The Third HKUST Faculty Recognition Ceremony was held on July 13, 2021 to acknowledge and applaud the outstanding research and teaching achievements of the University’s faculty members in the 2018/19 and 2019/20 academic years. Among the 36 honorees, 23 of them are from the School of Engineering (SENG) or have a joint position in the School. All of them were recipients of prestigious awards and honors in the past two years, demonstrating their unremitting efforts and excellence in teaching, research and service.

Hailing from the School’s six departments and one division, the SENG professors’ achievements include contributing to the fight against COVID-19, receiving large-scale research grants, election to fellowships and service in professional organizations, major research awards in the fields, as well as teaching awards.

In his opening remarks, President Prof. Wei SHYY said, “HKUST, like many other institutions elsewhere, is defined fundamentally by the quality of its people. One important indicator of such quality is exhibited today by our faculty’s originality, accomplishment, service and dedication. Unlike in the last two times where research achievements were emphasized, this year we have broadened the category to include colleagues who made significant contributions to public health and online education. We are very proud of our colleagues and we wish to recognize their contribution in research, education, and service in equal terms.”
 
Vice-President for Research and Development Prof. Nancy IP said, “HKUST’s reputation in education and research is built on the dedicated efforts of our faculty. Their tremendous contribution leads HKUST to reach greater heights of success. Today we recognize those who have achieved the highest level of prestige in their respective fields through their remarkable achievements in research, outstanding contribution as teachers and mentors, as well as commitment to leadership and service. Not only are we recognizing established faculty, but also young faculty – they are already making significant impact in their fields.”

The honorees from SENG are (in alphabetical order of last names):

Prof. Gary CHAN

Computer Science and Engineering

• Outstanding contribution to the fight against COVID-19

 

Prof. CHEN Guanghao

Civil and Environmental Engineering

• Recipient of a large-scale grant from RGC Theme-based Research Scheme 9th Round (2019/20)
• Recipient of the Bronze Medal of the 2018 International Water Association Project Innovation Awards in the category of breakthroughs in research and development
• Recipient of the Gold Award of the 2018 Hong Kong Green Innovations Awards

 

​​​​​Prof. CHEN Kai

Computer Science and Engineering

• Recipient of a large-scale grant from RGC Theme-based Research Scheme 10th Round (2020/21)

 

Prof. Tim CHENG Kwang-Ting

Electronic & Computer Engineering and Computer Science & Engineering

• Recipient of a large-scale grant from InnoHK Clusters Program to establish the AI Chip Center for Emerging Smart Systems
• Recipient of the Pan Wen Yuan Foundation Award for Outstanding Research in 2020

 

Prof. Roger CHENG Shu-Kwan

Electronic and Computer Engineering

• Outstanding contribution to the development of online education

 

Prof. HUI Pan

Computer Science and Engineering

• Elected International Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2020
• Elected Member of Academia Europaea (the Academy of Europe) in 2019

 

Prof. KWOK Hoi-Sing

Electronic and Computer Engineering

• Recipient of the 2019 Jan Rajchman Prize by the Society for Information Display

 

Prof. Kei May LAU

Electronic and Computer Engineering

• Recipient of the 2020 Nick Holonyak Jr. Award presented by the Optical Society

 

Prof. Ricky LEE Shi-Wei

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

• Recipient of the 2019 Outstanding Sustained Technical Contribution Award by IEEE Electronics Packaging Society

 

Prof. Anthony LEUNG Kwan

Civil and Environmental Engineering

• Awarded the 2019 Excellent Young Scientists Fund by the National Natural Science Foundation of China
• Recipient of the Bright Spark Award presented by the International Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering in 2019

 

Prof. LI Zexiang

Colin Lam Ko Yin Professor of Engineering

Electronic and Computer Engineering

• Recipient of a large-scale grant from InnoHK Clusters Program to establish the Hong Kong Center for Construction Robotics

 

Prof. LIU Ming

Electronic & Computer Engineering and Computer Science & Engineering

• Outstanding contribution to the fight against COVID-19

 

Prof. Charles NG Wang-Wai

Dean of HKUST Fok Ying Tung Graduate School

Civil and Environmental Engineering

• Recipient of a large-scale grant from RGC Areas of Excellence Scheme 8th Round (2018/19)
• Elected Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2020

 

Prof. Richard SO Hau-Yue

Industrial Engineering & Decision Analytics and Chemical & Biological Engineering

• Outstanding contribution to the fight against COVID-19

 

Prof. SONG Shenghui

Integrative Systems & Design and Electronic & Computer Engineering

• Recipient of the 2018 Michael G. Gale Medal for Distinguished Teaching

 

Prof. YANG Hai

Civil and Environmental Engineering

• Recipient of 2020 Frank M. Masters Transportation Engineering Award presented by American Society of Civil Engineers

 

Prof. YEUNG King-Lun

Chemical & Biological Engineering and Environment & Sustainability

• Outstanding contribution to the fight against COVID-19

 

Prof. ZHAO Tianshou

Cheong Ying Chan Professor of Engineering and Environment

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

• Awarded the 2018 Ho Leung Ho Lee Prize for Scientific and Technological Advancement
• Awarded the 2018 Best Paper Award presented by the Chinese Academy of Sciences
• Appointed as editor-in-chief of International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer
• Identified as 2018 Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate Analytics
• Elected Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2019

 

The honorees who have a joint position in SENG are (in alphabetical order of last names):

Prof. CHEN Ying-Ju

Information Systems, Business Statistics & Operations Management and Industrial Engineering and Decision Analytics

• Appointed as senior editor of Production and Operations Management in 2018

 

Prof. HUANG Xuhui

Chemistry and Chemical & Biological Engineering

• Recipient of the 16th China Youth Science and Technology Award

 

Prof. TANG Benzhong

Stephen Kam Chuen Cheong Professor of Science

Chemistry and Chemical & Biological Engineering

• Selected as CCTV Innovation and Technology Person of the Year 2018 by the Chinese Central Television (CCTV)
• Identified as 2018 and 2019 Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate Analytics
• Awarded the 2018 CASNN Lifetime Award by the Chinese American Society of Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology(CASNN)
• Elected 2020 Class of Fellow (Chemical Sciences) of World Academy of Sciences

 

Prof. TANG Ching-Wan

IAS Bank of East Asia Professor

Chemistry, Electronic & Computer Engineering, and Physics

• Recipient of the 2019 Kyoto Prize in Advanced Technology presented by The Inamori Foundation
• Recipient of the 2018 C&C Prize presented by NEC C&C Foundation
• Recipient of Progress Award for 2019 presented by the Photographic Society of America

​​​​​​​

Prof. WANG Jiguang

Life Science and Chemical & Biological Engineering

• Recognized as contributor to one of China’s Top 10 Advances in Life Sciences in 2018 by the Chinese Union of Life Science Societies
• Awarded the 2019 Excellent Young Scientists Fund by the National Natural Science Foundation of China
• Selected as Asian Universities Alliance Scholar for the year 2020-2021

 

Four short talks by the honoree professors were given during the ceremony. These included Prof. Wang Jiguang who spoke on the application of data science to precision medicine and Prof. Yeung King-Lun who spoke on the sustainable ways to a healthy environment.