Intelligence; Database; Optimization; Text Mining; Information Retrieval; Semantic Object Modeling; Data Mining; Data Warehousing; Multimedia Data Indexing; XML and Interoperability; Workflow and Web Services; Recommender Systems; Sentiment Analysis; Deep Learning; Generative Models; Supervised Learning; Semi-supervised Learning; Unsupervised Learning; Neural Networks; (5) Systems, Software Engineering and Internet Applications: Internet Applications; Embedded Systems; Parallel Architecture; Real-time Systems; Software Engineering; E-commerce; E-learning; Innovative Technology for Education; Programming Languages and Systems; Empirical Software Engineering; Software Data Analytics; Software Quality; System Modelling; Software Defect Prediction; Software Effort Estimation; Software Testing; Software Project Management; Machine Learning in Software Engineering; Decentralized Application; Program Debugging; Intelligent Transportation Systems; Storage Systems; (6) Evolutionary Computation: Multiobjective Optimization; Swarm Intelligence; Multi-agent Evolutionary Optimization; Neurodynamic Optimization; Intelligent Control; Intelligent Marine Vehicles; Decomposition Based Algorithms; Computational Intelligence; Fuzzy Systems.


Research Degree Coordinator

Prof. ZHANG Qingfu
3442-8580
3442-0503
qingfu.zhang@cityu.edu.hk



Department of Electrical Engineering

The Department offers research degree studies in a wide range of research themes: (1) Antenna Design: computational electromagnetics, antenna theory, and metasurfaces; (2) Big Data, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence: pattern recognition and machine learning in biomedical applications; (3) Bioinformatics: genomic sequence analysis and genome annotation; (4) Biomedical Systems, Biosensors, and Bioelectronics: biomedical imaging, neural prosthesis, visual prosthetics, and visual electrophysiology; (5) Computer Engineering: computer graphics and vision, cloud computing, computer architecture, embedded systems, and evolutionary computing; (6) Control Systems and Optimization: intelligent and networked control, complex networks, and nonlinear circuits and systems; (7) Microelectronic Devices and Circuits: micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), biomedical sensors, and microsystems; (8) Nanotechnology and Nanodevices: nanophotonics, nanomaterials, and nanofabrication; (9) Networking and Internet of Things: optical networks, wireless networks, computer networks, queueing theory, performance evaluation; and security and cryptography; (10) Photonics: fiber and integrated optics, plasmonics, microwave photonics, and optical communications;  (11) Power Electronics and Systems: power electronics and smart grids; (12) Signal and Image Processing: biomedical image processing and analysis, image segmentation and registration, and image compression; (13) Terahertz and Millimeter Waves: terahertz science and technology, active terahertz devices, and millimetre-wave circuits; (14) Wireless Communications: wireless communications, wireless sensor networks, information theory, coding theory and techniques, visible light communications, and data storage systems.


Research Degree Coordinator

Prof. Leanne CHAN
3442-9120
3442-0562
lhlchan@cityu.edu.hk



Department of Materials Science and Engineering

The Department has state-of-the-art fabrication and characterization facilities for a wide range of research areas related to materials science and engineering. The faculty members of the Department carry out both fundamental and applied research under the three major targeted areas, namely, Functional materials, Structural materials and Computational materials. For (1) Functional materials, key elements include nanomaterials, organic light-emitting diode material, photovoltaic materials, energy storage related materials, sensing and detection, as well as photonics and optoelectronics materials. For (2) Structural materials section encompasses phase transformations, SMT solder joints, creep and life assessment, in-service behaviour of materials, stress analysis, structural materials design, surface science and engineering, thin films and coatings, metals and alloys, plastics and composites, shape memory alloys, and electrical ceramics. For (3), Computational materials include density functional theory calculation, molecular dynamic simulation, phase field modelling and multiscale modeling of mechanics of materials. In addition, members of the Department have collaborations around the world and are well-recognised in their research expertise. The ultimate goal of the department is to prepare graduates with professional knowledge, exploring spirit and leadership skills for the future world.


