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Summer Undergraduate Research Programme (SURP)
Research Projects
Over 160 research topics are offered by CUHK host supervisors. Applicants are recommended to choose more than one project in their applications to increase the chance of admission.
Please click onto the Faculty tab below for the details of the research projects.
(In alphabetical order of CUHK department and surname of supervisor)
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. GONZALES Wilkinson Daniel WONG |
| Research Project (1): | Across the Harbo(r): Examining the Meanings of English /r/ in a Changing Hong Kong |
| Project Description: | The sounds of a language often change faster than we notice, but their social meanings can shift even faster. In Hong Kong, English occupies a unique position as both a global and local language, shaped by colonial history, multilingual contact, and new generations of speakers. However, despite decades of research on Hong Kong English, most studies have been snapshots taken at one point in time. What we still lack is a long-term, diachronic understanding of how features of Hong Kong English evolve socially as well as phonetically.
This project addresses that gap through a decade-spanning investigation of one particularly telling feature: the postvocalic /r/, the sound that appears after a vowel in words such as car, hard, and park. Whether speakers pronounce or omit this /r/ has long been a key marker of class, identity, and social aspiration in English varieties worldwide. In Hong Kong, it offers a powerful lens for tracing how the social meanings of “good” English have shifted from colonial norms toward more hybrid, global, and locally anchored forms of expression. By comparing data collected over multiple years, the project examines whether /r/ is becoming a marker of international sophistication, youthful informality, or simply one of many stylistic options within Hong Kong’s diverse soundscape.
Inspired by William Labov’s classic “fourth floor” study, the research reimagines his sociolinguistic methods for Hong Kong’s urban environment. Instead of department stores, student researchers will conduct fieldwork in the city’s malls, i.e., from Causeway Bay to Sha Tin, recording and observing everyday speech in natural settings. These data will be compared with earlier records to identify both phonetic and social change over time.
Students will receive hands-on training in sociolinguistic fieldwork, acoustic and statistical analysis, and qualitative interpretation of speech and perception data. They will learn how to connect linguistic variation to broader questions of identity and social meaning, contributing to a long-term research archive of Hong Kong English.
No prior research experience is required: just curiosity, responsibility, and an interest in how language reflects social change. Fieldwork will take place entirely within Hong Kong. English proficiency is required; Cantonese or Mandarin ability is helpful but optional. By summer’s end, participants will have helped document how one sound, /r/, captures the city’s ongoing negotiation of history, identity, and voice. |
| Research Project (2): | Signs of change: Mapping Hong Kong’s Linguistic Landscape Across Real and Virtual Worlds |
| Project Description: | Every sign in Hong Kong tells a story: on shopfronts, in MTR stations, and even on your phone screen. However, these stories don’t stop at the visible text or the languages we can read. They reflect how people continually adapt to change: how they navigate identity, culture, and belonging in a city that is constantly transforming, both physically and digitally.
Earlier studies of Hong Kong’s linguistic landscape often focused on cataloguing signs in physical spaces, offering valuable snapshots of multilingual life. But today, communication in Hong Kong flows across many interconnected layers. A café’s handwritten notice might reappear on Instagram, where emojis, hashtags, and filters give it new meanings. A political slogan on a wall might later resurface as a meme or digital artwork. Even the same sign may carry different meanings for different generations, or shift in value and symbolism over time. Together, these transformations reveal how Hong Kong’s linguistic landscape mirrors the city’s broader processes of social and cultural change.This project invites students to look beyond the surface of signs and explore how linguistic and visual symbols circulate across Hong Kong’s physical, digital, and social worlds. Students may choose to focus on either the synchronic dimension (examining the present meanings of signs and symbols in context) or the diachronic dimension (investigating how meanings and practices change over time). Working in small teams, they will select one or two focus areas, e.g., Mong Kok’s street markets, Sham Shui Po’s creative districts, or online communities like Instagram or Xiaohongshu (Rednote), and design a study that links place, media, and meaning.
Through fieldwork, digital ethnography, and interviews, students will document how multilingual and multimodal resources, ranging from English, Cantonese, and Mandarin to color, typography, emojis, and layout, are used to communicate, connect, and contest social realities. In the analysis phase, they will gain hands-on experience with both qualitative and quantitative methods, from coding and visual mapping to multimodal and discourse analysis.
By the end of the project, participants will produce a comprehensive report demonstrating how signs, meanings, and identities shift across spaces, media, and time. Prior coursework in linguistics, sociolinguistics, or related fields is helpful but not required. More important are curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to explore how language and visual design reflect a city, and a society, continually in motion. |
| Research Project (3): | Corpusing” the City: Digital Approaches to Investigating English in Hong Kong |
| Project Description: | English in Hong Kong carries many layers of meaning, i.e., historical, social, and personal. From everyday Cantonese-English code-switching to the distinct pronunciation and phrasing of Hong Kong English, language use in the city reflects ongoing negotiation between global influence and local identity. This project invites students to explore these dynamics through corpus-based methods, analyzing how English and bilingual practices unfold across texts, platforms, and communities.
Rather than focusing solely on face-to-face interaction, this project turns to corpora—large collections of authentic language data—as a lens into social meaning and linguistic variation. Students will examine how English is used in Hong Kong across different media and groups, and how patterns of variation emerge through digital evidence. They may draw from existing datasets such as the Corpus of Cantonese-English Code-Switching on WhatsApp, the Twitter Corpus of English in Hong Kong, or the Corpus of Neurodivergent Texts in Hong Kong. Alternatively, they may create a small, original corpus based on their own research interests, such as bilingual advertisements, student writing, or online discussion threads.
Through this project, students will investigate questions such as: How does English vary across speakers, genres, or online platforms? What linguistic features or code-switching patterns index social identity, affiliation, or creativity? How do the meanings and functions of English shift across time or context in Hong Kong’s multilingual landscape?
Students will gain hands-on experience in corpus compilation, annotation, and analysis using tools such as AntConc and English-Corpora.org. They will also learn how to complement quantitative findings with qualitative interpretation, connecting frequency patterns and collocations to broader sociolinguistic insights. Variation, in this sense, is not only a matter of sound or syntax, it also reflects how people adapt language to express themselves in an ever-changing society.
By the end of the project, participants will produce a detailed corpus-based report examining English-related phenomena or English variation and change in Hong Kong. While prior coursework in sociolinguistics or linguistics is advantageous, it is not required. What matters most is curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to see how data, digital or everyday, can illuminate the ways language evolves alongside the city and its people. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Jack PUN |
| Research Project (1): | Understanding Hong Kong English and its Culture |
| Project Description: | This project explores the linguistic, cultural, and social dimensions of Hong Kong English (HKE)—a localized variety of English that reflects the city’s colonial history, bilingual identity, and evolving global connections. By examining real-life language use in media, education, and everyday communication, the project aims to understand how English functions as a marker of identity, belonging, and cultural expression in postcolonial Hong Kong. Students will investigate topics such as local lexical innovations, code-mixing with Cantonese, accents and pronunciation features, and representations of Hong Kong English in literature, film, and social media.
Study Background:
Language Requirement:
Fieldwork and Research Activities:
No overseas fieldwork is required, but students are encouraged to engage actively with Hong Kong’s local linguistic environment. |
| Research Project (2): | English Teaching and Learning in Hong Kong Classrooms: Challenges and Innovations |
| Project Description: | This project investigates how English is taught and learned in Hong Kong schools and universities, with particular attention to English-medium instruction (EMI) and English language education in multilingual contexts. It explores how teachers adapt their pedagogical practices to meet students’ diverse language needs and how students experience learning English in classroom and extracurricular settings. Topics may include classroom discourse analysis, teachers’ use of translanguaging, curriculum design, assessment practices, and the role of technology and generative AI in language learning.
Study Background:
Language Requirement:
Fieldwork and Research Activities:
No overseas travel is required. This project offers an authentic opportunity to connect linguistic theory with classroom practice in the Hong Kong context. |
| Research Project (3): | Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Language Learning in Hong Kong |
| Project Description: | This project explores how artificial intelligence (AI) tools—such as ChatGPT, Grammarly, and AI-based translation or feedback systems—are transforming English learning and teaching in Hong Kong. It examines how students and teachers use AI to support writing, reading, and speaking, and how these technologies shape learner autonomy, feedback literacy, and assessment practices. The project also considers ethical, pedagogical, and cultural issues surrounding AI adoption in local education contexts.
Study Background:
Language Requirement:
Fieldwork and Research Activities:
No overseas field trips are required. The project offers a hands-on opportunity to explore how emerging technologies reshape English language education in Hong Kong’s digital era. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Ganyi FENG |
| Research Project (1): | Neurocognitive Profiles of Individual Language Learning Success |
| Project Description: | This project encompasses several neuroimaging experiments aimed at uncovering the neurocognitive foundations that support speech perception and the acquisition of foreign languages in adults. This includes mastering and representing novel phonetic contrasts, auditory categories, sound-symbol associations, and grammatical rules, as well as how our brain supports these learning processes. This project focuses on building prediction models that can utilize individual learners’ neural and cognitive profiles to predict their future learning success, identifying the most appropriate learning materials and teaching approaches that suit each individual learner.
Enrolled students will work closely with me and my lab members to conduct literature reviews, meta-analyses, experimental design, data collection and/or analysis, and research report writing for ongoing projects. Lab members and I will provide relevant research training.
For students who have a strong background in this area of research, additional work may be assigned, such as collecting and analyzing fMRI, fNIRS, and EEG data, as well as writing an experimental report or research paper. Students with appropriate experience may also have the opportunity to work with data from special populations, such as neuroimaging data from children with learning disorders and hearing loss. Students can learn specific research skills through hands-on practice on a project of interest. |
| Research Project (2): | Interpersonal Brain Synchronization in Successful Teaching and Learning |
| Project Description: | This project investigates an intriguing phenomenon: how the brains of teachers and students synchronize during successful interactions. This alignment, typically measured using methods like functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) or EEG, shows coordinated brain activity that enhances communication, empathy, and learning. We have 10 portable fNIRS machines in our lab, which enable us to run small classroom experiments where the teacher and students interact during learning while their brains are scanned simultaneously. We examine what factors influence brain synchronization and aim to develop optimal teaching and learning approaches to maximize synchronization and learning outcomes. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Peggy MOK |
| Research Project: | Speech Production and Perception Research |
| Project Description: | Depending on students’ background and interests, there are various speech research projects available for students to participate in involving a variety of languages, e.g., tone sandhi in some Chinese dialects, Cantonese and English speech data of human-AI interaction, data of co-speech gesture. Students will be able to analyse real project data. Students can also join the regular activities of the phonetics lab, e.g. lab meetings and workshops. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Patrick WONG |
| Research Project (1): | Brain and Language |
| Project Description: | Using a team-science approach, this project examines the neural basis of language learning and processing. Students will work closely with a lab member to conduct a literature review, brainstorm ideas for specific experiments, collect data from ongoing experiments, and/or analyze existing data. For students with a strong background in this area of research, additional responsibilities may be assigned, such as participating in MRI and EEG experiments. For some projects, students with the appropriate background may work with special populations such as children with autism and dyslexia. Specific duties will be assigned at the first meeting after a discussion of the students’ background and interests, as well as the lab’s current needs. Students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with journal papers published by our group (brain.cuhk.edu.hk). |
| Research Project (2): | Infant Speech Perception & Language Development |
| Project Description: | In this project, students will participate in an ongoing cohort study to identify early predictors of language and cognitive development. 300 infants are being longitudinally studied for up to 5 years. Students will work closely with a member of the lab to conduct a literature review, brainstorm ideas for specific experiments, collect data of experiments that are ongoing, and/or analyze existing data. Students will work as members of a research team. Specific duties will be assigned at the first meeting after a discussion of the students’ background and interests, as well as the lab’s current needs. Students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with journal papers published by our group (brain.cuhk.edu.hk). |
(In alphabetical order of CUHK department and surname of supervisor)
| CUHK Supervisor: | Dr. Kin Yan HO |
| Research Project: | The Study of Consumer Neuroscience in Pro-environmental Behavior |
| Project Description: | The project aims to understand the neural underpinnings of how brands’ environmental or ecological cues (dynamic or static) trigger affective valuation, influencing long-term environmental actions.
