List of Croucher Senior Research Fellowships recipients

Croucher Senior Research Fellowships
The Senior Research Fellowship scheme was inaugurated in 1996 to offer full financial support for senior scientists to devote a year to full-time research, away from heavy teaching and administrative responsibilities. These Fellows are selected by the Foundation on the basis of confidential peer assessments and in these exercises, the Foundation is most privileged to be able to enlist help from a number of leading scientists in the international community. As this award appears to be the only of its kind in Hong Kong operated by an independent and well-established scientific grant-making body, and because of its stringent and highly competitive selection process, it is virtually recognised almost as an annual award for distinguished scientists in Hong Kong. Meet some of the most distinguished scientists in Hong Kong below.
Professor Johnny CHAN Chung Leung is Chair Professor of Applied Physics, City University of Hong Kong. Professor Chan is internationally renowned for his research in tropical cyclones. He established theoretical relationships between motions of tropical cyclones and atmospheric flow fields, notably the linear and non-linear effects of their potential vorticity, and of the latitude variation of the Coriolis parameter. Application of this theory led to significant improvements in the prediction of tropical cyclone movement. Professor Chan is also the leading authority in the variations of tropical cyclone activity in the western North Pacific Ocean on climate scales. He was the first to demonstrate that such variations are related to the E1 Niñ o phenomenon and the stratospheric quasi-biennial oscillation. Based on his explainations of such variations, he has also questioned the effect of global warming on tropical cycone variations on climate scales. (1998/1999)

Professor CHAN Hsiao Chang is Professor of Physiology and Director of Epithelial Cell Biology Research Centre at The Chinese University of Hong Kong . Professor Chan is a leading authority in epithelial cell-related research with multidisciplinary approach and has contributed significantly to a number of important discoveries, including a cell shrinkage-activated cation channel (Science 1992), a novel defensin molecule in the epiddiymis for sperm maturation (Science 2001, Nature Cell Biology 2004) and the role of CFTR in fertility and infertility (Nature Cell Biology 2003). She has received a number of awards including National Natural Sciences Award of China (1997) and Distinguished Young Investigator (National Science Foundation of China, 2000).(2007/2008)

Professor CHAN Kwing Lam is Professor of Mathematics at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Professor Chan is an internationally renowned expert in the field of numerical astrophysics. His fundamental work on multidimensional simulation of stellar convection pioneered the current era of fast advance in theoretical stellar astrophysics. He also has wide interests and contributions in cosmology, extra-galactic astrophysics, as well as atmospheric physics and computational mathematics. (1998/1999)

國家自然科 for his work in reactive metal-ligand multiple bonded complexes in February 2007. (1997/1998) k/~chemhome/staff/cmche/cmche.htm" target="_blank">Professor 學獎一等獎)

Professor Kathryn CHEAH Song Eng is Chair of Biochemistry and Head of Department at The University of Hong Kong. Professor Cheah has a strong international track record in the molecular biology of extracellular matrix genes and the developmental genetics of skeletal formation. She and her group were the first in Greater China to successfully make and use knockout mice for defining gene regulation and function and lead this field in South East Asia and Greater China. Her publication in Nature Genetics was the first to show, in vivo, that the transcription factor SOX9 directly regulates the COL2A1 gene. She has also made extensive contributions in promoting advances in functional genomics and genetics amongst the scientific community and the public in Hong Kong. (2000/2001)

Professor CHENG Kwong Sang is Professor of Physics at The University of Hong Kong. Professor Cheng is one of the world's leading theoretical astrophysicists in the area of high energy astrophysics and physics of compact objects. He has proposed a very successful outer-magnetospheric Gap Model to explain the properties of high energy radiation from rapidly spinning and strongly magnetized neutron stars known as pulsars. (2000/2001)

Professor Edwin CHENG Tai Chiu is Chair Professor of Management at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Professor Cheng is an internationally known expert in theoretical scheduling research. His pioneering work in this field has produced results that resolve some long-standing open problems in the literature. His numerous findings encompass new discoveries with respect to problem formulations, method of solution and classification of problem computational complexity. These results have advanced the frontier of knowledge in scheduling research, and provided new and deep insights into a wide variety of challenging scheduling problems. (2001/2002)