Research Degree Coordinator

Prof. ZHANG Qichun
3442-9988
3442-0892
qiczhang@cityu.edu.hk



Department of Mechanical Engineering

Academic programmes offered by the Department span from BEng degrees with Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, and Nuclear and Risk Engineering majors, MSc degree in Mechanical Engineering, to MPhil/PhD degrees in disciplines such as Nano/Molecular Engineering, Sustainable Manufacturing, Materials Engineering, Thermal Fluid, Aerospace Materials/Systems, Robotics/Mechatronics/Automation and Nuclear and Risk Engineering. Research areas of the Department include (1) Mechanical Engineering: Mechanical Design; Rapid Prototyping; Flexible Assembly Systems; Solid Mechanics; Fluid Mechanics; Multiphase Flow and Heat Transfer; Physical Metallurgy & Material Forming; Experimental Mechanics; Tribology; Surface Engineering & Thin Films; Structural Materials; Neural-Controlled Robots; Micro/Bio/Nano Robotics; Mobile/Flying Robots; Industrial Robots; Intelligent Control; Remote Sensing & Control; Intelligent Sensor Networks; Radio Frequency Identification (RFID); Automatic Materials Handling; Automation for Entertainment & Healthcare; Machine Vision. (2) Aerospace Engineering: high temperature alloys; advanced aerospace composites; combustion and propulsion; noise and vibration control; aerospace structures; aerospace system. (3) Nuclear and Risk Engineering: Nuclear Safety; Nuclear Power Management; Nuclear Materials; Nuclear Medicine; Risk Assessment and Management; Emergency Management.

 


Research Degree Coordinator

Prof. Yong YANG
3442-9394
3442-0235
yonyang@cityu.edu.hk



Department of Systems Engineering

The Department provides high quality educational and research experiences in disciplines related to systems engineering, intelligent manufacturing and industrial engineering, preparing graduates for professional and leadership roles in industry and academia. The Department carries out research in a number of multidisciplinary areas. Research in the Department includes Manufacturing systems, Semiconductor Manufacturing, Cyber-physical systems, Automation, Operations management, Industrial statistics, Reliability Engineering, Logistics and Supply Chain, Human Factors Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Project Management, Quality Management, etc.


Research Degree Coordinator

Prof. Min XIE
3442-9596
3442-0173
minxie@cityu.edu.hk



College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.png

The College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) at City University provides leading educational programmes in the field of Humanities and Social Sciences. It is home to seven academic units spanning a wide range of subjects. These are the Departments of Chinese and History; Linguistics and Translation; English; Media and Communication; Public and International Affairs; Social and Behavioural Sciences; and Chan Feng Men-ling Chan Shuk-lin Language Centre.

In the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject, CLASS is ranked 114th in Social Sciences and Management and 176th for Arts and Humanities among over 1000 universities. With respect to individual subjects, CLASS also puts in a strong performance. Two of the departments in the College are now ranked in the Top 50. Linguistics is ranked 41st amongst world’s top universities by QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023. In the same ranking exercise, Social Policy & Administration is ranked 50th. The College prides itself in its research reputation, and is also concerned to provide excellent opportunities for research degrees at the level of MPhil and PhD studies.

 


Department of Chinese and History

Research foci and expertise in the Department include: (1) Chinese Language, Literature and Culture: Chinese Classical Studies (jingxue), Chinese Literary Criticism, Chinese Philosophy, Classical Chinese Language, Classical Chinese Literature, Modern Chinese Literature and Culture; (2) Comparative Literature, Cross-cultural Studies and Cultural Heritage: Comparative Literature, East Asian Literature and Culture, Cultural Studies, Cultural Heritage, Art History; and (3) Chinese History: Urban History, History of Buddhism, History of Medicine, Intellectual History, Early China, Middle Period China, Ming-Qing Studies, Modern China, History of Cultural Exchanges, Digital Humanities. The programme places equal importance on the use of both Chinese and English languages.