A laboratory visit will be arranged within or outside Hong Kong. Travelling may be required.
Students with an interest in or fundamental knowledge of business sustainability/psychology/neuroscience are welcome to apply. |
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(In alphabetical order of CUHK department and surname of supervisor)
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Ronnel B. KING |
| Research Project (1): | Social and Emotional Learning |
| Project Description: | This project aims to: 1. Identify the nature and understand the importance of social-emotional learning for students’ development. 2. Apply descriptive statistics and basic inferential statistics to understand the data 3. Draw out key empirical insights from the data analyses of the survey. 4. Create a plan to improve students’ social and emotional learning in the school contextBackground: Students doing undergraduate degrees in the social sciences, specifically psychology and education are preferred. Background in quantitative analysis is preferred.Specific requirements: Analysis of secondary data; writing up of a brief research paper, poster presentation. |
| Research Project (2): | Growth Mindset |
| Project Description: | This project aims to: 1. Identify the role of growth mindsets in students’ learning and well-being 2. Apply descriptive statistics and basic inferential statistics to understand the data 3. Draw out key empirical insights from the data analyses of the survey. 4. Create a plan to improve students’ growth mindsets in the school contextBackground: Students doing undergraduate degrees in the social sciences, specifically psychology and education are preferred. Background on quantitative analysis is preferred.Specific requirements: Analysis of secondary data; writing up of a brief research paper, poster presentation. |
| Research Project (3): | University Students’ Motivation and Engagement |
| Project Description: | This project involves qualitative research into the motivation and engagement of university students. Participants will be asked to interview 10-15 students, conduct thematic analysis, and write up the results.
Background: Students doing undergraduate degrees in the social sciences, specifically psychology and education are preferred. Some background on qualitative analysis is preferred.
Specific requirements: Conducting interviews, engaging in thematic analysis, writing up of a brief research paper, and poster presentation. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Catherine Wing-Chee SO |
| Research Project: | Exploring People’s Views on Neurodiversity in Hong Kong |
| Project Description: | This project explores how general public in Hong Kong perceives neurodiversity. Interested students should be major in Sociology, Psychology or Education. They should be native Cantonese speakers and should have fundamental knowledge and skills in designing questionnaires. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Dr. John O’REILLY |
| Research Project (1): | Assessment of Bone Health and Body Composition and Nutritional Intake of Professional Athletes |
| Project Description: | Background reading on the relevant topic, along with data collection, assessment and analysis of professional athletes in Hong Kong. |
| Research Project (2): | Physical Activity and Psychosocial Assessments of Schoolchildren in Hong Kong |
| Project Description: | Background reading on the relevant topic, along with data collection, assessment and analysis of schoolchildren in Hong Kong pre- and post- exercise programme intervention |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Yijian YANG |
| Research Project (1): | Understanding the Structure of Gait Variability among Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) |
| Project Description: | Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects children’s learning and control of motor skills, and hence their daily activities. Despite the reported consequences of poor academic performance, physical inactivity and low self-efficacy, this needy population is largely underrecognized by healthcare and educational professional. The study sought to understand the structure of gait variability among DCD children through comparisons with their typically developed counterparts and hence shed light to the possible mechanisms and inform effective intervention strategies for the disorder.
In this project, students will be involved in: (i) performing DCD screening tests for children in local schools; (ii) assisting with data collection and analyses for gait variability and muscle synergy in a standard exercise biomechanics laboratory setting; (iii) assisting with data collection and analyses using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).
Students with academic background in kinesiology, exercise science, physical education or other related majors, and/or prior experience in simple programming (e.g., MATLAB, Python) are preferred. |
| Research Project (2): | Effects of 6-weeks Cross-education Balance Training on Bilateral Sensorimotor Functions in Individuals with Unilateral Chronic Ankle Instability: A Randomized Controlled Trial |
| Project Description: | Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is one of most common musculoskeletal injuries characterized by sensorimotor dysfunction with high incidence and recurrence. Previous studies usually assessed and rehabilitated the injured side of unilateral CAI; however, the uninjured side of individuals with unilateral CAI may also display sensorimotor deficits. Cross-education training is defined as adaptation of an untrained limb after unilateral training of the contralateral limb, which may modulate the bilateral function via interhemispheric interactions. Therefore, this study will aim to investigate the effectiveness of cross-education training on bilateral sensorimotor function in individuals with unilateral CAI and elucidate the brain mechanisms via functional connection analysis.
In this project, students will be involved in: (i) performing CAI screening via online platform; (ii) assisting with rehabilitation training program; (iii) collecting and analyzing data related to electromyography and electroencephalography data.
Students with academic background in exercise science, rehabilitation or neuroscience major, and/or prior experience in simple programming (e.g., MATLAB) are preferred. |
| Research Project (3): | Kinematic Analysis of Forehand Badminton Smashes in Collegiate Badminton Players |
| Project Description: | The badminton smash stands out as a crucial skill for scoring points, constituting a significant one-fifth of all attacks. While prior research has predominantly focused on jump smashes or maximal speed smashes with the goal of achieving a higher shuttlecock speed. Factors such as higher peak wrist joint angular velocity, increased shoulder internal rotation at shuttlecock/racket impact and trunk rotation have been identified as positively correlated with shuttlecock speed. However, precision also plays a pivotal role in converting a smash into a point. Despite these insights, there remains a gap in the literature regarding a comprehensive biomechanical examination of alternative smash types, such as the stick smash or shots aimed at the sidelines. Consequently, this study sought to investigate how various kinematic variables (including joint angles and angular velocity) of the upper limbs and trunk interplay to affect both the accuracy and speed across different smash variations.
In this project, students will be involved in: (i) assisting with the subject recruitment; and (ii) collecting and analyzing data using Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) motion capture system.
Students with academic background in kinesiology, exercise science, physical education or other related majors, and/or prior experience in simple programming (e.g., MATLAB, Python) are preferred. |
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(In alphabetical order of CUHK department and surname of supervisor)
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Liting DUAN |
| Research Project (1): | Optogenetic Control of Intracellular Signaling Pathways in Living Cells for Biomedical Applications |
| Project Description: | This project will lead you onto a vibrant journey that uses light, not just to see, but to control and explore the complex intricacies of cellular behaviors. In our unique optogenetic systems, cells are not just observed-they are transformed. We genetically engineer them to express photosensitive proteins, making them responsive to light pulses. The heart of this innovative method is the creation of these photosensitive fusion proteins that leap into action under light illumination. In this project, you will participate in the development of these fusion proteins, integrating photosensory proteins to manipulate signaling pathways in living cells. You will not only watch these pathways come to life through live cell imaging but also validate their activation using various methods such as immunoblot experiments. With the power to control signaling pathways using light, we can delve deeper into the mechanisms that drive various physiological and pathological processes. This knowledge paves the way for the development of light-gated precision gene therapies for related diseases – potentially revolutionizing treatments that can change lives. As part of our team, you will acquire essential cloning techniques to create DNA sequences of interest master live cell fluorescence imaging, and fine-tune your immunoblot skills. This project offers a rich, interdisciplinary learning experience, blending elements of chemistry, biology, molecular biology, chemical biology, genetics, bioengineering, and biomedical engineering. We warmly invite students from any related discipline – be it chemistry, biology, molecular biology, chemical biology, biological chemistry, genetics, bioengineering, biomedical engineering, or life science – to apply. |
| Research Project (2): | Unveiling Cellular Mysteries: Development of Novel Tools to Study Intracellular Activities and Functions |
| Project Description: | Cells are not merely vessels of life﹔ they are intricate microcosms brimming with complex organelles like the ER, mitochondria, lysosomes, and nuclei. These organelles, occupying a significant portion of cell volume, are the unsung heroes behind normal cellular functioning.
Despite the rapid advancements over the last two decades, the cellular landscape still holds numerous mysteries. This is where you come in! In this project, we aim to develop new innovative tools, like optogenetics-based methods, to decode the intricacies of organelle dynamics, understand their functions, and reveal the interactions between them under varies physiological and pathological conditions.
By shedding light on these cellular enigmas, we can push the boundaries of our understanding of the roles of organelles in health and disease. The knowledge we gain could potentially revolutionize our approach to diagnosing and treating a wide range of diseases.
Joining our team, you will master essential cloning techniques to create DNA sequences of interest, unravel the vibrant world of live cell florescence imaging, and enhance your immunoblot skills. This project offers a unique opportunity to experience the intersection of various disciplines chemistry, biology, molecular biology, chemical biology, biological chemistry, genetics, bioengineering, biomedical engineering.
Regardless of your background – whether it be chemistry, biology, molecular biology, chemical biology, biological chemistry, genetics, bioengineering, biomedical engineering, or life science – we eagerly invite you to apply. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Kai Yu TONG |
| Research Project (1): | Design and Evaluation of a Novel Soft Robotic Device for Healthcare and Rehabilitation Applications |
| Project Description: | This project aims to design and evaluate a soft robotic device for rehabilitation and sports applications. Students should have 3D modeling skills and a design background, with experience in CAD and rapid prototyping (e.g., 3D printing or casting). The study will involve developing a functional prototype and testing it with target users to improve usability and performance. The outcome will support future clinical translation and broader adoption in healthcare. |
| Research Project (2): | Development of Non-Invasive Brain-Computer Interface Systems for Healthcare and Rehabilitation |
| Project Description: | This project explores the design and implementation of brain-computer interface (BCI) systems using non-invasive EEG technology to support healthcare and rehabilitation applications. The focus is on translating neural signals into actionable outputs for assistive control, cognitive monitoring, and therapeutic feedback. Students will contribute to signal processing, system integration, and application-specific prototyping—such as motor recovery, attention training, or adaptive user interfaces. The goal is to create functional BCI solutions that enhance user performance. |
| Research Project (3): | AI-Enhanced Health Monitoring App for Robotic Rehabilitation Systems |
| Project Description: | This project focuses on developing a mobile and cloud-based application—similar in functionality to platforms like Tencent Health—to monitor and analyze usage data from robotic hand, arm and knee training systems. The app will capture real-time performance metrics, generate personalized insights for users and caregivers, and apply AI algorithms to optimize rehabilitation outcomes and user experience. Key features will include data visualization, progress tracking, and adaptive feedback mechanisms. The goal is to create an intelligent interface that bridges clinical technology with everyday usability, supporting scalable and user-centered rehabilitation. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Yu LI |
| Research Project (1): | Multi-Task Learning Framework for Drug-Drug Interaction Event Prediction |
| Project Description: | Develop a Multi-Task Learning Framework:
-To design and implement a multi-task deep learning model that simultaneously performs interaction existence prediction, interaction type classification, and interaction severity estimation for drug-drug pairs.
Construct a Curated DDI Dataset:
Evaluate Model Performance:
Analyze Task Interdependence and Interpretability: |
| Research Project (2): | Protein Design through Ligand Graph Perception Utilizing Large Language Models |
| Project Description: | This study aims to explore and improve computational protein design methods by integrating ligand graph perception with large-scale protein language models, such as ProGen2. By implementing a ligand-based convolutional graph neural network (CGNN), it captures protein-ligand interactions to design protein sequences with specific binding properties. In addition, it leverages the strengths of graph neural networks and pre-trained language models to enhance the generalization and performance of protein sequence design, with its effectiveness validated through benchmark evaluations.