Professor CHIANG Kin Seng is Professor (Chair) of Electronic Engineering at the City University of Hong Kong. Professor Chiang is a world's leading expert in fibre optics and integrated optics. He has made extensive contributions in the theory, analysis, design, and characterization of optical fibres and waveguides, as well as fibre/waveguide based devices. A method he developed for obtaining the refractive-index profiles of graded-index planar optical waveguides is widely known as Chiang's method. (2000/2001)

Professor Emily CHING Shuk Chi is a professor in the Department of Physics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong . She is an internationally recognized leader in research in turbulent and chaotic dynamical systems. She received the Achievement in Asia Award of the Overseas Chinese Physics Association in 1999 and was elected a Fellow of the UK Institute of Physics and the American Physical Society respectively in 2004 and 2005. (2007/2008)

Professor CHOW Hak Fun is Professor of Chemistry at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Professor Chow is an internationally renowned research chemist in the field of dendrimer chemistry. His research work is centered on the synthesis and applications of functional dendritic macromolecules. He has made important contributions to the understanding of the chiroptical, electrochemical, catalytic and self-assembling properties of such macromolecular systems. His latest work on the self-assembling properties of amino acid-based dendritic molecules was featured as a frontispiece gallery full paper in Chemistry - A European Journal (year 2005, issue 20). He is also the China Regional Associate Editor of Synlett, an International Journal specialized in organic synthesis. (2006/2007)

Dr Billy CHOW Kwok Chong is Associate Professor of Zoology at The University of Hong Kong, and a nominee for the International Grace Pickford Award in 2004. Dr Chow is distinguished for his research in the area of molecular endocrinology, with special focus on gene regulation and structure-function relationships, of human secretin, GnRH and their receptors. The latest breakthrough from Dr Chow’s laboratory is that his group is the first in the world to substantiate the neuroactive functions of secretin. Dr Chow’s work has received international recognitions, including invitations for plenary and State-of-the-Art lectures in international symposiums and an interview in the Science News magazine (Vol 160, 2001). (2004/2005)

Professor CHYE Mee Len from the Department of Botany, The University of Hong Kong, is a leading plant molecular biologist who discovered a gene family encoding acyl-CoA binding proteins. Her laboratory elucidated the structure and function of these proteins in lipid metabolism using the model plant, Arabidopsis. She is on the Editorial Board of Planta and has also made contributions to “plant isoprenoid biosynthesis” and “plant biotechnology”. (2007/2008)

Professor Brian John DUGGAN is Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at The University of Hong Kong. Professor Duggan works on linking deformation microstructure and texture formation in the rolling and recrystallisation of metallic alloys. He has recently provided a theoretical framework for the development of rolling microstructure. From consideration of microstructural instabilities he explained the texture transition and through the theory of orientation splitting has given a self consistent model for rolling texture formation in cubic metals. Using these theories he has provided an explanation of annealing phenomena and he is one of the world's leading experts on recrystallisation theory. (1997/1998)

Professor Herbert FANG Han Ping is Chair of Environmental Engineering at The University of Hong Kong. Professor Fang has received international acclaim as an expert of environmental biotechnology related to water supply, water pollution control, microbial corrosion, bio-hydrogen production, and bioremediation. His research has led to the broadening of biotechnology to engineering applications for the improvement of water environment, and to a better understanding of microbial interactions in flocs, biofilms and sediment. (1999/2000)

Professor FUNG Wing Kam is Chair Professor of Statistics and Actuarial Science, The University of Hong Kong. Professor Fung is renowned for his research in statistical DNA forensics. He has contributed significantly in the interpretation of DNA mixtures, paternity testing and computer software development. He also has wide research interests and contributions in influence analysis, longitudinal data analysis and statistical genetics. He received the Distinguished Young Scientist Award (National Science Foundation of China) in 2004 and was elected a Fellow of the American Statistical Association in 2003. (2008/2009)

Professor HUANG Jie received Ph.D. degree from Johns Hopkins University. He is a professor with Department of Automation and Computer-aided Engineering, Chinese University of Hong Kong. His research interests include nonlinear control, neural networks, and flight guidance and control. He is the author of the book "Nonlinear Output Regulation: Theory and Applications", SIAM, 2004. He is an IEEE Fellow and a member of Board of Governors of IEEE Control Systems Society. (2006/2007)