Research Degree Coordinator

Prof. FAN Ka Wai

3442-0508
cikwfan@cityu.edu.hk

 

 

 



Department of English

Research strengths in the Department include: (1) Discourse Analysis: conversation analysis, corpus-assisted discourse analysis, critical discourse analysis, genre analysis, mediated discourse analysis, multimodal discourse analysis, pragmatics, semiotics, and text analysis; (2) Applied Linguistics and Language Teaching: identity, intercultural communication, language policy and planning, pedagogical grammar, second language acquisition, second language writing, self-access learning, language teacher identity; (3) Professional Communication: business communication, English for specific purposes, language and law, persuasive communication, rhetoric of science, health and risk communication; (4) Language, Technology, and Media: computer-assisted language learning, digital literacies, language and mobile communication, and online discourse; and (5) English-medium Instruction: incidental language acquisition in the English-medium environment, pedagogical approaches to teaching and learning in EMI settings, professional discoursal skills in EMI; and (6) Literary Studies: World literature in English, postcolonial literature, modern and contemporary novel, nineteenth-century literature and culture, crime fiction, travel writing and comparative literature.  (7) Theatre and Performance Studies: Modern and contemporary drama, performance studies; (8) Cultural Studies: Film studies and visual culture, fashion studies, creative industries and popular culture.


Research Degree Coordinator

Prof. Alice CHAN
3442-9752
3442-0288
enalice@cityu.edu.hk



Department of Linguistics and Translation

The Department of Linguistics and Translation takes a systematic approach to the study of language from a number of different perspectives with a broad range of methodologies. Research foci and expertise cover (1) Corpus and Empirical Linguistics, including cognitive linguistics, computational linguistics, corpus linguistics, dialogue act analysis, lexical semantics, neurolinguistics, and psycholinguistics; (2) General Linguistics, including Chinese linguistics, discourse analysis, formal linguistics, functional linguistics, historical linguistics, morphology, phonetics, phonology, sociolinguistics, systemic functional grammar, syntax-semantics interface, and text linguistics; (3) Pedagogical Linguistics, including applied linguistics, computer-assisted language learning, contrastive study of English and Chinese, lexicography, linguistics-based pedagogy to language teaching, second language learning and teaching, and teaching Chinese to speakers of other languages; (4) Translation and Interpretation, including translation and interpretation studies, translation theories, computer-aided translation, machine translation and terminology.


Research Degree Coordinator

Prof. Alex FANG
3442-8793
3442-0359
acfang@cityu.edu.hk



Department of Media and Communication

Research foci of the Department includes: (1) New Media and Technology: diffusion, use, and effects of communication technology; impact of online and mobile media; computer-mediated communication; human-computer interaction; policy and regulation; business strategy; (2) Media Institutions and Society: state-society-media relationships; news production; media organizations; journalists and professionalism; social influence of media content; (3) Political Communication: public opinion, civic and political participation, political campaigns; (4) Media Psychology and Effects: cognitive processing, media effects; interactive advertising; (5) Computational Communication Research: social media/network analysis, big data mining; computational social science; (6) Health Communication: persuasion, healthcare narratives, health message processing; (7) Strategic Communication: public relations, advertising, integrated marketing communications.


Research Degree Coordinator

Prof. Marko SKORIC
3442-8990
3442-0228
mskoric@cityu.edu.hk



Department of Public and International Affairs

The Department of Public and International Affairs (PIA) is an internationally-leading research hub for public policy, international studies, philosophy, and urban governance. Our staff come from top universities around the world, and our PhD students are very successful in gaining positions in government, academia, business, and with non-governmental organizations. We are one of the leading departments for winning HKPFS awards, and guarantee excellent training and resources for our doctoral students. Studying in PIA exposes students to leading debates and techniques across the field and its subdisciplines as well as provides students with the opportunity to discuss their research with visiting scholars from around the world.