Expected Learning Outcomes |
| Research Project (3): | Collaborative LLM Agents for Spatiotemporal Single-Cell Analysis |
| Project Description: | This research aims to develop specialized Large Language Model (LLM) agents for single-cell spatiotemporal transcriptomics data analysis. The project will evaluate existing LLM capabilities in interpreting complex cellular dynamics across space and time, while creating novel multi-agent collaboration frameworks to enhance spatiotemporal analysis accuracy. Key objectives include establishing domain-specific LLM agents equipped with comprehensive single-cell spatiotemporal transcriptomics knowledge and developing rigorous benchmarking protocols to assess LLM performance in spatiotemporal single-cell analysis. Through participation in this work, researchers will gain expertise in applying LLMs to single-cell spatiotemporal analysis, master techniques for analyzing temporal dynamics in single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics and develop skills in designing multi-agent systems for practical biological applications. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Shengchao LIU |
| Research Project (1): | Latent Reasoning Dynamics for Scientific Discovery in Drug Design |
| Project Description: | This project explores how the latent space of large language models (LLMs) can be endowed with reasoning capabilities and leveraged for drug discovery. Specifically, we investigate how latent reasoning, referring to the ability to perform multi-step, causal, and goal-directed inference within the model’s latent representations, can facilitate complex drug discovery tasks such as metabolic pathway prediction. In these problems, the model must identify intermediate metabolites, enzyme-catalyzed reactions, and regulatory dependencies to propose biologically feasible pathways. We will study how to fully utilize the reasoning dynamics to solve this issue.
Study background: Computer Science and/or Biology
Language requirement: English
Filed trips: N.A. |
| Research Project (2): | Utilizing the Reasoning with Large Language Model for Chemical Planning |
| Project Description: | This project aims to explore how the reasoning capabilities of large language models (LLMs) can be leveraged to advance chemical discovery. By interpreting reasoning traces, such as chain-of-thought explanations or multi-agent dialogue outputs, within the latent space, the model can perform complex multi-step scientific reasoning essential for drug design and reaction pathway planning. In particular, chemical processes, such as reaction pathway prediction, can be represented as continuous trajectories in a latent space governed by underlying thermodynamic principles. We will investigate how to model these trajectories using differential equations, enabling the system to infer intermediate compounds, reaction conditions, and sequential transformations, thereby generating scientifically consistent and dynamically grounded hypotheses for chemical discovery.
Study background: Computer Science and/or Chemistry
Language requirement: English
Filed trips: N.A. |
| Research Project (3): | Enabling Transformers to Understand the World Model |
| Project Description: | This project aims to endow Transformer-based architectures with the ability to learn and reason about world models—structured representations that capture the dynamics, causality, and invariances of real-world systems. By integrating physical priors, temporal consistency, and latent causal reasoning into the Transformer framework, the project seeks to move beyond pattern recognition toward models that can simulate, predict, and intervene in complex environments. Such capability will enable Transformers to understand not only static correlations but also the underlying generative processes that govern natural and scientific phenomena, paving the way for advances in scientific discovery, robotics, and autonomous reasoning.
Study background: Computer Science and/or Physics Language requirement: English Filed trips: N.A. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Mengya XU |
| Research Project (1): | Vessel Segmentatin for Intraoperative Bleeding Risk Mitigation in Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection |
| Project Description: | 1. Brief introduction: Intraoperative bleeding in Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD) poses a significant clinical challenge by obscuring the visual field, complicating the procedure, and elevating the risk of adverse events. This project explores how a vessel-aware digital twin can be constructed to predict and mitigate intraoperative bleeding risk during ESD.2. Specific Requirements:-Study Background: Candidates should possess a solid foundation in computer science, biomedical engineering, or a closely related field. Prior research or project experience in medical image analysis is highly preferred.Technical Skills:
Language Requirement: There is no specific language requirement for the study background.
Field Trips: The position may involve collaborative field trips or research visits within Hong Kong. There are currently no requirements for field trips outside Hong Kong. |
| Research Project (2): | Large Vision-Language Model Guided Standardization of Hemostatic Actions in Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection |
| Project Description: | 1. Brief introduction: Propose a framework powered by a Large Vision-Language Model (VLM) that integrates real-time endoscopic video with procedural context to guide hemostatic actions.2. Specific Requirements:-Study Background: Candidates should possess a solid foundation in computer science. Prior research or project experience in LLM/VLM is highly preferred.-Technical Skills:
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| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Jiewen LAI |
| Research Project (1): | Electrical Impedance Tomography-based Proprioceptive Soft Robots |
| Project Description: | Soft robots are transforming medical interventions, particularly in confined intraluminal environments where rigid instrumentation poses safety risks. A fundamental challenge in soft robotics, however, is the accurate perception of real-time shape without external sensors. This research initiative explores Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) as a novel self-perception mechanism for soft robotic actuators, enabling them to “sense” their own morphology from within. Students will develop intelligent sensorized actuators capable of proprioceptive feedback and integrate machine learning techniques to interpret complex EIT data. Students with foundational knowledge in circuits, embedded systems, and mechanical design are encouraged to apply. |
| Research Project (2): | Soft Continuum Robot for Transcanal Ear Endoscopic Surgery |
| Project Description: | Transcanal Endoscopic Ear Surgery (TEES) is a minimally invasive technique offering several advantages over conventional Microscopic Ear Surgery (MES), including reduced incision size and massive mastoid bone removal. This research initiative explores the integration of a soft continuum robot with embedded optical fibers for laser-based myringotomy, an emerging procedure for middle ear surgery with enhanced precision and safety. The robotic system aims to improve dexterity in the narrow ear canal and potentially minimize complications associated with conventional couterparts, such as recurring perforation. Students will design and prototype continuum manipulators compatible with otologic endoscopes, incorporating laser delivery systems for controlled tissue ablation. Students with foundational knowledge in mechanical design, kinematics, and biomedical instrumentation are encouraged to apply. |
| Research Project (3): | Advancing Flexible Indoor Photovoltaics for Emerging Autonomous Sensor Applications |
| Project Description: | Humanity is entering an era of the Internet of Things (IoT) – a vast ecosystem of interconnected devices that gather and exchange data collectively. For now, most IoT end consumer electronic devices rely on batteries, which increases maintenance costs and disrupts operations. Indoor photovoltaics (iPVs), however, offer a promising solution for reliable device operation while enabling seamless device integration. Perovskites already demonstrate considerable advantages over commonly used a-Si iPV devices in terms of performance, costs, and flexibility. In this project, we will study recombination losses of indoor photovoltaic cells and demonstrate their integration into state-of-the-art autonomous sensors. Students majoring in experimental physics, material science, or engineering are welcome to join. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Jizhou LI |
| Research Project (1): | Anomaly Detection in Lithium-Ion Batteries Using Large Vision-Language Models |
| Project Description: | The project aims to develop an automated visual inspection framework for 18650 lithium-ion battery cells using large vision-language models. Students will collect and pre-process real X-ray battery data, fine-tune LVLMs to detect manufacturing defects (e.g., misalignment, surface contamination, seam irregularities), and evaluate model accuracy and interpretability.
Specific Requirements: |
| Research Project (2): | Operando Visualization of Lithium Plating Using Ultrasound Imaging of Battery Cells |
| Project Description: | This project investigates real-time detection of lithium plating during battery charging using ultrasound imaging. Students will help design and implement an operando acoustic measurement setup to visualize dynamic changes inside coin and pouch cells. The goal is to correlate acoustic signatures with electrochemical and thermal responses to better understand degradation mechanisms.
Specific Requirements: – Background in physics, materials science, mechanical engineering, or electrical engineering. |
| Research Project (3): | Operando Visualization and Quality Assessment of Lithium-Ion Batteries Using X-ray Microscopy |
| Project Description: | This project focuses on using X-ray microscopy (XRM) to in situ visualize electrode microstructures and degradation phenomena during battery cycling. The student will learn to prepare sample cells, conduct operando XRM imaging, and apply computational image analysis to assess microstructural evolution and defect formation. This work contributes to the development of predictive models for battery lifetime and performance.
Specific Requirements: – Strong interest in materials characterization, image analysis, and battery research. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Hongliang REN |
| Research Project (1): | EndoVLA: Dual-Phase Vision-Language-Action Model for Autonomous Tracking in Endoscopy |
| Project Description: | In endoscopic procedures, autonomous tracking of abnormal regions and following circumferential cutting markers can significantly reduce the cognitive burden on endoscopists. However, conventional model-based pipelines are fragile for each component (e.g., detection, motion planning) requires manual tuning and struggles to incorporate high-level endoscopic intent, leading to poor generalization across diverse scenes. Vision-Language-Action (VLA) models, which integrate visual perception, language grounding, and motion planning within an end-to-end framework, offer a promising alternative by semantically adapting to surgeon prompts without manual recalibration. Despite their potential, applying VLA models to robotic endoscopy presents unique challenges due to the complex and dynamic anatomical environments of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. To address this, we introduce EndoVLA, designed specifically for continuum robots in GI interventions. Given endoscopic images and surgeon-issued tracking prompts, EndoVLA performs three core tasks: (1) polyp tracking, (2) delineation and following of abnormal mucosal regions, and (3) adherence to circular markers during circumferential cutting. To tackle data scarcity and domain shifts, we propose a dual-phase strategy comprising supervised fine-tuning on our EndoVLA-Motion dataset and reinforcement fine-tuning with task-aware rewards. Our approach significantly improves tracking performance in endoscopy and enables zero-shot generalization in diverse scenes and complex sequential tasks. |
| Research Project (2): | Image-Based Pose Estimation for Robot-Assisted Ultrasound: Bridging the Gap in Sensorless Navigation |
| Project Description: | Effective robot-assisted ultrasound requires precise knowledge of the probe’s pose relative to the target anatomy. However, the robot’s end-effector pose may be insufficient. Firstly, patient’s physiological motion introduces unpredictable discrepancies between the robot’s world frame and the patient’s anatomical frame, invalidating pre-planned trajectories. Secondly, for intracorporeal procedures like endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), where the probe navigates inside the body, the absolute pose relative to external references is less meaningful. In both scenarios, the robot must learn to deduce its relative motion and anatomical position directly from the US image stream itself. This sensorless tracking capability has been explored for localization of internal anatomical landmarks and freehand ultrasound 3D reconstruction, but its application as a core perception module for robotic control remains a vital, unaddressed need. We aim to provide the dataset to bridge this gap, enabling the development of robust, image-based navigation policies for the multimodal vision language action (MVLA) models central to the Open-H initiative. |
| Research Project (3): | Dataset Collection Proposal — Teleoperated Flexible Endoscopy Benchmark |
| Project Description: | We will propose to a high‑quality, reproducible dataset for real‑world teleoperation endoscopy tracking dataset in flexible endoscopy using stomach phantoms (colorful phantom / silicon-based phantom). The benchmark centers on two primary 2‑DoF bending tasks. The dataset will capture synchronized RGB (and RGB‑D where available), operator commands, robot kinematics, insertion force, and illumination level, enabling rigorous evaluation of latency‑sensitive perception‑to‑action pipelines. We will align data format, calibration (i.e., LeRobot schema; time‑aligned multi‑sensor logs) to maximize downstream utility for policy training. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Xiankai SUN |
| Research Project (1): | Novel Photonic Nanostructures for Integrated Photonics |
| Project Description: | Introduction: Conducting research in a lab environment Preferred field: Physics, Optics, Acoustics, Electronics, or Materials |
| Research Project (2): | Physics and Applications of Nano-Optics and Nano-Optomechanics |
| Project Description: | Introduction: Conducting research in a lab environment Preferred field: Physics, Optics, Acoustics, Electronics, or Materials |
| Research Project (3): | Photonics Based on Two-dimensional Nanomaterials |
| Project Description: | Introduction: Conducting research in a lab environment Preferred field: Physics, Optics, Acoustics, Electronics, or Materials |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Martin STOLTERFOHT |
| Research Project (1): | Establishing Advanced Electro-optical Characterization of Perovskite-based Tandem Cells |
| Project Description: | The solar cell industry is expected to grow at a rapid pace for decades to curb climate change and global heating for a more sustainable future. Si/Pero tandems solar cells (34.9%) already significantly outperform traditional Si cells (27.2%), and there is currently a substantial investment into the technology. Further advancement of these technologies requires understanding the origin and mitigating the key non-radiative recombination losses in the devices. This project aims to establish an effective experimental measurement technique to assess non-radiative recombination losses in high-efficiency tandem cells. This promises new insights into the key recombination losses limiting perovskite-based tandem cells. Students majoring in experimental physics, chemistry, material science, or engineering with knowledge of Python or LabVIEW are welcome to join. |
| Research Project (2): | Machine Learning for Rapid Perovskite Solar Cell Characterization |
| Project Description: | While machine learning (ML) is quickly advancing in various research fields by offering new possibilities for discovering and designing materials, for perovskite solar cell research, the use of ML is still at a very early stage. For example, ML can be used to predict stable perovskite structures, create guidelines for efficient perovskites, or identify the dominant recombination mechanism in the cells. In this project, we will use machine learning algorithms to enable a rapid global characterization of perovskite solar cells based on the input from simple electro-optical measurements. The main goal is to reveal the underlying reasons for perovskite solar cell degradation, which is the most important aspect for the future commercialization of the technology. Students majoring in experimental physics, material science, or engineering are welcome to join. |