Professor HUANG Jing Song is Professor of Mathematics at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Professor Huang’s research field is representation theory and harmonic analysis. He was awarded 2002 National Natural Science Award for his contribution to mathematical research. (2004/2005)

Professor Nancy IP Yuk Yu is Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Head and Chair Professor of Biochemistry, Director of Biotechnology Research Institute at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. She is a world renowned neurobiologist and has outstanding achievements in molecular and cellular neuroscience. Her important discoveries on the identification of novel neurotrophins as well as the receptor components utilized by neuropoietic cytokines have revolutionized the field of neurotrophic factors. Professor Ip is also internationally recognized as a leader in elucidating novel signaling mechanisms at the synapse. Her significant contributions to neuroscience and biotechnology are well documented with 150 highly cited scientific papers published in prominent reputable journals and 20 patents. Professor Ip was awarded the 2003 State Natural Science Award (SNSA), the 2004 L'OREAL - UNESCO for Women in Science Award and the 2005 Outstanding Women Professionals and Entrepreneurs Awards. She was recently elected into the Academy of Sciences for the Development World in 2004. (1998/1999)

Professor LAU Kei May is Chair Professor of Electronic and Computer Engineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Professor Lau is well known for her work in compound semiconductor materials and devices, as cited in her Fellow award by the IEEE ( Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers). She was one of the early contributors of metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) technology, which has become indispensable for the manufacturing of light-emitting diodes and high frequency/high speed transistors. Her research contributes to the revolution of solid state lighting, a ‘green’ energy saving replacement of traditional light sources, as well as low-cost components for very high speed and high-performance computers and mobile units. (2008/2009)

Professor Joseph LEE Hun Wei, Redmond Chair of Civil Engineering and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of The University of Hong Kong, is widely recognised internationally for his contributions in environmental hydraulics - in particular the theory of buoyant jets and its applications to environmental engineering. His methods for prediction of mixing of wastewater jets in moving water have been used internationally for sea outfall design and environmental impact assessment. He is a Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Sciences and Vice-President of the International Association of Hydraulic Engineering and Research (IAHR). He has contributed significantly to innovative flood control and water quality modelling for fisheries management in Hong Kong. He was elected to the Royal Academy of Engineering, UK, in 2008. (1998/1999)

Professor LEE Shuit Tong is member of Chinese of Academy of Sciences, Chair Professor of Materials Science and Director of the Center of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films at the City University of Hong Kong. His expertise includes nanomaterials and nanotechnology, OLED displays, diamond films, and superhard coatings. He has filed 15 US patents and published over 480 papers in internationally refereed journals including Science and Nature. Professor Lee received the von Humboldt Research Award in 2001 and received the State Natural Science Award (2nd Class) in 2002 and 2005. He is the Associate Editor of Diamond and Related Materials, Regional Editor for Asia of Physica Status Solidi and Editorial Board member of several international journals. Professor Lee was elected as an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2005. (2002/2003)

Professor Will LEE Wai Ming is Professor of Immunology and Molecular Biology and Head of Department of Zoology at The University of Hong Kong. Professor Lee is recognised by his long-term research on cell biology and tissue engineering of the male reproductive system. Such research studies involved the identification and characterization of many novel proteins and their genes in the testis. These molecules are either cell-engineering proteins for constituting the structure of the testis, or signaling molecules for germ cell development. Studies on such have provided insights to treatment of infertility, contraceptive development, sperm transplant and tissue reconstruction. (2002/2003)

Professor Victor LI On Kwok is Chair Professor of Information Engineering at The University of Hong Kong. Professor Li is distinguished for his major contributions in the design and analysis of communication networks. Amongst his achievements are innovative network protocols in wireless, optical, and Internet Protocol networks, and pioneering techniques to analyze them. Recent examples include an efficient scheme to guarantee quality of service in the Internet, and a novel self-routing scheme in all-optical networks. (2002/2003)

Professor LI Ping is a Professor in the Department of Electronic Engineering at the City University of Hong Kong. Professor Li is internationally recognized for his work on information theory and telecommunication systems. His main contributions include novel coding schemes and advanced wireless communication systems. In particular, Professor Li developed a practical way to approach the so-called ultimate Shannon limit of In2 = -1.6dB of telecommunication channels. His recent work on interleave-division multiple-access provides a simple solution to the interference problem in multiple access channels. (2005/2006)

