Department of Materials Established within HKUST School of Engineering from July 1

Effective July 1, 2026, the Department of Materials (MAT) has been established as the seventh academic department of HKUST School of Engineering. MAT aims to become a world-class, impact-driven, interdisciplinary research hub, transforming traditional Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) into AI-powered “MSE-I” and driving breakthroughs in five key areas: health and biomedicine, energy and computing, engineering structures, characterization and modeling, and AI and robotic platforms. MAT will bridge fundamental and applied research to solve real-world problems, catalyze industry partnerships, and accelerate the practical application of cutting-edge materials technologies, thereby driving solutions for critical national and international priorities in health, energy, sustainability, and far beyond.

To nurture next-generation materials engineers, MAT will launch PhD and MSc programs in 2027, followed by an innovative BEng in Materials Science, Engineering and Intelligence in 2028. These comprehensive programs will equip students with the advanced knowledge, technical expertise, and problem-solving skills required to tackle contemporary challenges in advancing materials science, engineering, and intelligence.

To lead MAT in realizing its vision, Prof. ZHOU Yuanyuan, Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, has been appointed as the Acting Head of Department. Prof. Zhou is a leading materials scientist specializing in metal-halide perovskites, with research spanning advanced characterization, autonomous synthesis, and optoelectronic applications.