| Research Project (3): | Advancing Flexible Indoor Photovoltaics for Emerging Autonomous Sensor Applications |
| Project Description: | Humanity is entering an era of the Internet of Things (IoT) – a vast ecosystem of interconnected devices that gather and exchange data collectively. For now, most IoT end consumer electronic devices rely on batteries, which increases maintenance costs and disrupts operations. Indoor photovoltaics (iPVs), however, offer a promising solution for reliable device operation while enabling seamless device integration. Perovskites already demonstrate considerable advantages over commonly used a-Si iPV devices in terms of performance, costs, and flexibility. In this project, we will study recombination losses of indoor photovoltaic cells and demonstrate their integration into state-of-the-art autonomous sensors. Students majoring in experimental physics, material science, or engineering are welcome to join. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Chun CHEN |
| Research Project: | Intelligent, Healthy, and Energy-efficient Built Environments |
| Project Description: | The research project aims to develop engineering solutions to create intelligent, healthy, and energy-efficient built environments. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Shing Shin CHENG |
| Research Project (1): | New Continuum Robot Design and Motion Planning |
| Project Description: | Current continuum robots with controlled curvature primarily utilize tendon-driven mechanisms, concentric tubes, or smart actuators. However, they feature certain limitations such as fixed bending length, limited dexterity or limited miniaturization. This project aims to design an multi-DoF highly dexterous continuum robot with variable bending length and curvatures for confined space surgery based on a new proprietary mechanism and actuation principles. Besides, we will explore ways to develop novel motion planning frameworks for existing continuum robots by combining physics-informed planning algorithms with machine learning models. |
| Research Project (2): | VLM-based Medical Ultrasound Abnormal Detection and Biopsy Planning |
| Project Description: | Ultrasound is the most accessible real time imaging modality in clinics and operating rooms, yet abnormality recognition remains operator dependent and cognitively taxing. From a clinical view, surgeons and interventionalists need reliable guidance to localize tumors and plan safe biopsies in dynamic, artifact prone views. From an engineering view, recent vision language models (VLMs) promise robust semantic understanding under uncertainty. With dedicated high performance computing resources, we will explore VLMs tailored to ultrasound dynamics to close the gap between perceptual understanding and actionable guidance for human clinicians and autonomous/assistive robotic systems. |
| Research Project (3): | Imitation Learning Framework for Flexible Surgical Robots |
| Project Description: | Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) has become the modern standard of surgical practice. However, conventional rigid surgical instruments still face significant limitations when navigating deep, narrow, and anatomically complex regions. Flexible surgical robots, owing to their high dexterity and compliance, are increasingly recognized as a promising solution. Recent advances in imitation learning have enabled step-level autonomy in surgical robots (e.g., Science Robotics, 2025) but these frameworks are challenging to be adopted in flexible robots which are characterized by theoretically infinite degrees of freedom and highly nonlinear dynamics. These properties pose fundamental difficulties for both classical control algorithms and emerging deep learning approaches. This project aims to bridge this gap by integrating state-of-the-art AI-driven autonomy with next-generation cable-driven flexible surgical platforms, moving towards safer and more intelligent autonomous MIS. |
| CUHK Supervisor:Dr | Dr. Dongkun HAN |
| Research Project (1): | Autonomous Driving with Multi-Vehicle Interactions |
| Project Description: | The coordination of multi-vehicle is a key issue in autonomous driving, for example, lane changing and avoiding collision in multi-vehicle systems. In this project, we consider the multi-task coordination problem of multi-vehicle systems under the following objectives: 1. Collision avoidance; 2. connectivity maintenance; 3. convergence to desired destinations. The project focuses on the safety guaranteed region of multi-task coordination, i.e., the set of initial states from which all trajectories converge to the desired configuration, while at the same time achieve the multi-task coordination and avoid unsafe sets. In contrast to estimating the domain of attraction via Lyapunov functions, the main underlying idea is to employ the sublevel sets of Lyapunov-like barrier functions to approximate the safety guaranteed region of multi-task coordination. Rather than using fixed Lyapunov-like barrier functions, a systematic way is expected to be proposed to search an optimal Lyapunov-like barrier function such that the under-estimate of safety guaranteed region of multi-task coordination is maximized.
The project targets to implement on a group of home-made wheeled robots and cooperate with Ford Research and Innovation Center in Dearborn, U.S. Programming experience of MATLAB, Python or C++ would be much preferred but NOT mandatory. |
| Research Project (2): | Reinforcement Learning for Autonomous Systems with Applications in Autonomous Driving |
| Project Description: | In many real-life situations, intelligent agents need to achieve tasks collectively, rather than in a separated way. For example, a fleet of N autonomous delivery vehicles might need to deliver M≥N packages, while avoiding collisions, satisfying time and fuel constraints. In such multi-agent-task settings, agents must learn jointly to coordinate to optimize their collective rewards. One important technical challenge is how to deal with the combinatorial complexity of the multi-agent-task learning problem. For instance, agents can be assigned to tasks in an exponentially large number of ways.
In this project, a hierarchical stochastic policy is expected to be proposed to enable efficient structured exploration and learning. The possible contributions of this project are: 1) to utilize a shared stochastic latent variable model that defines the structured exploration policy, and 2) to employ a principled variational method to learn the posterior distribution over the latent jointly with the optimal policy.The result is expected to cooperate with the University of Michigan and implement on a real autonomous car. Programming experience of MATLAB or Python would be much preferred but NOT mandatory. |
| Research Project (3): | Multi-Robot Distributed Coordination |
| Project Description: | Cooperative control of multi-robot systems focuses on modeling and control of groups of mobile robots while accommodating communication latencies and nonlinear vehicle dynamics. In distributed cooperative control, robots communicate information about their state to each other; communication latencies and error depends on the amount of information communicated and the number of robots. In this project, we aim to develop a distributed control system modeling and a distributed controller that seek to achieve some specific collective objectives, like consensus, flocking, rendezvous, and formation. These controllers will also assist in assessing the value of information transmitted in maintaining stability and performance of group dynamics. Potential function methods and Lyapunov stability theory will be used in the analysis and synthesis.
The project is expected to implement 6-8 UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) based on the model Matrice 350 RTK/ Matrices 4TD and closely collaborate with Department of Research and Development, DJI Technology Co. Ltd. Programming experience of MATLAB, Python or C++ would be much preferred but NOT mandatory. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Darwin LAU |
| Research Project (1): | Development of Inflatable Superlimb Backpack for Human–Robot Collaboration |
| Project Description: | This project aims to develop a lightweight wearable backpack with multiple inflatable limbs, mimicking that of Dr. Octopus. Superlimb refers to additional limbs that are supernatural, for example, two human arms with 4 additional robot arms. The inflatable limbs would be cable-driven and mounted on the back of the wearer. This backpack superlimb aims to become a platform that allows us to better understand how humans and augmented limbs can work together to complete different types of tasks in various settings.
The tasks of the project may include:
This project is suitable for student(s) who would like hands-on experience in building bio-inspired wearable soft robots.” |
| Research Project (2): | Reconfigurable Finger Robotic Superlimb |
| Project Description: | This project aims to develop additional finger(s) that can be worn on the human hand (finger superlimbs). With additional finger(s), humans can have augmented function and perform things that previously cannot be done with just one arm, such as holding multiple objects in one hand or carrying something while opening the door. Existing finger superlimbs are typically mounted at fixed locations and hence have a predefined functionality. This project aims to develop a new type of robotic finger superlimb, that can reconfigure its position relative to the hand, to achieve multiple functionalities with the same design.
The tasks of the project may include:
This project is suitable for students who would like hands-on experience in building bio-inspired wearable soft robots. |
| Research Project (3): | Cable-Driven Sailboat Simulator with Motion Impairment Interfaces |
| Project Description: | This project aims to develop an 8-cable cable-driven parallel robot (CDPR) for the purpose of motion simulation for sail boats. This sailboat simulator is used for training of those with motion impairment (such as those with muscular dystrophy or quadriplegics) and the project would include the development of interfaces, such as huff and puff or others, for the disabled to control the rudder and sails of the boat. This project is in collaboration with Sailability, a charity organisation aiming to allow everyone, including those physically disabled, to enjoy sailing.
The tasks of the project may include:
This project is suitable for student(s) who would like hands-on experience in mechanical design of cable-driven robots and human-robot interfaces (HRI), and to help the disabled to enjoy a hobby. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Dongyan XU |
| Research Project (1): | Wearable Personal Cooling System for Hot and Humid Environments |
| Project Description: | This project develops a sustainable, wearable personal cooling system tailored for hot and humid urban environments, such as those found in Hong Kong. Extreme heat, exacerbated by climate change and rapid urbanization, increases health risks and strains energy systems. Current cooling solutions (e.g., air conditioning) are energy-intensive, inaccessible outdoors, and contribute to urban heat islands. To address these gaps, our proposed solution integrates flexible thermoelectric devices (FTEDs) with a novel, regenerative hydrogel-based evaporative heat sink for direct on-skin cooling. The FTEDs, fabricated with advanced thermoelectric materials on flexible substrates, provide active, low-power localized cooling. Evaporative heat dissipation is enhanced by hygroscopic hydrogel that absorbs and releases water vapor, passively regenerating moisture in humid environments for repeated, maintenance-free operation. Through simulation and material optimization, the FTED-based cooling modules are designed for maximum performance and wearability. The complete system, including wireless control and rechargeable power, will be integrated into lightweight, breathable smart textiles for daily use. The project aims to reduce skin temperature by at least 3°C with low energy use, supporting resilient, low-carbon, and equitable thermal comfort in rapidly warming cities. |
| Research Project (2): | 3D-printed Complex Copper Structures for Electronic Cooling |
| Project Description: | Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have led to a rapid increase in electricity and water consumption by data centers, highlighting the urgent need for energy-efficient cooling technologies. Compared to conventional air-cooling systems, liquid cooling, particularly two-phase immersion cooling and direct-to-chip cold-plate cooling, offers superior energy efficiency due to the higher heat capacity of liquids and their substantial latent heat. This project aims to develop three-dimensional (3D) copper structures based on triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS) using high-precision laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) to enhance boiling heat transfer. The high-precision nature of LPBF enables rapid prototyping, convenient design adjustments, and precise control over TPMS types and geometrical parameters. Extensive boiling experiments will be performed on the fabricated TPMS structures to systematically study the effects of structural characteristics, including TPMS type, cell size, phase, surface roughness, and sample height, on key boiling heat transfer metrics such as the onset of nucleate boiling, critical heat flux, and heat transfer coefficient. The outcomes of this research will deepen our understanding of how 3D printing-enabled structures can be leveraged to address the growing thermal management challenges in electronic cooling systems. |
| Research Project (3): | Multimodal Tactile Sensing for Intelligent Robotic Grasping and Manipulation |
| Project Description: | Multimodal tactile sensing for robotic applications aims to enable robots to perceive and interpret complex physical interactions with their environment through the integration of multiple sensing modalities, such as pressure, temperature, vibration, texture, and force. By combining these sensory inputs, robots can attain a more comprehensive and human-like understanding of their surroundings, resulting in enhanced dexterity, adaptability, and safety during manipulation tasks. Recent advances in materials science, sensor fusion algorithms, and machine learning have significantly accelerated progress in this field, allowing tactile sensors to be seamlessly integrated into robotic grippers, prosthetic devices, and autonomous systems. These sensors support tasks that demand delicate handling, surface characterization, and robust physical interaction in unstructured or dynamic environments. This project aims to develop multimodal tactile sensors that integrate pressure, temperature, and strain sensing nodes, and to investigate their applications across a variety of robotic platforms. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Dohyun AHN |
| Research Project: | Topics in Stochastic Simulation |
| Project Description: | We invite students to propose their own topic in the field of stochastic simulation and take the lead in initiating a project. We are particularly interested in students who wish to continue their research with us even after their visit to CUHK and ultimately write and publish a high-quality conference paper. This requires a strong dedication and commitment. Interested students can contact us for a discussion before applying for the SURP. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Xixin WU |
| Research Project: | Large Language Model Distillation |
| Project Description: | In recent years, the advent of large language models (LLMs) has revolutionized natural language processing (NLP) capabilities, empowering various applications across industries. However, the computational demands and memory requirements of these models pose challenges for widespread deployment, particularly in resource-constrained environments. To address this issue, this project will explore LLM distillation techniques, aiming to retain the power and knowledge of LLMs while creating more compact, efficient versions. |
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| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Bryan DRUZIN |
| Research Project (1): | The Future of International Law |
| Project Description: | This summer project aims at introducing the student to methods of research. Emphasis will be placed on data collection and analysis. The summer project will be conducted entirely in English.