 

PIA graduates are people who can communicate effectively, possess strong leadership skills and have the necessary analytical skills to dissect societal problems and make improvements to the world. Our faculty have well established track records in taking their academic research and making an impact on Hong Kong and global institutions. PIA professors are frequently interviewed in the international and local media on issues of daily concern.

 

The personal and professional development of PhD students is central to PIA's education strategy. Students will have opportunities to gain international experience, publish their research, and develop their pedagogical skills alongside top faculty members; all of which leaves our PhD students well-placed for careers in academia, thinktanks, private and public sectors after graduation. Joining PIA means joining one of the leading departments in Hong Kong and across Asia. According to the QS World University Rankings 2023, CityU ranks the 54th in the world, and the 4th for the “top 50 under 50”. As for the 2022 Global Ranking of academic subjects, our public administration is the 1st in Hong Kong, and 2nd in Asia, while political science is also the 1st in Hong Kong.


Research Degree Coordinator

 Prof. Xiaohu WANG
3442-9616
3442-0413
xwang65@cityu.edu.hk



Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences

The Department's research expertise encompasses a broad range of topics across several disciplines, including: (1) Applied Sociology: work, labour, class, organization, community, family, gender, ethnicity, deviance, welfare, politics, quality of life, social capital, social movement, social policy, social problem, civil society, and social development; (2) Psychology: cognitive biases, self-concept, educational psychology, intimate relationship, stress and emotional regulation, health psychology, positive ageing, creativity, , aggression, resilience, and human values; (3) Social Work: casework, groupwork, community work; working with children, youth, elderly and family; family violence, empowerment-oriented practice with socially disadvantaged groups, conflict management and mediation, volunteerism, and social work management and supervision; (4) Counselling: cognitive behavioural therapy, narrative therapy, family therapy, parent education and support, marriage enrichment, and psychotherapy process; and (5) Criminology: restorative justice, youth justice, organized crime, juvenile delinquency, Chinese criminology,  anti-corruption, policing, crime prevention, school bullying, gang and outreach youth work, and cybercrime. Existing research works often tap on the expertise of different disciplines. For example, the development of caregiver assessment model is supported by a team from social work, and psychology disciplines.


Research Degree Coordinator

Prof. Sam YE
3442-8114
3442-0283
sam.ye@cityu.edu.hk or ss.research@cityu.edu.hk



College of Science

College of Science

The College of Science (CSCI) strives to offer quality research degree programmes in the departments of Biostatistics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics. Drawing upon the diverse expertise of the internationally recognised faculties and the state-of-the-art research facilities, the College offers focused curriculum and rigorous research training to our research degree students. With a vision to generate research of regional and global impact in theoretical and applied sciences, the College equips the students with transferrable skills and attributes necessary for a career in academia, entrepreneurship and beyond.

 

The excellence in research as accomplished by the College can be highlighted by the State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution (City University of Hong Kong), the Liu Bie Ju Centre for Mathematical Sciences, and the Centre for Neutron Scattering. In addition, the College has a strong international reputation in research and our outstanding academic rankings are highlighted below.

 

Nature Index 2021 Young Universities

6th in Chemistry

9th in Physical Sciences

 

US News & World Report: Global University Rankings 2023

11th in Physical Chemistry

15th in Condensed Matter Physics

19th in Optics

44th in Chemical Engineering

66th in Mathematics

75th in Chemistry

 

 

ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS) 2022

51st – 75th in Chemistry

 

Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers for World Universities by National Taiwan University 2022

53rd in Chemistry

54th in Physics

71st in Mathematics

 

Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject 2023

139th in Mathematics


Department of Biostatistics

The Department’s research expertise and focus encompass several areas, including: (1) Computational Statistics, which covers topics such as Bayesian hierarchical models, empirical Bayes, Markov chain Monte Carlo, statistical machine learning, and large-scale data analysis; (2) Functional Data Analysis, which includes Bayesian inverse problems in physical oceanography, trajectory analysis in life course epidemiology, and oceanography; (3) Inferential Statistics, which involves efficient estimation for semiparametric models, model selection, empirical likelihood, knockoff statistics, non-standard asymptotic theory, and post-selection inference; (4) Statistical Genetics Genomics Omics, which covers the analysis of whole-genome sequencing data and integrative analysis of multi-omics data; (5) Survival and Event History Analysis, which includes competing risks models for HIV/AIDS data, network survival models, counting process, and martingale methods; (6) Time Series Analysis, which covers inference for stochastic processes, statistical finance, and risk management; (7) Causal Inference, which deals with methods for identifying causal relationships from observational or experimental data, with applications in medical research; (8) Spatial Statistics, which focuses on the analysis of data with spatial or spatio-temporal structure, including applications in epidemiology and public health; and (9) Deep Learning, which involves the development of algorithms and models for learning from complex and high-dimensional data, with applications in medical imaging, diagnosis, and treatment.


Research Degree Coordinator

Prof. Jinfeng XU
3442-4183
3442-0613
jinfenxu@cityu.edu.hk



Department of Chemistry

The Department is very unique in a multidisciplinary nature by integrating Chemistry, Biology, and Environmental Science. Research focus/ expertise in the Department include:

 

(1) Synthetic Chemistry: green chemistry; spectroscopy and catalysis; catalyst design and synthesis; organic electroluminescent devices; inorganic photo-responsive and luminescent chemosensors; organometallic chemistry; homogeneous catalysis;

(2) Materials Chemistry: green materials/manufacturing; organic and inorganic functional materials; nanoscience and nanotechnology; organic light-emitting devices; crystal phase control; solar cells;

(3) Biological Chemistry: chemical biology; bioinorganic chemistry; bioorganic chemistry; developmental and cell biology; nano-biotechnology and biosensing; DNA and RNA chemistry; genomics and biotechnology; proteomics and metabolomics;

(4) Computational Chemistry: energetics and reactivities of chemical species; mechanisms of chemical reactions;

(5) Environmental Chemistry: freshwater and marine pollution; aquatic ecology and conservation; renewable energy, energy storage and management, energy efficiency and conservation; ecotoxicology; environmental monitoring; environmental impact and risk assessment.


Research Degree Coordinator

Prof. Guangyu ZHU
3442-6857
3442-0522
guangzhu@cityu.edu.hk



Department of Mathematics

Research strengths/disciplines of the Department include: (1) Applied Analysis: approximation theory, asymptotic analysis, harmonic analysis, inverse problems, kinetic theory, learning theory, partial differential equations, random matrix theory, and special functions; (2) Computational Mathematics: complexity theory, computational electromagnetics, image processing, numerical analysis, numerical linear algebra, and scientific computing; (3) Mathematical Modelling: control and system theory, fluid mechanics, general relativity, granular materials, mathematical biology, mathematical elasticity, mathematical finance, mathematical modelling of waves, and mathematics of new materials; (4) Probability and Statistics: Bayesian statistics, high dimensional data analysis, mean field games, probability theory, statistical learning theory, stochastic analysis, stochastic controls, and stochastic processes.


