RESEARCH AND INNOVATION THE REVIEW2020 World-leading Researchers HKU has some of the world’s leading experts as measured by the frequency their research is cited by other scholars. The 13 academics shown here were identified by Clarivate Analytics as ‘highly cited researchers’, meaning they have produced multiple highly cited papers that rank in the top 1% in their field based on number of citations. Young Achievers Seven young HKU researchers had projects awarded under China’s Excellent Young Scientists Fund, a competitive, national-level award under the National Natural Science Foundation of China. Each researcher will receive RMB1.2 million for their projects over a maximum period of three years. The recipients are: • Dr Timothy Bonebrake, Associate Professor in the School of Biological Sciences, who is studying global climate change and tropical conservation through the perspective of butterfly models • Dr Esther Chan Wai-yin, Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, who is optimising antipsychotic drug management in patients with mental disorders • Dr Lydia Cheung Wai-ting, Assistant Professor in the School of Biomedical Sciences, who is developing precision medicine strategies for ovarian cancer • Dr Carmen Wong Chak-lui, Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology, who is studying liver cancer metabolism and the tumour microenvironment • Dr Alan Wong Siu-lun, Assistant Professor in both the School of Biomedical Sciences and Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, who is investigating the application of synthetic biology and combinatorial genetics technologies to cancers and neurodegenerative disease • Dr Wang Yufeng, Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry, who is developing synthesis and assembly strategies to construct colloidal materials, such as a metal-organic framework, with well-defined hierarchical structures and improved properties • Dr Zhang Hongsheng, Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography, who is developing remote sensing technologies to monitor direct changes to the land surface made by humans in the process of urbanisation, in both tropical and subtropical areas Physics Microbiology Physics Professor Xiang Zhang President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Leo Poon Lit-man School of Public Health Professor Yao Wang Department of Physics Professor Vivian WW Yam has taken up the role as the Chief Editor for Chemistry for a new premier international journal Natural Sciences . ACCLAIM HKU researchers have made important contributions to knowledge across a wide range of fields. Their excellence continued to be recognised in 2019–20 at the international, national and local levels. Global and National Honours Scholars with a strong track record of excellence were recognised by their disciplinary peers in 2019–20. Internationally, HKU Chair Professor of Chemistry Professor Vivian WW Yam, Philip Wong Wilson Wong Professor in Chemistry and Energy, became the Chief Editor for Chemistry for the new flagship journal Natural Sciences , and was also awarded the prestigious bi-annual Porter Medal, which recognises scientists who have contributed the most to the subject of photochemistry. Professor Yao Wang, Chair Professor of Physics, was elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society 2020, while Professor Zheng Xiao Guo, Professor in the Departments of Chemistry and Mechanical Engineering, was elected a Foreign Member of Academia Europaea. Three young high-flyers were named Innovators Under 35 for the Asia Pacific Region by the MIT Technology Review . They are: Dr Hao Guo in Civil Engineering, Dr Ziyan Guo in Mechanical Engineering and Dr Ping Luo in Computer Science. At the national level, Professor Alfonso Ngan, Kingboard Professor in Materials Engineering, and Chair Professor in Materials Science and Engineering, received the prestigious Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Prize from the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Professor Quentin ZQ Yue was awarded the First Class of Natural Science Award by the China Society for Rock Mechanics and Engineering. Locally, three HKU scholars received Croucher awards in December 2019: Dr Wang Yufeng in Chemistry received the Croucher Innovation Award, and Professor Anderson Shum in Mechanical Engineering joined Professor Yao Wang of Physics in receiving a Croucher Senior Research Fellowship. Geosciences Geosciences Engineering Economics and Business Cross-Field Cross-Field Computer Science Cross-Field Microbiology Professor Zhao Guochun Department of Earth Sciences Professor Sun Min Department of Earth Sciences Professor James Lam Department of Mechanical Engineering Professor Kevin Zhou Zheng Faculty of Business and Economics (HKU Business School) Professor Dennis Leung Yiu-cheong Department of Mechanical Engineering Professor Guan Yi School of Public Health Dr Huang Kaibin Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Professor Yuen Kwok-yung Department of Microbiology Professor Joseph Sriyal Malik Peiris School of Public Health Professor Zhang Tong Department of Civil Engineering Environment and Ecology Microbiology 24 | 25
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