The key outcomes are for the students to:
The assessment for the programme will consist of a 4,000-word essay (inclusive of citations), the precise thesis of which will be selected by the student in close consultation with the supervisor. The essay will comprise 80% of the student’s final grade. The remaining 20% will be awarded based on the student’s general quality of research. |
| Research Project (2): | Understanding Globalisation |
| Project Description: | This summer project aims at introducing the student to methods of research. Emphasis will be placed on data collection and analysis. The summer project will be conducted entirely in English.
The key outcomes are for the students to: • Develop his/her knowledge and understanding of the core principles of legal research
The assessment for the programme will consist of a 4,000-word essay (inclusive of citations), the precise thesis of which will be selected by the student in close consultation with the supervisor. The essay will comprise 80% of the student’s final grade. The remaining 20% will be awarded based on the student’s general quality of research.” |
(In alphabetical order of CUHK department and surname of supervisor)
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Huarong CHEN |
| Research Project: | Decoding the RNA Landscape in Cancer and Immunity |
| Project Description: | The epitranscriptome refers to the diverse chemical modifications on RNA that profoundly influence its function, determining everything from a transcript’s stability to its translation into protein. The dysregulation of this critical regulatory layer is now recognized as a key driver of cancer, making it a promising new frontier for therapeutic intervention. Our research team focuses on understanding how cancer cells hijack epitranscriptomic pathways to support their own proliferation and survival, and how these mechanisms shape the anti-tumor immune response. We have made significant progress, identifying novel oncogenic pathways such as METTL3-m6A-GLUT1-mTORC1 and TRMT61A-m1A-ONECUT2-MAPK. Furthermore, we study how RNA modifications within the tumor microenvironment influence immune cells like myeloid-derived suppressor cells and neutrophils. This summer project will investigate epitranscriptomic regulation as a dual-axis therapeutic target, pivotal to both tumorigenesis and immune evasion. As an undergraduate researcher, you will receive mentorship and training in molecular biology techniques and cancer immunology, contributing to our goal of developing novel anticancer strategies.
Specific requirements: |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Xiaodong LIU |
| Research Project: | A Gut-Brain Axis to GLP-1R Agonism for Counteracting Chronic Pain Comorbid Depression by Roseburia intestinalis |
| Project Description: | Introduction of the research project: Chronic pain often coexists with depression, and growing evidence points to the gut–brain axis as a modifiable pathway for treatment. Our recent work identifies Roseburia intestinalis as depleted in neuropathic-pain patients; restoring this bacterium reduces pain hypersensitivity by engaging a gut–vagus–NTS–amygdala circuit in animal models. Converging data also link R. intestinalis to antidepressant-like effects. We hypothesize that R. intestinalis augments endogenous GLP-1 signaling to restore inhibitory output from the lateral septum (LS) and dampen hyperexcitability in the lateral habenula (LHb), thereby alleviating depressive-like behaviors in chronic pain. Using functional ultrasound imaging (fUSI), in vivo electrophysiology, chemogenetic manipulation, and conditional knockouts, the project will (1) test whether endogenous GLP-1R agonism contributes to the antidepressant effects of R. intestinalis; (2) map GLP-1R–dependent cellular and circuit mechanisms in LS and its interaction with LHb; and (3) identify R. intestinalis metabolites that drive gut–nodose–NTS–LS communication. The goal is to establish a microbiome-based strategy to stimulate endogenous GLP-1R signaling for managing chronic pain–associated affective comorbidities.Specific requirements and logistics: -Language: Strong English for scientific documentation and presentations. Cantonese and/or Mandarin are advantageous for coordination with local collaborators and facility staff. -Background: Neuroscience, Miomedical Sciences or Microbiology. -Technical skills: Any combination is welcome; training provided. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Dajiang GUO |
| Research Project: | Investigating Breast Tumour Microenvironment Post Immunotherapy |
| Project Description: | Immunotherapy has been the most significant breakthrough in treating all sorts of cancers over the past few decades. In breast cancer, immunotherapy has been applied to late-stage patients, with the majority as triple-negative breast cancer. This project will apply various technologies, including next-generation sequencing and multiplex immunohistochemistry, to precious patient breast tumour specimens before and after immunotherapy, in order to evaluate alterations in the tumour microenvironment and their correlation with treatment response.
The project will favour the applicants with a background of biology or biochemistry. English will be the working language for the project. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Chun Kwok WONG |
| Research Project: | Immunological Mechanisms and Potential Therapeutic Target of Cytokines and Chemokines in Inflammatory Diseases |
| Project Description: | Study Objectives: Cytokines and chemokines are rapid expanding research field in laboratory medicine and immunology. The objective of this summer research project is to evaluate the immunopathological roles and potential therapeutic target of cytokines and chemokines in autoimmune disease, allergic disease and infectious disease and their underlying inter- and intra-cellular mechanisms.Background: Inflammatory diseases generally associate with dysregulation of cytokines and chemokines such as the imbalance of T helper (Th) type 1 and 2 cytokines, over-activation of Th17 cells, aberrant regulatory T cells and regulatory cytokines, and chemokine storm. It will result in the inflammatory reaction including infiltration of immune cells (e.g. T cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, granulocytes, type 2 innate lymphoid cells) into the inflammatory sites, enhancement of intercellular interaction, tissue/cell damage, cell death etc, in autoimmune, allergic and infectious disease.Therefore, the evaluation of the immunopathological roles and dysregulation of cytokines and chemokines in inflammatory disease not only further foster our understanding of the immunopathological mechanisms but also furnish a biochemical basis for the development of disease activity markers and novel therapeutic cytokine targeting agent in inflammatory diseases.References: (1) Sun X, Hou T, Cheung EC, Iu TN, Tam VW, Chu IM, Tsang MS, Chan PK, Lam CW, Wong CK (correspondence author). Anti-inflammatory Mechanisms of the Novel Cytokine Interleukin-38 in Allergic Asthma. Cell Mol Immunol 2020; 17:631-646. (2) Hou T, Tsang MSM, Chu IMT, Kan LL, Hon KL, Leung TF, Lam CWK and Wong CK (correspondence Author). Skewed Inflammation is associated with aberrant interleukin-37 signaling pathway in atopic dermatitis. Allergy 2021; 76: 2102-2114. (3) Huang D, Liu X, Gao X, Choi CK, Giglio G, Farah L, Leung TF, Wong KC, Kan LL, Chong JW, Meng QJ, Liao J, Cheung PF, Wong CK. Meteorin-like protein/METRNL/Interleukin-41 ameliorates atopic dermatitis-like inflammation. Allergy. 2025 Feb;80(2):474-488.Outline of Activities: (1) Multiplex immunoassay, flow cytometric, proteomics and molecular analysis of the expression of cytokines and chemokines in clinical samples such as plasma/serum and tissue from patients and control subjects, as well as mice. (2) Cell purification using cell sorter and magnetic cell sorting (3) Flow cytometric analysis of cells (4) Cell culture for downstream ex vivo activation of various immune effector cells (5) Assay of intracellular signaling mechanism using Western blot, QPCR array or flow cytometric analysis (6) Animal disease model for in vivo study of immunological roles of cytokines and chemokinesStatistical analysisLeaning outcomes: (1) This project is open to students with an interest in immunological research. This study would enhance their research and hands-on experience of laboratory works, e.g. conducting literature reviews, searching for related literatures, analyzing data, practicing laboratory techniques, thinking critically, solving problems, working in teams etc. (2) The project can help for learning presentation skills and data organization.Special requirement: Animal experiments may be required, therefore, students may need to apply for animal license from Department of Health, Hong Kong for animal study. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Alice KONG |
| Research Project (1): | Lifestyle Factors & Team Based Care in the Management of People with Obesity and/or Diabetes |
| Project Description: | 1. Project Objectives: – Through the active participation in a short-term project involving Hong Kong adults with obesity and/or diabetes, this attachment aims to inspire the students regarding the importance of team-based care and expose them to clinical research related to the examination of lifestyle factors, including sleep, physical activity, diet and their impact on physical health of people with obesity and/or diabetes.2.Expected Learning Outcomes: – At the end of the attachment, students are expected to have a better understanding about the background regarding published evidence relating various lifestyle factors and physical health in people with obesity and/or diabetes; study methodology in research related to these lifestyle factors and health; data analysis including descriptive statistics and some fundamental principals in doing statistical analysis to examine correlations; and how to conclude and write up a short report. |
| Research Project : | Lifestyle Factors & Team Based Care in the Management of People with Obesity and/or Diabetes |
| Project Description: | 1. Project Objectives: – Through the active participation in a short-term project involving Hong Kong adults with obesity and/or diabetes, this attachment aims to inspire the students regarding the importance of team-based care and expose them to clinical research related to the examination of lifestyle factors, including sleep, physical activity, diet and their impact on physical health of people with obesity and/or diabetes.2.Expected Learning Outcomes:- At the end of the attachment, students are expected to have a better understanding about the background regarding published evidence relating various lifestyle factors and physical health in people with obesity and/or diabetes; study methodology in research related to these lifestyle factors and health; data analysis including descriptive statistics and some fundamental principals in doing statistical analysis to examine correlations; and how to conclude and write up a short report. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Jessie Qiaoyi LIANG |
| Research Project (1): | Functional Investigation of Key Bacteria in Colorectal Tumorigenesis |
| Project Description: | The team is focusing on investigation of the roles and molecular mechanisms of some bacterial species in promoting or suppressing colorectal tumorigenesis. Students may involve in some literature researches related to project and be introduced to basic lab skills in molecular and cellular biology, such as DNA/protein extraction, PCR/RT-PCR/qPCR, western blot, cell culture, bacterial culture, etc. |
| Research Project (2): | Exploring Markers for Non-invasive Diagnosis of Colorectal Cancer |
| Project Description: | The team is now exploring new markers that can improve diagnostic sensitivity for CRC and adenomas and conducting validation in different populations. Students can acquire basic lab skills in molecular biology such as DNA/RNA extraction and PCR/qPCR from the programme. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Juliana LUI |
| Research Project: | Precision Prevention Programme on Young Onset Diabetes |
| Project Description: | Join Our Team as a Summer Intern! Are you ready to make a difference this summer? We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Jockey Club Precision Prevention Programme on Young Onset Diabetes—a groundbreaking initiative aimed at helping young people at genetic risk for diabetes take proactive steps towards their health!What We’re About –
Your Role –
Learn –
Who We’re Looking For –
Why Join Us? –
For more info: https://jc-pppyod.adf.org.hk/
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| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Qi SU |
| Research Project (1): | Function and Mechanism of Weissella Confusa in Alleviating Autism Spectrum Disorder |
| Project Description: | Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder often accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms. Recent studies have revealed significant associations between gut bacteria and ASD, but questions regarding causality remain. Our previous research identified Weissella confusa as a robust biomarker for ASD. Further preliminary analyses indicated that Weissella confusa are negatively correlated with both the presence and severity of ASD and reduced abundance early in life can predict an increased risk of developing ASD in childhood. Genomic analyses and in vitro cultures have shown that Weissella confusa can produce gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an inhibitory neurotransmitter implicated in the pathogenesis of ASD. Co-culture assays further demonstrated that either Weissella confusa or GABA could promote synaptic repair and regeneration, indicating potential therapeutic benefits for ASD. Therefore, we hypothesize that Weissella confusa may alleviate ASD symptoms through its GABA production. In this study, we aim to investigate the efficacy of a high GABA-producing strain of Weissella confusa in alleviating ASD symptoms in the BTBR mouse model, which exhibits autism-like deficits in social interaction, play, vocalization, grooming, and repetitive behaviors. BTBR mice will receive oral administration of the strain five times a week for four weeks, followed by behavioral assessments to evaluate treatment outcomes, including communication proactiveness, social novelty, and anxiety levels. Brain and intestinal biopsies will be collected for untargeted transcriptome and metabolome sequencing to explore the potential host-microbe interactions in GABA-related signaling. Collectively, our findings may underscore the potential and explain the mechanism of Weissella confusa as a next-generation probiotic for ASD treatment. |
| Research Project (2): | Deciphering the Mechanism of Gemmiger formicilis in Alleviating Insomnia through L-lysine Metabolism-mediated Regulation of Circadian 5-HT/Melatonin Rhythms |
| Project Description: | Insomnia disorder affects approximately 30% of the global population, with current therapies showing limited efficacy and urgently requiring breakthroughs. Our preliminary research revealed a spatiotemporal association between insomnia and gut microbiota dysbiosis, identifying the circadian oscillating bacterium G. formicilis as a core protective strain. We further demonstrated that its metabolite L-lysine elevates cerebral serotonin (5-HT)/melatonin levels to ameliorate insomnia. Building on these findings, this project proposes an innovative hypothesis: G. formicilis dynamically regulates host 5-HT/melatonin circadian rhythms through the L-lysine metabolic axis to improve insomnia. To validate this hypothesis, we will conduct the following investigations: ① Elucidate the spatiotemporal coupling mechanism between the G. formicilis-L-lysine axis and 5-HT/melatonin rhythms, quantifying phase synchronization patterns between bacterial metabolic oscillations and host neurotransmitter rhythms; ② Verify the specific regulatory role of bacterial-derived lysine on melatonin rhythms by constructing lysine synthesis-deficient strains and utilizing germ-free mouse models; ③ Confirm the central mediating role of the 5-HT/melatonin axis while excluding alternative pathway interference through receptor antagonists and gene knockout animals. This research will establish a dynamic coupling theory of “microbial metabolic oscillations-host neural rhythms”, providing a theoretical foundation for developing precision probiotic formulations targeting insomnia. |
| Research Project (3): | Utilizing Gut Microbiome Markers for Early Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Suspected Cases |
| Project Description: | Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis lacks objective biomarkers, often delaying interventions during critical developmental windows. Emerging evidence links gut microbiome dysbiosis to ASD, but its utility for early diagnosis in suspected cases remains unvalidated.