Research Degree Coordinator

Prof. Shun ZHANG
3442-9931
3442-0250
szhang26@cityu.edu.hk



Department of Physics

Research focus/expertise in the Department include: (1) Theoretical and Computational Physics: condensed matter theory, computational solid state physics, computational electrodynamics, computational chemistry, computational biology physics, quantum computation and information, quantum simulation with cold atoms, machine learning; (2) Spectroscopy and Imaging: sophisticated experiments involving quantum beams such as synchrotron x-ray, neutron, electron, coherent light, and NMR, structure and phase transition in glass and liquids, Boson peak and the dynamics of glass and liquids, quantum interactions such as spin-orbit coupling in multiferroics, single molecule electronics; (3) Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics: mechanism of noise and decoherence, open quantum system and quantum entanglement, multi-photon interference, non-equilibrium physics in AMO system, nonlinear optical spectroscopy, opto-mechanics, photonic crystals and metamaterials; (4) Quantum Materials: topological quantum computing and Majorana fermions, Dirac and Weyl semimetals, Bose-Einstein condensation and spin-orbit coupling, quantum Hall Effect, transport phenomena, superconductivity, frustrated magnetism, 2D materials, heterostructures and interfaces; (5) Soft Matter and Biophysics: dynamics of protein and subcellular processes, emergent phenomena in live cells, non-equilibrium mechanisms in active living matter, biological networks, biological and clinical experiments, novel physics-based data acquisition protocol, instrumentation in biomedical imaging, radiation biophysics, ion-track technology.

 


Research Degree Coordinator

Prof. Shubo WANG
3442-9143
3442-0538
shubwang@cityu.edu.hk



Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences

Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences

TThe College strives to be at the frontier of veterinary and biomedical research and discovery. Our cutting-edge research in these areas thematically operates under the “One Health” concept, which recognizes the interconnectedness of human and animal health. The College fosters interdisciplinary collaborations involving a wide range of scientific disciplines aimed at achieving optimal health outcomes for people, animals and the environment within a local, regional and international context.

 

The College offers five PhD programmes at college and departmental levels:

1.      Doctor of Philosophy in Veterinary Medicine (offered at college level);

2.      Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences;

3.      Doctor of Philosophy in Infectious Diseases and Public Health;

4.      Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience;

5.      Doctor of Philosophy in Veterinary Clinical Sciences.

 

Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences

The PhD programme in Veterinary Medicine is an interdisciplinary programme, jointly supervised by CityU and faculty from Cornell University, open to outstanding graduate students who wish to conduct state-of-the-art basic, clinical and translational life sciences research alongside highly experienced research professionals. The programme is student-centered and led by faculty who are accessible, engaged and committed to ensuring that our postgraduate students reach their full potential in research, teaching and professional development.

 

The students admitted to the programme will be eligible to undertake research work as research interns for up to 12 months at the Cornell University. The students will participate in research programmes leading to PhD degrees in one of the following areas:

 

•        Comparative Biomedical Sciences

•        Immunology & Infectious Disease

•        Molecular & Systemic Neuroscience

•        Public Health & Epidemiology

Research Degree Coordinator

Prof. Xin DENG
3442-5693
3442-0549
xindeng@cityu.edu.hk


Department of Biomedical Sciences

The Department carries out internationally competitive research and promotes interdisciplinary collaboration in biomedical sciences. Its research programmes aim to understand fundamental mechanisms of biological processes and diseases, and translate new knowledge into the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for prediction, prevention, and treatment of human diseases. Departmental research focuses on four strategic areas:

 

  • Cancer biology and therapy;
  • Genomics and bioinformatics;
  • Vascular, metabolic and regenerative biology; and
  • Infectious diseases and immunity.

 

Multidisciplinary approaches are employed and supported by a wide range of state-of-the-art equipment with cutting-edge techniques in areas including molecular and cell biology, genetics and genomics, physiology and pharmacology, systems biology and bioinformatics, microbiology and immunology, and biotechnology and nanotechnology.


Research Degree Coordinator

Prof. XIONG Wenjun
3442-2494
3442-0549
wenjun.xiong@cityu.edu.hk



Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health

The Department focuses on One Health, an area spanning the health of animals, humans and the environment. Our principal research areas include:

 

  • enhancing an understanding of the pathogenesis and natural history of infectious diseases in animals, with the overarching aim of improving methods for their diagnosis and control
  • improving animal health and welfare through application of more effective disease control methods
  • supporting the efficient and economic production of safe, both terrestrial and aquatic, animal-based food and other derived products
  • monitoring current and emerging infectious diseases in animals that may impact on human health, including drug-resistant pathogens
  • fostering collaborations between medical and veterinary personnel in the provision of targeted public health measures
  • improving animal welfare through research, teaching and public education