Professor LI Wai Keung is Chair of Statistics at The University of Hong Kong. Professor Li is renowned for his works in time series analysis. He has made contributions to almost every area in time-domain time series analysis over the years. In particular, he is an expert in time series model diagnostics. He is also one of the pioneers in considering long memory time series. His papers are well cited by papers, textbooks and computer softwares. His works have found important applications in finance, risk management and hydrology. (2003/2004)

Dr LIN Fangzhen is Associate Professor of Computer Science at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Dr Lin is an expert in Artificial Intelligence, and is distinguished for his many important contributions to the theory and practice of knowledge representation and reasoning. (2006/2007)

Professor LO Sai Huen is Professor of Civil Engineering at The University of Hong Kong. He is an expert in finite element analysis using high-performance solid elements and mesh generation over bounded and unbounded planar domains, curved surfaces and volumes. He is a pioneer who first proposed the Advancing Front Method for mesh generation over planar regions and curved surfaces. Adopted into many commercial software, the advancing front approach along with the Delaunay triangulation can now be applied for automatic mesh generation over arbitrary 3D domains for complex engineering structures and industrial objects in a routine manner. Currently, he is Section Editor on Structural Analysis and CAD for the international journal “Progress in Structural Engineering and Materials”. (2004/2005)

Professor LUK Kwai Man is Head and Chair Professor of Department of Electronic Engineering at the City University of Hong Kong. Professor Luk is an authority in antenna design. He is distinguished for his significant contributions to the design and development of wideband patch antennas which find applications as low profile and esthetically pleasing antennas for modern mobile communications. He is a pioneer in the design of dielectric resonator antennas which are non-metallic antennas suitable for applications in future high speed millimeter wave wireless communication systems. His early study on the theory of microwave open resonator led to the disproof of the existence of the classical linearly-polarized higher order Gaussian beam modes. (2001/2002)

Professor Maria Li LUNG is Professor of Biology at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Director of The Cooperative Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC) Research Center. Professor Lung is an internationally known expert interested in deciphering the molecular genetic basis of human cancers. She has played a critical role in elucidating the importance of Epstein-Barr virus genotypes in distinguishing isolates in patients of different geographical, ethnic, and disease origins and in identifying and localizing critical tumor suppressor genes involved in the development of NPC. (2005/2006)

Professor Michael LYU Rung-Tsong is Professor of Computer Science and Director of Video over InternEt and Wireless (VIEW) Technologies Laboratory at The Chinese University of Hong Kong . He is distinguished for his contributions on Software Reliability Engineering and Software Fault Tolerance. He was the first to propose a design paradigm for N-version programming for fault-tolerant software. He has formulated a number software reliability modeling techniques widely used in the industry. He was also among the first pioneers to demonstrate effective applications of software reliability models for large-scale software projects. Professor Lyu is both an IEEE Fellow and an AAAS Fellow. (2008/2009)

Dr Andrew L MILLER is Associate Professor of Biology at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Dr Miller is recognized for his contribution to the investigation of the roles played by calcium ions in the signal transduction pathways that orchestrate embryonic development. He specializes in the use of calcium-sensitive bioluminescent proteins to visualize dynamic changes in levels of calcium in living cells. His lab has pioneered the development of transgenic animal models to study calcium signaling in intact embryos. (2004/2005)

Professor MOK Ngaiming is Chair Professor of Mathematics at The University of Hong Kong. He is an expert in Complex Analysis, Differential Geometry and Algebraic Geometry. He resolved the Generalized Frankel Conjecture in Kahler Geometry, and collaborated with Jun-Muk Hwang to resolve the Lazarsfeld Conjecture in Algebraic Geometry. He is on the Editorial Boards of Mathematische Annalen and Inventiones mathematicae. Formerly Professor at both Columbia University and the University of Paris, he is a strong advocate of international research collaboration. (1998/1999)

Professor NG Tai Kai is Professor of Theoretical Physics at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Professor Ng is distinguished for his contribution to theoretical condensed matter physics, in particular his prediction of Kondo effect in Quantum Dots, and his study of Topological Excitations in Low Dimensional Quantum Antiferromagnets. (2002/2003)