Preliminary results: A panel of 31-gut microbiome markers distinguished ASD from neurotypical children with high accuracy (AUC=0.91) across age, gender and populations, unaffected by diet or medications. In high-risk siblings (n=112), baseline microbial profiles predicted ASD diagnosis with an AUC of 0.87. In a pilot study in children with suspected ASD (n=17), 22 out of 31 markers exhibited significant associations with the eventual diagnosis.
Objective: To validate and refine gut microbiome biomarkers for early diagnosis of ASD in suspected cases, optimizing predictive accuracy and evaluating its stability across a 2-year longitudinal cohort.
Hypothesis to be tested: Gut microbiome biomarkers accurately recognize ASD in suspected cases before clinical confirmation.
Expected results: The refined panel will achieve an AUC >0.85 for ASD prediction in suspected cases. Longitudinal data will reveal microbiome dynamics linked to symptom trajectories.
Long-term impact: Validating this biomarker panel could establish the first objective tool for early ASD diagnosis, reducing diagnostic delays by years and enabling interventions during childhood neuroplasticity. Findings may also advance understanding of gut-brain interactions in ASD. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Cheuk Chun SZETO |
| Research Project: | Frailty and Peritoneal Dialysis-related Peritonitis |
| Project Description: | Study objectives/background: – Frailty is common in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease, and the presence of frailty is associated with adverse clinical outcome in this group of patients. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is the first line renal replacement therapy in Hong Kong. Peritonitis is the most common cause of treatment failure in PD.- The objective of this project is to investigate the relation between frailty and the risk, bacteriology, and outcome of PD-related peritonitis in a cohort of PD patients.Outline of activities/tasks involved: – Perform arterial pulse wave velocity (PWV), multi-frequency bioimpedance spectroscopy, hand grip strength, 6 minutes’ walk, administration of questionnaires, and retrieval of blood test results. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Jingwan ZHANG |
| Research Project (1): | Microbiome-based Diagnostic Tool in Inflammatory Bowel Disease |
| Project Description: | Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), encompassing Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder affecting millions worldwide, with incidence rising rapidly in Asia. Early and accurate diagnosis is essential to prevent disease progression, yet current methods are often invasive, costly, or limited in specificity and sensitivity. This project introduces a noninvasive diagnostic strategy based on gut microbiome biomarkers, identified through large-scale metagenomic data analysis. Using machine learning algorithms, researchers have developed robust diagnostic models that distinguish IBD patients from healthy individuals and those with other gastrointestinal or systemic conditions. A multiplex droplet digital PCR (m-ddPCR) platform has been established to detect these biomarkers rapidly and cost-effectively. The project is currently undergoing a large-scale multi-center validation study, involving over 15 international research and clinical centers. All collected samples will be centrally processed, tested, and analyzed, offering students a unique opportunity to contribute to a globally coordinated translational research effort with direct clinical relevance.
Applicants should demonstrate a strong interest in microbiome science, precision diagnostics, and translational medicine. Suitable academic backgrounds include medicine, biology, microbiology, or computational science. Proficiency in English is required. Students will engage in laboratory-based activities such as stool sample processing, microbial DNA extraction, targeted bacteria detection, data analysis and interpretation. Participation may also include assisting with sample collection at hospitals or clinics, and contributing to patient interviews or clinician discussions, depending on project needs. Involvement in academic workshops and conferences related to microbiome diagnostics is encouraged. |
| Research Project (2): | A Rationally-designed Bacterial Consortium for the Alleviation of Inflammatory Bowel Disease |
| Project Description: | Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic, lifelong condition with no definitive cure. Pharmacological therapies remain the first-line treatment for CD. However, their clinical utility is limited by variable patient responses and the potential side effects associated with dose escalation. Over recent decades, the gut microbiome has been shown to play a pivotal role in CD. Combining microbial interventions with therapeutic strategies offers a safe and promising approach to enhancing treatment efficacy. Our team utilized multi-cohort data from Australia, Hong Kong and mainland China to identify a therapeutic consortium composed of 9 bacterial species, which demonstrated promising effects in restoring gut dysbiosis, alleviating intestinal inflammation and correcting immune dysregulation in both cell and animal models. Subsequently, we will further evaluate its potential in enhancing drug responses in humanized mice and validate the results in human cohort.
Applicants should demonstrate a strong interest in microbiome science and mechanistic medicine. Suitable academic backgrounds include medicine, biology, microbiology, or computational science. Proficiency in English is required. Students will engage in laboratory-based activities, animal handling, data analysis and interpretation. Involvement in academic workshops and conferences related to microbiome diagnostics is encouraged. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Zigui CHEN |
| Research Project (1): | Host-microbiota Interactions Associated with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) |
| Project Description: | Using multi-omics datasets generated by the research group and available in the public domains, including 16S microbial community, host transcriptome, and DNA CpG methylation, to understand the complexity of host-microbiota interactions in patients with upper aerodigestive tract malignancies.
Previous training in microbiology, molecular genomics and/or bioinformatics is preferred while the student will have access to our high-performance serve to analyze next-generation sequencing data using multiple bioinformatics and biostatistical approaches to understand the interaction between human microbiota and host genetics in the pathogenesis of HNSCC. |
| Research Project (2): | Molecular Evolution and Genomic Diversity of SARS-CoV-2 and/or Papillomaviruses |
| Project Description: | Using publicly available dataset and multiple evolutionary algorithms to understand the molecular evolution and genomic diversity of RNA virus (e.g. SARS-CoV-2 causing COVID-19) and/or DNA virus (e.g. Human papillomaviruses causing cervical cancer).
Previous training in virology, molecular genomics and/or bioinformatics is preferred while the student will have access to our high-performance serve to analyze next-generation sequencing data using multiple bioinformatics and molecular phylogeny approaches to understand the evolution, phylogeny and genetic heterogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 and/or Papillomavirus. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Adrian CHU |
| Research Project: | Evaluation and Characterisation of Novel Antimicrobial Agents Targeting Transcription in Mycobacteria |
| Project Description: | Mycobacterium abscessus (Mabs) is a non-tuberculous (NTM), rapidly growing mycobacterium (RGM) responsible for severe soft tissue and pulmonary infections in immunocompromised individuals, particularly those with chronic lung lesions (e.g. cystic fibrosis). As one of the most clinically relevant NTM species in Asia, this opportunistic pathogen exhibits intrinsic resistance to most antimicrobial classes through mechanisms such as enzymatic inactivation and efflux. Treatment strategies rely on combinational use of available antibiotics but are complicated by adverse effects. No reliable cure currently exists. This project investigates novel, first-in-class inhibitors that target the bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP) machinery by disrupting key protein–protein interactions between RNAP and essential transcription factors in Mabs. Initial screening of hit compounds identified several promising leads, which showed remarkable antimycobacterial activity and no cross-resistance with rifampicin.