Research Degree Coordinator

Prof. Jun LI
3442-6732
3442-0589
jun.li@cityu.edu.hk



Department of Neuroscience

Neuroscience is a rapidly growing discipline that acknowledges the remarkable importance of the brain, the most complicated biological machine. Modern neuroscientists have skills suited for a variety of career options including research, education, industry and medicine, to name a few. The field is driven by discovery and translational research that is interdisciplinary in nature and benefits from City University’s strong programs in biomedical sciences, computational science, applied mathematics and engineering.  Neuroscience is entering a period of extraordinary opportunity for translating basic findings into treatments for diseases such as stroke, dementia and Parkinson disease.  Research is conducted across a broad range of topics from the molecules that underlie neuronal communication to the mechanisms of sensory perception to the events that underlie memory and learning.  Major research areas include:

 

  • The physiology and neurochemistry of memory and learning
  • Psychophysics of visual and auditory perception
  • Normal and abnormal functions of neuronal circuits
  • Neurophysiology of animal behavior
  • The pathophysiology of nerve and brain injury and repair
  • Neuroglial cell functions in normal and disease states

Research Degree Coordinator

Prof. Youngjin LEE
3442-4313
younglee@cityu.edu.hk



Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences

The Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences has a clear vision to be Asia’s preeminent body advancing veterinary clinical science in response to evolving societal needs.

 

The research mission of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences is to advance animal health through cutting-edge clinical research. We seek to deliver translational solutions for common and emerging clinical problems. Our research themes include:

 

•   Disease emergence in shelter-housed animals

•   Viral oncology

•   Advancing animal welfare

•   Advancing veterinary medical education

•   Production diseases in farm animals

•   Equine diseases and welfare


Research Degree Coordinator

Prof. FLAY Kate Jade
3442-5610
kateflay@cityu.edu.hk



School of Creative Media

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Established in 1998, the School of Creative Media at City University of Hong Kong is the birthplace of a new generation of transmedia specialists – professionals who are not only skilled in the technology of digital media but who can also integrate a multiplicity of media forms. The School has now established itself to be a leader in creative media education in Asia.

 

The School’s interdisciplinary research activities encompass and combine all aspects of art and new media creation, incorporating methodologies based in the sciences, the humanities, and the social sciences: multimedia technology, video and image computing, distributed mobile computing and wireless networking, artificial intelligence and data management systems, software engineering and internet applications, multimodal interface design,  interactive and embodied media, virtual and augmented reality, the cinematic arts, photography, computer graphics and animation, musical composition and performance, sound art, installation arts, urban media art, game design, physical computing, digital cultural heritage, and historical, theoretical, and critical analyses of all of these areas, including ethical, social and aesthetic implications of emerging technologies on art and new media creation.

 

The School is equipped with state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities with VR/AR development kits, 4K cameras, advanced immersive digital visualization systems, including a 360-degree 3D projection environment and one of the industry’s best 24-camera optical motion capture systems. The Run Run Shaw Creative Media Centre, designed by the world-renowned architect Daniel Libeskind, provides purpose-built facilities for the School in nurturing the next generation of transmedia specialists and has become an iconic landmark in the territory. It is a hub for creative professionals from all over the world seeking new opportunities for collaboration in the rapidly-evolving creative industries.