Professor NG Tung Sang is Chair of Electronic Engineering and Dean of Engineering at The University of Hong Kong. Professor Ng is distinguished for his contribution in signal processing techniques in spread spectrum communication systems. He is one of the leading experts in wireless communications, particularly in CDMA and the 3G/4G mobile systems. He pioneered the idea of adjusting the pulse shape of the despreading sequence at the receiver to reduce the interference from other users and to improve different aspects of receiver performance which in turn lead to increase in the system capacity of a mobile communications system. His current research is focussed on MIMO and OFDM systems. (1999/2000)

Professor David Lee PHILLIPS is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at The University of Hong Kong. Professor Phillips is an internationally recognized scientist who uses time-resolved spectroscopy experiments and quantum mechanical calculations to study short-lived intermediates in chemical reactions of interest in chemistry, biology and the environment. He has published more than 200 international refereed scientific journal articles listed in Science Citation Index (SCI). He is listed in the top 0.2% of most cited chemists in the world over the past ten years as given by the Scientists rankings in ISI Essential Science Indicators-Scientist Rankings-Chemistry Field. (2006/2007)

Dr Randy POON Yat Choi is Associate Professor of Biochemistry at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Dr Poon is a renowned scholar on cell cycle control and tumorigenesis. His recent research focuses on the molecular basis of how different proteins regulate the cell cycle in normal and cancer cells. (2002/2003)

Professor Tony SHING Kung Ming obtained his first degree from HKU, his M.Sc., Ph.D. and D.Sc. degrees from the University of London . Professor Shing was organic chemistry professor at Manchester University and visiting professor at the University of California , Irvine before returning to Hong Kong in 1990. He is now organic chemistry professor in the Department of Chemistry at the Chinese University of Hong Kong . His research interest is on the syntheses of organic molecules with chemotherapeutic potential, namely anti-cancer, anti-viral, or anti-diabetic activities. (2008/2009)

Professor TAN Sooi Thor is Professor and Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at The University of Hong Kong. Professor Tan is widely recognized internationally for his work in Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing (CAD/CAM), geometric modelling and applications, layered manufacturing and heterogeneous solid modeling. He has been dedicated to the building up of expertise in CAD/CAM knowledge, and contributed significantly to the dissemination of such technology in Hong Kong. (2004/2005)

Professor TANG Ben Zhong is Professor of Chemistry at The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology. Professor Tang has developed new catalyst systems and new polymerization reactions for transforming acetylenic monomers to conjugated polymers with linear and hyperbranched structures and advanced functional properties. Professor Tang has discovered an intriguing phenomenon of “aggregation-induced emission” and spearheaded new area of research. (2007/2008)

Professor TANG Zi Kang is Professor of Physics at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Professor Tang is an internationally renowned expert in fundamental research of nano materials. His first demonstration of room temperature ultraviolet lasing of nano-structured zinc oxide triggered a worldwide booming in ZnO semiconductor research. His pioneer publication in Applied Physics Letteres on nano-structured ZnO lasing has been cited over 580 times. He is also pioneered to develop template technique of producing inorganic nanostructures. His publications in Nature and Science were the first to show the world’s smallest single-walled carbon nanotube structures, and the observation of one-dimensional superconducting fluctuation from the ultra-small carbon nanotubes. (2007/2008)

Professor David TONG Shuk Yin is the Deputy President and Chair Professor of Physics at the City University of Hong Kong. He is a world-authority on the structure of surfaces. He developed multiple-scattering methods for surface techniques including low energy electron diffraction, reflection high-energy electron diffraction, photoelectron diffraction and high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy. A number of complicated surface structures of important materials were solved by Professor Tong and he pioneered the techniques of electron diffraction holography and photoelectron holography. Professor Tong was elected Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Fellow of American Physical Society. He holds an concurrent appointment of the Directorship of the Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. (1997/1998)

Professor WANG Zidan is Professor of Physics at The University of Hong Kong. Professor Wang is an international known theoretician in condensed matter physics and quantum computation. He has made notable contributions to vortex physics, geometric phases, and geometric quantum computation. His latest work on many-body quantum entanglement provides a new generic strategy for exploring various quantum phase transitions in a wide class of complex quantum systems. (2007/2008)

Professor WEI Juncheng is Professor of Mathematics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Professor Wei is an internationally renowned expert in the field of concentration phenomenon of partial differential equation. His fundamental work on singularly perturbed equations has attracted a lot of interests and opened a new era in the study of semilinear elliptic equations. According to the ISI Essential Science Indicators, covering the period from 1 January 1994 to 30 August 2004, Professor Wei was ranked 20th out of 859 mathematicians in the field of "Mathematics" by ISI. (2005/2006)