As part of a multi-disciplinary translational research effort, prospective students with a good command of English and a keen interest in infectious diseases or drug discovery will participate in the biological evaluation of a library of chemical compounds using standard methods such as antimicrobial susceptibility testing and kinetic killing assays, as well as assessing target specificity through molecular techniques. Students will receive appropriate training in microbiology, safely handle mycobacterial cultures under supervision of experienced colleagues, perform data analysis and conduct literature reviews. The work offers an invaluable opportunity to experience real-world academic research and directly contributes towards the development of an unprecedented class of antimycobacterial agents with potential for clinical use against an emerging, difficult-to-treat, and drug-resistant NTM. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Dr. Hongyang JIANG |
| Research Project: | Development of a Voice-Gaze-Driven Human-Computer Interaction System for Ophthalmic Image Diagnosis Leveraging Multiple Foundation Models |
| Project Description: | Study Background: Ophthalmic diagnosis heavily relies on the expert analysis of medical images like fundus photographs and OCT scans. However, this process is often time-consuming and requires significant concentration from specialists, leading to potential fatigue and diagnostic bottlenecks. While AI has made strides in automated image analysis, it lacks the nuanced, contextual reasoning of a human expert. The current Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) paradigm in clinical settings, using a keyboard and mouse, is disruptive. It forces doctors to divert their attention from the screen, breaking their diagnostic workflow and reducing efficiency.This project aims to revolutionize the ophthalmic human-computer interaction by developing a seamless, multi-modal system. We will leverage the power of multiple foundation models to create a Voice-Gaze-Driven HCI System. This system will allow ophthalmologists to interact with the diagnostic workstation naturally: using their voice to issue commands and their gaze to select regions of interest directly on the images. By integrating state-of-the-art models for speech recognition, natural language understanding, and gaze tracking, we seek to create an intuitive interface that minimizes cognitive load, streamlines the diagnostic workflow, and enhances both the efficiency and accuracy of ophthalmic image analysis.Key Research Objectives: (1) To design and integrate a robust architecture that fuses real-time gaze tracking data with voice command interpretation. (2) To fine-tune foundation models (e.g., large language models for medical command understanding, vision and ophthalmic foundation models for gaze-point analysis on images) for the specific domain of ophthalmology. (3) To develop a prototype software system that demonstrates the proposed interaction model on standard ophthalmic image datasets. (4) To evaluate the system’s performance, usability, and impact on diagnostic efficiency through controlled user studies with practicing ophthalmologists.Specific Requirements-Language Requirement: (1) Proficiency in English is mandatory, as it is the primary language of instruction, documentation, and international collaboration at the university. (2) Proficiency in Mandarin Chinese and/or Cantonese is a significant advantage. A primary goal is to develop a system that understands medical terminology and commands in the languages most commonly used by clinicians in Hong Kong and the Greater China region. The ability to collect data and test the system with local doctors who are native speakers is crucial.Field Trips:-Within Hong Kong: Field trips to local hospitals (e.g., Hong Kong Eye Hospital, Prince of Wales Hospital) and ophthalmic clinics are essential and required. These visits are for understanding the clinical workflow, conducting needs-finding interviews with ophthalmologists and technicians, and for the subsequent deployment and testing of the developed prototype in a real-world environment. -Outside Hong Kong (Optional): Depending on project progress and funding, there may be opportunities to attend international conferences (e.g., ARVO, MICCAI) to present research findings. Collaboration visits to partner universities or research institutes on the Mainland or overseas might also be arranged to leverage specialized expertise or datasets.-Technical & Research Skills: (1) Strong programming skills in Python are essential. Experience with deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow is required. (2) Familiarity with foundation models, including large language models (LLMs) and/or vision-language models (VLMs), is highly desirable. (3) An interest in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), user interface (UI) design, and conducting human-subject experiments is important. (4) Prior knowledge of medical imaging or ophthalmology is not a prerequisite, but a strong willingness to learn the basic clinical context is expected. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Renee CHAN |
| Research Project: | Extracellular Vesicles as Diagnostic Tools for childhood diseases |
| Project Description: | The project aims to explore the potential of extracellular vesicles (EVs) as reliable and noninvasive biomarkers for various diseases. It will focus on analysing EVs derived from respiratory fluids, blood, and urine specimens to identify biochemical and pathophysiological markers. These markers could help diagnose diseases that are underdiagnosed or with transient clinical presentations that are overtreated.
Interns will gain hands-on experience in:
Specific Requirements: |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Dr. Sze Yin Agnes LEUNG |
| Research Project (1): | Understanding Hidden Food Allergies in Asian Children: The UNITE-Asia Study |
| Project Description: | Study Background: Not all food allergies happen immediately. “Hidden” or delayed food allergies (known medically as non-IgE mediated allergies) are a significant challenge in paediatrics, often causing symptoms like chronic vomiting, diarrhea, and poor growth in infants and young children. Unlike common allergies, there is no simple skin or blood test for them, making diagnosis difficult and often delayed. The UNITE-Asia project is a pioneering multinational research network (including CUHK, NUS, Mahidol University and NCCHD) established to understand these conditions better across Asia.Internship Role: As a summer intern, you will be integrated into our core research team at CUHK. Your work will directly support the creation of a first-of-its-kind Asian patient registry. Your tasks will include:-Assisting in the systematic collection and organization of clinical data from patient records across our partner institutions.-Learning about and helping to manage standardized data entry into our secure research database.-Conducting literature reviews on specific food allergens or allergic conditions to support the team’s understanding.-Participating in team meetings and case discussions with leading allergists and researchers from across Asia, providing a unique insight into clinical diagnosis and regional variations in disease.Requirements: -An interest in paediatrics, immunology, or global health.-A meticulous and detail-oriented approach to handling data.-No prior specific knowledge of allergies is required; a willingness to learn is essential.-Proficiency in English is required.What You Will Gain: -This internship offers a fantastic opportunity to gain hands-on experience in multi-center clinical research, understand a poorly recognized but important paediatric condition, and collaborate with an international network of clinicians and scientists. It will provide a solid foundation in research methodology that will be invaluable for your future medical career. |
| Research Project (2): | Investigation into the Resolution of Childhood Fish Allergy |
| Project Description: | Study Background: Why do some children outgrow their food allergies while others do not? This is a central mystery in immunology. Our project tackles this question by studying fish allergy, a major health issue in Hong Kong. We are conducting a unique 10-year clinical follow-up study with a cohort of fish-allergic children. A key part of this research is to understand the underlying cellular and molecular immune mechanisms that allow a child to naturally develop tolerance to fish.Internship Role & Laboratory Focus: This internship is designed for students with a biomedical background who are passionate about hands-on laboratory science. You will be the key personnel analyzing the biological samples collected from our subjects.Your work will focus on our exploratory objective: to investigate the mechanisms of allergy resolution.Your work will focus on analyzing patient serum and blood samples using state-of-the-art diagnostic and research platforms.You will be trained in and responsible for: – Advanced Serological Profiling with ImmunoCAP: You will use the Phadia 200 analyser, a gold-standard platform in allergy diagnostics, to measure specific IgE antibodies in patient serum. You will be profiling responses against a wide panel of allergens. You will learn to operate the instrument, prepare samples, and interpret the data (kUA/L values) to determine sensitization profiles.- Cellular Biobanking for Future Discovery: You will perform Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell (PBMC) isolation from patient blood samples using density gradient centrifugation (e.g., Ficoll-Paque). This is a fundamental and critical technique in immunology research.- Support for Skin Prick Test (SPT) Analysis: You will play a key role in the data management and analysis side. You will be responsible for accurately recording and analyzing the wheal diameter measurements.- Data Analysis & Integration: You will learn to manage and analyze the complex datasets generated. Using statistical software, you will assist in correlating IgE levels and SPT wheal sizes with the clinical outcome of tolerance, directly contributing to the project’s goal of identifying predictive biomarkers.What You Will Gain: This internship provides a comprehensive, hands-on introduction to translational immunology. You will become proficient in operating advanced diagnostic equipment (Phadia 200), mastering essential cell culture techniques (PBMC isolation), and managing complex biological data. This experience is ideal for students considering future careers in biomedical research, clinical laboratory science, PhD programs, or the biotechnology and diagnostics industry.Requirements: – A strong interest in immunology, molecular biology, or biochemistry. – Meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to following strict laboratory protocols. – The motivation to learn sophisticated laboratory techniques and work independently after training. – Proficiency in English is required. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Dr. Rachel Ngan Yin CHAN |
| Research Project (1): | Digital Sleep and Circadian Intervention to Prevent Depression in College Students |
| Project Description: | Depression is a leading cause of global disease burden, often emerging in adolescence and early adulthood. College students are particularly vulnerable due to significant biopsychosocial stressors, including interpersonal relationships, academic pressures, and financial challenges, leading to high prevalence and incidence rates of depression. There is an urgent need for early identification and prevention strategies targeting modifiable factors in a stigma-free, scalable and cost-effective approach to increase the accessibility of the intervention and reduce the onset of depression in at risk college students. This study aims to provide digital sleep-focused intervention to present depression in college students.
Preference will be given to students who are native Chinese speakers. |
| Research Project (2): | AI-assisted Imagery Rehearsal Therapy for Nightmare |
| Project Description: | Nightmares are prevalent in psychiatric populations. Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) is the recommended treatment for alleviating nightmare distress. This project aims to deliver IRT digitally to individuals who experience frequent nightmares, using an AI-assisted tool to enhance treatment efficacy. Participants will engage with a chatbot that guides them in rescripting their nightmare content and generating dream-related imagery for practice.
Students involved in this project will participate in subject recruitment, conduct clinical interviews, and provide assistance to participants during the intervention. Preference will be given to students who are native Chinese speakers. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Wing Yan Joey CHAN |
| Research Project: | Pupillary Light Reflex and Its Correlation With Insomnia and Polysomnography |
| Project Description: | Individual sensitivity to light has been postulated as one of the factors that are associated with sleep and circadian disturbances. This study will examine the relationship between retinal light sensitivity – as reflected by pupillary responses to specific light stimulus – and subjective and objective sleep measures among clinical patients who are admitted to the Sleep Assessment Unit of the Shatin Hospital. Students will work alongside the sleep team, which comprises sleep physicians, academic researchers, sleep technologists, and research assistants, gaining frontline research experience in clinical sleep medicine. They will assist in (i) subject recruitment, (ii) subject evaluation, (iii) data collection in pupillometry, and (iv) data entry and analysis.
We seek students with a good command of written and spoken English and Cantonese, strong communication and organizational skills, and the ability to work independently. This role is ideal for those interested in sleep medicine, psychology, neuroscience, or related health sciences, and those aspiring to pursue clinical or research careers. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Dr. Sijing CHEN |
| Research Project: | Cross-cultural Differences in Insomnia Prevalence and Its Risk Factors among Adults in Canada and Hong Kong |
| Project Description: | Introduction of the research project: There are significant research gaps on cross-cultural differences in insomnia status and its risk factors among adults. Leveraging a population-based epidemiological study on insomnia and sleep health among adults in Canada, as well as a community-based epidemiological study on sleep problems among Hong Kong Chinese adults, this study aimed to examine the cross-cultural differences in insomnia prevalence between Canada and Hong Kong adults and to explore both universal and sample-specific factors related to insomnia.
Requirements: (i) preferably major in Psychiatry, Psychology, Social Sciences, Public Health, or any related discipline; (ii) proficiency in English with good communication skills, both written and verbal; and (iii) research experience in mental health problems and knowledge in statistical analysis. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Dr. Lizhou FAN |
| Research Project (1): | AI-powered Patient Simulation for Medical Education and Scientific Discovery |
| Project Description: | This project develops AI-powered simulated patients based on de-identified electronic health records to support medical teaching and hypothesis generation in clinical research. Students will help (i) review literature on virtual patients and large language models (LLMs) in medical education, (ii) curate and anonymise clinical cases, (iii) design and test prompts/workflows for AI patient dialogues, and (iv) assist in basic quantitative/qualitative evaluation with medical students or trainees.
Requirements: interest in AI in medicine; basic programming (Python preferred) and/or experience with data handling is an advantage but not mandatory. Good written English is required; Cantonese and/or Mandarin are desirable for Chinese case materials. No field trips are required; occasional visits to Prince of Wales Hospital for meetings or educational activities may be arranged but are not compulsory. |
| Research Project (2): | Large Language Model for Clinical Reasoning in Psychiatry and Beyond |
| Project Description: | This project investigates how large language models can support structured clinical reasoning, with an initial focus on psychiatric cases (e.g. mood, anxiety, and psychotic disorders) and potential extension to neurology or internal medicine. Students will help build and analyse datasets of anonymised vignettes and reasoning chains, compare AI-generated reasoning steps to clinician gold standards, and explore methods to detect common reasoning errors. Tasks include literature review, data annotation, simple quantitative analysis, and testing prompt/agent designs.
Requirements: strong interest in psychiatry, psychology, or medicine; careful reading and annotation skills; good written English. Prior experience with large language model API calling and post-training are preferred. Cantonese and/or Mandarin reading ability is a plus for Chinese case materials. No field trips are required; optional observation of teaching activities or case discussions at Prince of Wales Hospital may be offered subject to approval. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Dr. Tim Man Ho LI |
| Research Project (1): | Leveraging AI for Text-based Detection of Suicide Risk in Clinical Settings |
| Project Description: | Recent studies using behavioral and brain imaging techniques have shown a strong link between how we use language and our social-emotional processing. Research into the psychometrics of language has found connections between the words people use and their mental states. This project aims to analyze clinical transcripts to identify signs of suicidal thoughts based on language patterns. The findings will provide initial insights into the language features related to suicidality. Students will learn basic methods for creating text-based AI models to help detect suicidal ideation. Preference will be given to native Chinese speakers. |
| Research Project (2): | Multimodal AI Monitoring of Mental Health Risk Factors in Daily Life |
| Project Description: | Stable risk factors for mental health, like age, background, and previous mental health issues, are typically assessed through interviews and surveys at a single timepoint. However, this method may overlook the changing aspects of mental health, such as mood swings that can occur in different situations. Because of this, there is increasing interest in gathering real-life experiences from people for analysis using AI. This project aims to study different factors—like voice, language, facial expressions, and activity data—collected from patients in their everyday lives. Preference will be given to native Chinese speakers. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Dr. Fang GUO |
| Research Project: | Temporal Variation in Component-specific PM2.5-related Health Impact in Hong Kong |
| Project Description: | This is an epidemiological time series study to analyze the temporal variation in component-specific PM2.5-related health impact in Hong Kong, with cause-specific death risks in the general population as well as demographic subgroups as the outcome indicator. By integrating time-series regression and temporal trend analysis, this study is designed to offer policy-relevant updated insights into the potential changes in the PM2.5-health links over time and the vulnerable subpopulations to different PM2.5 species.