 

Research Degree Coordinator

Prof. Per Magnus LINDBORG
3442-2948
3442-0408
smgo@cityu.edu.hk


Go to Department Website 

School of Data Science

School of Data Science

The School of Data Science at CityU is the first one in Hong Kong and one of the first in the world dedicated to lead the development of this new discipline. The School comprises an interdisciplinary faculty team of leading academics in multiple domains, including theoretical analysis, algorithm development, smart cities and Industry 4.0, and applications in FinTech, energy, environment, public health, and precision medicine. Our PhD programme aims to offer students solid fundamentals of data science in machine learning, statistics, computing, data analytics, and optimization, as well as contributing to the state-of-the-art research in data science. Selected research areas include:

 

  • Machine learning theory and algorithms (including deep learning, statistical learning, and reinforcement learning, etc.)
  • Artificial intelligence and implementations via cloud and edge computing
  • Optimization and control powered by data-driven approaches
  • Smart cities and Industry 4.0 (including Internet of Things, smart operations and manufacturing, blockchain, shared economy, transportation, etc.)
  • Applications of data science (including business analytics, financial technology (FinTech), social media analytics, legal data analytics, healthcare systems, energy systems, etc.)

 

Research Degree Coordinator

Prof. WU Qi
3442-7018
3442-0515
qiwu55@cityu.edu.hk


Go to Department Website 

School of Energy and Environment

School of Energy and Environment

As a core strength of the School of Energy and Environment, we employ multi- and inter-disciplinary approaches to address various cutting-edge issues in Energy and Environment. Our research covers a diverse scope, ranging from energy conversion and generation, energy efficiency and storage, to atmosphere and climate change, water and waste, as well as to sustainability and policy. Our visions are to conduct both fundamental research and to develop novel technologies that will eventually enhance the energy and environmental sustainability.

 

Research at the School of Energy and Environment takes a system approach to develop innovative science and engineering solutions and to provide empirically based evidence and insight from the evaluation of these solutions, eventually to understand how they can be successfully applied to our cities.

 

Research focus/expertise in the School includes three major areas:

 

(A)  Energy 

Energy Conversion; Clean and Green Fuel; Energy Efficiency; Energy Storage

 

(B)  Environment

Air and Water Pollution Control and Management; Climate Change Modelling, Mitigation and Adaptation; Waste to Energy and Resources

 

(C)  Sustainability

Urban Sustainability for Smart Cities; Energy and Sustainable Economics; Low-Carbon Innovation; Policy Design and Analysis

 

Research Degree Coordinator

Prof. Lin ZHANG
3442-4012
3442-0688
l.zhang@cityu.edu.hk


Go to Department Website 

School of Law

School of Law

The School of Law at CityU fosters a culture of integrated research and teaching, drawing on the expertise of its faculty and a diverse and representative student body, thus contributing to relevant and fundamental research in Hong Kong, Mainland China, and beyond. The School aspires to attract dedicated postgraduate students to contribute to the School’s varied research activities. Graduate students will benefit from the School’s research culture, which emphasises both fundamental and applied aspects of legal studies and research. The School likewise encourages research with local relevance, comparative insights, and critical analyses. The study of law in any given jurisdiction presupposes and necessitates particularity, context, and geographical specificity. Law students can therefore first and foremost expect to be trained in the laws of Hong Kong. But this approach does not imply parochialism. The law school’s approach is premised on a proper appreciation of the broader regional, cultural, and international contexts that shape the development of the law as a dynamic field of study. This is especially important in the case of Hong Kong, with its service-based economy, multicultural population and common law heritage.

 

The subject areas offered and research specialisations available at the School of Law include the usual and expected core curriculum of legal studies, namely private law (the law of persons, contract law, tort law etc.), commercial law (company law, consumer protection law, competition law etc.), criminal justice (criminal law, criminal procedure, evidence, and criminology), public law (constitutional law, administrative law, and human rights etc.), and international law, including public international law. In addition to the core curriculum, the School makes it a priority to teach and engage in research in strategic areas that add value to its core curriculum, attract postgraduate students, and provide staff with opportunities to develop existing areas of law and to expand the School’s impact in specific areas of expertise. These strategic research areas include, but are not limited to, Chinese and Comparative Law, Maritime Law, and Arbitration and Dispute Resolution.

Research Degree Coordinator

Prof. ZHU Guobin
3442-7288
3442-0190
lwzhugb@cityu.edu.hk


Go to Department Website