Professor WONG Ming Hung is Director of Institute for Natural Resources and Environmental Management, and Chair Professor of Biology at the Hong Kong Baptist University. Professor Wong is one of the pioneers in the area of pollution ecology in our region. He currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of Environmental Geochemistry and Health (Kluwer) and Coordinator of Central and East Asia of the project "Regionally based assessment of persistent toxic substances" sponsored by UNEP and GEF (Global Environmental Facility). (1997/1998)

Professor Henry WONG Nai Ching is Professor of Chemistry and Head of New Asia College at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Professor Wong is distinguished for his syntheses of non-natural molecules of theoretical interests. He has identified the world's most strained five-membered cumulenes. Professor Wong is also active in the use of furan, a renewable resource, as precursor in the total synthesis of complex naturally occurring molecules. Professor Wong was elected as an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1999, and the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (formerly known as the Third World Academy of Sciences) in 2004. (1999/2000)

Professor WONG Wing Tak is Professor of Chemistry at The University of Hong Kong. Professor Wong is distinguished for his research in synthetic, structural chemistry and metal cluster science. He also has wide contributions in the nano-materials research, lanthanide chemistry and X-ray crystallography. He has published over 270 research papers in internationally leading journals and served on the editorial board of Journal of Cluster Science, and is a co-editor of Acta Crystallographica. (2003/2004)

Professor WONG Yung Hou is Professor of Biochemistry and Associate Director of Biotechnology Research Institute at The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology. Professor Wong's research interests are in the structure and function of G protein-coupled receptors. By utilizing a combination of biochemical, immunological, and molecular biology approaches, he has made significant contributions to the understanding of the mechanisms of drug actions, especially those involved in the development of opiate tolerance and dependence. He has also created several universal G protein adapters that serve as powerful molecular tools for drug discovery. (2001/2002)

Professor WU Chi (Qi) is Professor of Chemistry and Honorary Professor of Physics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Professor Wu is a leading expert in laser light scattering (LLS) and he is distinguished for his LLS studies of polymers/colloids in dilute solution/dispersion. First and foremost his observation of the coil-to-globule transition of a single polymer chain and demonstration of the molten globular state have been recognized as a landmark in polymer science. Professor Wu was elected as an Fellow of American physical society in 1999 and as an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2003. (2001/2002)

Professor WU Yun Dong is Professor of Chemistry at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. (2000/2001)

Professor XIA Keqing is Professor in Physics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Professor Xia is a leading expert in the studies of turbulent thermal convection. Among his many contributions to the field, his work in high Prandtl number heat flux measurement played a pivotal role in settling a long-standing issue in the field. His pioneering work on the statistical behavior of individual thermal plumes led to the discovery that active and passive scalars share statistically similar features, which is regarded as "important to the field of turbulence in fluids" and "shed an original light on Rayleigh-Benard convection". (2005/2006)

Professor XIE Zuowei is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Professor Xie is an expert in organometallic/inorganic chemistry and he is distinguished for his work in the areas of carboranes, metallacarboranes and organolanthanides. His numerous findings encompass the discovery of the highest hapticity of carboranes and the development of a novel class of organic-inorganic hybrid versatile compounds. (2003/2004)

Professor XU Youlin is Chair Professor of Structural Engineering and Director of the Research Centre for Urban Hazards Mitigation at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He is widely recognised internationally for his contributions in wind engineering. earthquake engineering, structural vibration control and structural health monitoring. His pioneering work on tuned liquid column dampers, coupling control of adjacent buildings, bridges under skew winds, vehicle-bridge systems in crosswinds, wind-rain-induced cable vibration and control has found important applications in the analysis, design and construction of tall buildings and long span cable-supported bridges. (2006/2007)

Professor Hannah XUE Hong is Associate Professor in Biochemistry at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. The research interests of Professor Xue focus on a family of neurotransmitter-gated channel receptors - GABAA receptors. She has contributed significantly to the field in the molecular structure of the receptors, as well as natural product-centered pharmacology of the receptors. Most recently, her group has discovered an association between a gene of the receptors and schizophrenia, a debilitating mental illness that affects one percent of the world's population. (2005/2006)

Professor Vivian YAM Wing Wah is Chair of Chemistry at The University of Hong Kong. Professor Yam was elected to the Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in 2001 as the youngest member of the Academy. Professor Yam is well known for her work in the areas of inorganic/organometallic chemistry, inorganic/organometallic photophysics and photochemistry, luminescent materials, polynuclear metal complexes and clusters, molecular functional materials, spectrochemical and luminescence sensing. Professor Yam was recently awarded the 2005 State Natural Science Award (Second Class Award) by the National Office of Science and Technology Awards (NOSTA) of China for her project on "Molecular Design and Luminescence Studies of Transition Metal Complexes with Alkynyl- and Chalcogen-Containing Ligands", and the RSC Centenary Lectureship & Medal (2005-06) by the Royal Society of Chemistry, UK. She is the first Chinese academic to be offered such an endowed lectureship by RSC to recognize her research contributions to inorganic chemistry. The award was made for her innovative design and synthesis of metal-based luminescent materials and novel contributions to light-induced chemical reactions. (2000/2001)

Professor YANG Dan is Professor of Chemistry at The University of Hong Kong. Professor Yang's research focuses on asymmetric catalysis and total synthesis, design and synthesis of novel peptidomimetics, and chemical biology of natural products. Amongst her achievements have been the developments of chiral ketone-catalyzed asymmetric epoxidation method, Lewis acid catalyzed asymmetric radical cyclization methods, foldamers based on aminoxy acids, and total synthesis of antitumor, anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive agent triptolide. (2001/2002)

Professor Anthony YEH Gar On is Chair Professor in Urban Planning and Geographic Information Science at The University of Hong Kong. Professor Yeh is distinguished for his major contributions to urban planning and GIS research and development in Hong Kong, China and Asia. He is widely recognized internationally as one of the leading experts on urban development and planning in Hong Kong and China and the applications of GIS in urban and regional planning. His recent research on the use of cellular automata in urban planning models has provided an invaluable tool for the planning of sustainable urban development. Professor Yeh was later elected as an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. (2001/2002)

Professor Raymond YEUNG Wai Ho is a Professor in the Department of Information Engineering at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Professor Yeung is distinguished for his major contributions to information theory, most notably in the set-theoretic structure of Shannon's information measures, information inequalities, and network coding theory. His pioneering work in information theory not only has opened up new areas of research, but also has shed light on the connections of probability theory, group theory. Kolmogorov complexity, and thermodynamics to information theory. (2000/2001)

Professor David ZHANG Dapeng is Professor of Computing at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Professor Zhang is a world leading expert in biometrics system design and development (especially in palmprint identification, integrated system design and security applications). He has made extensive contributions in the pattern analysis, feature extraction and matching of palmprint identification system, as well as in integrated biometrics technologies. He has received the several awards like Silver Medal in The Seoul International Invention Fair, Special Gold Award & Gold Medal in National Invention Exhibition and Hong Kong Industry Award. He also takes over ten editorships including Founder and Editor-in-Chief, International Journal of Image and Graphics, and Founder and Editor, International Kluwer Series on Biometrics. (2004/2005)

Professor ZHANG Mingjie is Professor of Biochemistry at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Professor Zhang is an internationally renowned structural biologist. He has made a number of contributions to the elucidation of structural and regulatory properties of neuronal signaling proteins. His laboratory in Hong Kong has published extensively in the prestigious journals including Science and Nature Structural Biology. (2003/2004)

Professor ZHANG Tong Yi is a Fellow of ASM International (USA), and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Professor Zhang is distinguished for his research on the mechanical properties of materials and his contributions to the "knowledge of hydrogen diffusion, fracture of piezoelectric ceramics, intercalated graphite, and thin film systems using both analytical and state-of-the-art experimental techniques". (2003/2004)

Professor ZHAO Tianshou is Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Professor Zhao is internationally known for his significant contributions to research on fuel cells, micro/nano-scale multiphase transport, and the advanced lattice Boltzmann method. He has published many important papers in prestigious journals in the fields of mechanical engineering, physics and electrochemistry. He is Editor-in-Chief of Advances in Fuel Cells, Asian Regional Editor of Applied Thermal Engineering, and a member of the Editorial Boards for more than ten international journals. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and a recipient of the Overseas Outstanding Young Investigator Award from the Natural Science Foundation of China. (2008/2009)

Professor ZHOU Xunyu is Professor of Systems Engineering and Engineering Management at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Professor Zhou is an internationally leading expert in the area of stochastic control and applications. He has made fundamental contributions to stochastic control by establishing a relation between maximum principle and dynamic programming, and by introducing and developing the indefinite stochastic LQ control theory. Recently he has turned his attention to financial application, and has establish a systematic theory on extending Markowitz's Nobel-prize-winning mean-variance portfolio selection model from single period to continuous time. He is a Fellow of IEEE, and a recipient of the SIAM Outstanding Paper Prize. (2005/2006)

Croucher Senior Medical Research Fellowships

Professor Francis CHAN Ka Leung is a Professor of Medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong . He is an internationally renowned expert in nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced gastrointestinal injury and its prevention. His research work on the relationship between Helicobacter pylori and NSAIDs has driven the Maastricht Consensus to develop guidelines on the prevention of NSAID-related ulcer. Professor Chan is the first in academic history who has published 6 first-authored original research articles in The New England Journal of Medicine and The Lancet. (2007/2008)

Professor FAN Sheung Tat is Chair Professor of Surgery at The University of Hong Kong. Professor Fan studies extensively on hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatitis B, cirrhosis, intrahepatic stones, acute biliary pancreatitis and liver transplantation. He performed Hong Kong's first successful liver transplant and leads the most successful liver transplant program in China and Southeast Asia. In 1996, he innovated the adult-to-adult living-related liver transplantation using a right lobe graft, which is now adopted throughout the world. He won China's Top National Honours for Scientific Achievements in 2005. (1998/1999)

Professor LEUNG Suet Yi is Professor of Pathology at The University of Hong Kong. Professor Leung is known for her expertise in molecular genetics and genomics of gastrointestinal cancer. Her group has discovered novel genes that are mutated or epigenetically silenced in sporadic gastrointestinal cancers, which may help development of new anti-cancer therapeutics. Professor Leung has also found new epigenetic and genetic mechanisms for hereditary colon cancer that improve the genetic diagnosis strategies for at risk families. (2007/2008)

Professor LO Chung Mau is Chair Professor of Hepatobiliary Surgery at The University of Hong Kong. Professor Lo is internationally renowned for his expertise in hepatobiliary surgery and liver transplantation. He and his group pioneered adult living donor right lobe liver transplant since 1996 and opened a whole new world in this field. His group was the first to report the novel observation of adoptive transfer of hepatitis B immunity through a liver graft and this finding has led to a potential new strategy in hepatitis B prophylaxis after transplantation. He won China's Top National Honours for Scientific Achievements in 2005. (2004/2005)

Professor Dennis LO Yuk Ming is the Dr. Li Ka Shing Professor of Medicine and Associate Dean (Research) of the Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. He has discovered the presence of cell-free fetal nucleic acids in the plasma of pregnant women and has developed a sensitive plasma DNA test for nasopharyngeal cancer. Professor Lo has produced over 200 publications in international journals and holds numerous patents. (2006/2007)

Professor Irene NG Oi Lin is Professor of Pathology at The University of Hong Kong. Professor Ng is internationally recognized for her expertise in research in liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma), particularly in molecular genetics and patho-biology. Among her achievements have been the identification and characterization of novel genes and proteins of this cancer. These studies have provided important insight in the understanding of hepatocarcinogenesis and help to identify potential targets in novel cancer therapy. She ranks among the world's top 1% in the ISI list of most cited scientists in clinical medicine. (2005/2006)

Professor Joseph Sriyal Malik PEIRIS is Professor of Microbiology at The University of Hong Kong. Professor Peiris is a clinical virologist currently supervising diagnostic virology at the Queen Mary Hospital. His current research interests are the ecology, epidemiology, clinical disease burden, evolution and pathogenesis of animal and human influenza and other human respiratory viruses. In March 2003, he played a key role in the discovery that a novel coronavirus was the aetiological agent of SARS. Previous research work has also included studies on the pathogenesis and epidemiology of arboviruses and herpesviruses. Professor Peiris won the accolade of the world's "hottest researcher" in the March/April 2005 edition of Science Watch published by Thomson Scientific, for nine highly-cited papers on Sars. (2005/2006)