Requirements: Prospective international students should possess a background in biostatistics or public health and demonstrate proficiency in R programming. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Junjie HUANG |
| Research Project (1): | Cancer Burden in Low- & Middle-income Countries |
| Project Description: | Cancer is one of the leading causes of death globally. This project aims to evaluate the burden of cancer in low- and middle-income countries using publicly available databases. Students participating in this project will learn how to collect data, generate descriptive results, perform minimal statistical analysis, and interpret the results in the format of a presentation or report using global databases with the team. The applicants do not necessarily need to be from low- & middle-income countries. Students interested in global health or non-communicable diseases are welcome to apply. They should have a good command of spoken and written English (Chinese is not required). Experience in academic writing would be an advantage. Filed works will not be required. The students will have a chance of co-authoring journal and conference publications, which may benefit their CV for future studies. |
| Research Project (2): | Lifestyle Risk Factors in Low- and Middle-income Countries |
| Project Description: | Unhealthy lifestyle is an important preventable risk factor for non-communicable diseases. This project aims to evaluate the lifestyle risk factors in low- and middle-income countries using publicly available databases. Students participating in this project will learn how to collect data, generate descriptive results, perform minimal statistical analysis, and interpret the results in the format of a presentation or report using global databases with the team. The applicants do not necessarily need to be from low- & middle-income countries. Students interested in global health or non-communicable diseases are welcome to apply. They should have a good command of spoken and written English (Chinese is not required). Experience in academic writing would be an advantage. Filed works will not be required. The students will have a chance of co-authoring journal and conference publications, which may benefit their CV for future studies. |
| Research Project (3): | Mental Disorders in Low- and Middle-income Countries |
| Project Description: | A mental disorder is a behavioral or mental pattern that causes significant distress or impairment of personal functioning. This project aims to evaluate mental disorders in low- and middle-income countries using publicly available databases. Students participating in this project will learn how to collect data, generate descriptive results, perform minimal statistical analysis, and interpret the results in the format of a presentation or report using global databases with the team. The applicants do not necessarily need to be from low- & middle-income countries. Students interested in global health or non-communicable diseases are welcome to apply. They should have a good command of spoken and written English (Chinese is not required). Experience in academic writing would be an advantage. Filed works will not be required. The students will have a chance of co-authoring journal and conference publications, which may benefit their CV for future studies. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Dr. Tsz Ho KWAN |
| Research Project (1): | Evaluation of the 2025 World AIDS Campaign |
| Project Description: | HIV testing is the cornerstone of achieving the 95-95-95 UNAIDS goal to end AIDS as a public health threat. To encourage and normalise HIV testing, an annual World AIDS Campaign was organised in December 2025 in Hong Kong. People in the general population received free HIV testing provided by different collaborating non-government organisations during the campaign period. A pre-test survey was administered and the corresponding test result was collected. Separately, a post-campaign evaluation survey was adminstered through online social media platforms. The two students in this project will be responsible for data analysis of each survey to inform HIV-related public health policies and the next World AIDS Campaign. Quantitative data analysis skills and English writing skills will be required. |
| Research Project (2): | Distribution of Viral Respiratory Infections Across Winter Influenza Seasons in Hong Kong |
| Project Description: | To investigate the changing landscape of respiratory virus infections, a serial cross-sectional study was conducted. Residents in Hong Kong were invited to submit a nasal swab sample and a survey during the influenza winter season when they present with influenza-like illnesses. The specimens underwent metagenomic sequencing and reads were taxonomically classified. Data collection and sequencing has been completed. Students will be responsible for data analysis and writing up the results in this project, therefore students should have knowledge and experience in quantitative analysis. English writing skills will also be required. Experience to perform metagenomic sequencing experiments may be provided to students with wet lab training. Experience in bioinformatics analysis is a plus but not necessary. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Kin On KWOK |
| Research Project (1): | Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance with Multidisciplinary Thinking in Infectious Disease Epidemiology in Hong Kong |
| Project Description: | Antimicrobial resistance renders antimicrobials ineffective for treatment. This study explores the determinants for the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in different settings in the population. By the end of the project, candidates should be able to gain domain knowledge of antimicrobial resistance and build up skills in performing systematic review/data analysis, and to gain hands-on experience with data collection in field studies and build up skills in analyzing empirical data. |
| Research Project (2): | Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance with Multidisciplinary Thinking in Behavioral Science in Hong Kong |
| Project Description: | Antimicrobial resistance refers to the failure of medicines in treating infections as the evolvement of microorganisms becomes resistant to the drugs. Selected candidates will work on projects that address this public health problem from the perspective of behavior science, for example perceived risk of AMR acquisition, through field studies and literature reviews. Candidates are expected to perform field studies to collect the data, systematic review and data analysis. Proficiency in Chinese is an advantage. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Ye PANG |
| Research Project: | Isolation and Characterization of Phages for Clostridium X |
| Project Description: | This project aims to develop a phage therapy that targets and eliminates Clostridium X without disrupting the symbiotic microbiota, addressing the challenges posed by diseases related to intestinal dysbiosis.
The specific objectives include:
Through this research, we aim to provide a biotherapy for the treatment of diseases associated with intestinal dysbiosis, thereby improving patient prognosis, reducing disease recurrence, and laying a solid foundation for future research and applications in related fields.
Project Background and Research Objectives:
Language requirement: English / Chinese |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Lap Ah Shelly TSE |
| Research Project: | Health Impacts of Environmental Mixtures and Hot Weather |
| Project Description: | Study background: The primary objectives are to measure multiple exposures such as ambient temperature, solar radiation, PM2.5, light at night, and noises, as well as assess hot weather conditions and the environmental factor mixtures on physical and mental health effects. We plan to randomly recruit 300 nurses for this 3-year study with repeated measures. This GRF/RGC funded project will start in Jan 2026 involving a standard questionnaire survey, device-based measurements and satellite-based measures for geographic conditions. First spot morning urine samples and sensing health data will be collected to assess the levels of potential health effect markers as well as sleep and mental health for the association with hot weather conditions and other mixtures of environmental exposures.
Language requirement: English |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Samuel WONG |
| Research Project (1): | The Efficacy of an Online Exercise Intervention for Improving Depressive Symptoms Among Patients With Subthreshold Depression in Primary Care: A Randomized Controlled Trial |
| Project Description: | This project funded by Health and Medical Research Fund aims to examine the efficacy of a 12-week online instructor-led exercise intervention (EIM) when compared to usual care control in reducing depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms and improving quality of life among people with subthreshold depression in primary care.
Applicants should have a strong command of both spoken and written English and Chinese (Cantonese) and may be required to work irregular hours. Responsibilities include assisting in the delivery of EIM, collaborating with the team to develop project materials, and conducting data collection and data entry. |
| Research Project (2): | Effects of Mindfulness-Based Training on the Microbiome of Older Adults With Chronic Stress: A Randomised Controlled Trial |
| Project Description: | This is a two-arm RCT to evaluate the efficacy of a mindfulness program for older adults (MBOA), in improving gut microbiota diversity and beneficial microbiome species among older adults with chronic stress. One hundred and thirty-eight Chinese older adults will be recruited from the community and randomly assigned to MBOA or health education control (HEC) groups. Gut microbiota will be measured at baseline, 2-month (immediately after intervention), and 5-month (3-month post-intervention) post-randomisation. We hypothesised that MBOA would improve gut microbiota diversity and beneficial microbiome species at 2 and 5 months post-randomisation when compared to the control.
Applicants should have a strong command of both spoken and written English and Chinese (Cantonese) and may be required to work irregular hours. Responsibilities include works as a group assistant for MBOA and/or HEC, collaborating with the team to develop project materials, and conducting data collection and data entry. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Claire Chenwen ZHONG |
| Research Project (1): | Burden of Digestive Diseases |
| Project Description: | The high prevalence and incidence of digestive diseases globally and in different regions pose a significant burden on public health, severely affecting the quality of life for millions and contributing to substantial rates of morbidity and mortality. This project aims to assess the impact of various digestive diseases—including inflammatory bowel disease, hepatitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease—across diverse populations.
Participants will develop skills in data collection, descriptive statistics, basic statistical analysis, and interpretation of results for presentations and reports. While a specific background in digestive health is not required, applicants should demonstrate a strong interest in global health and noncommunicable diseases.
Proficiency in both spoken and written English is essential; knowledge of regional languages is not mandatory but may be beneficial. Experience in academic writing will be considered an asset.
There is no fieldwork requirement. Participants will also have opportunities to publish their findings in peer-reviewed journals and present at regional and international conferences. |
| Research Project (2): | Assessing Reproductive Health Burden |
| Project Description: | Reproductive health is a critical area of study that addresses issues affecting individuals and communities. This project aims to evaluate the burden of reproductive health challenges using publicly available databases, with a focus on regional patterns and disparities.
Key conditions include gynecological diseases such as uterine fibroids, polycystic ovarian syndrome, female infertility, premenstrual syndrome, and urinary disorders, as well as male infertility.The project also encompasses sexually transmitted infections—including HIV/AIDS, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia—and maternal disorders such as maternal hemorrhage.
Participants will gain practical skills in data collection, generating descriptive statistics, conducting basic statistical analyses, and interpreting results for presentations or reports. While a specific background in reproductive health is not required, applicants should demonstrate a strong interest in global health and noncommunicable diseases.Proficiency in spoken and written English is essential. Knowledge of regional languages is not mandatory but may be advantageous. Prior experience in academic writing will be considered a plus. No fieldwork is required. Participants will have opportunities to publish their findings in peer-reviewed journals and present at regional and international conferences. |
| Research Project (3): | Metabolic Risk Factors and Disease Burden |
| Project Description: | Understanding metabolic risk factors is essential for addressing public health challenges, where noncommunicable diseases continue to rise and significantly impact health outcomes. This project aims to evaluate the burden of diseases associated with key metabolic risks, including—but not limited to—high fasting plasma glucose, elevated LDL cholesterol, obesity, low bone mineral density, and kidney dysfunction.
Participants will gain practical skills in data collection, descriptive statistics, basic statistical analysis, and interpretation of results for presentations and reports. While a specific background in metabolic health is not required, applicants should demonstrate a strong interest in global health and noncommunicable diseases.
Proficiency in spoken and written English is essential. Knowledge of regional languages is not mandatory but may be advantageous. Prior experience in academic writing is beneficial. No fieldwork is required. Participants will also have opportunities to publish their findings in peer-reviewed journals and present at regional and international conferences, enhancing their academic and professional profiles. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Cho Lee WONG |
| Research Project (1): | Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-Based Intervention in Reducing Loneliness Among Older Adults |
| Project Description: | Loneliness is an overlooked social determinant of health that is associated with adverse health outcomes and substantial costs. This project aims to examine the effects of the acceptance and commitment therapy-based intervention on loneliness, psychological flexibility, psychological distress, health-related quality of life, and healthcare utilisation among older adults living alone in Hong Kong. Student involved is expected to assist with literature reviews, the delivery of interventions and gain experience in data collection within a community setting. In addition, students will have the chance to participate in manuscript writing. Priority will be given to native Chinese speakers, fieldwork is optional. |
| Research Project (2): | Nostalgia Intervention on Alleviating Loneliness Amongst Community-Dwelling Older Adults |
| Project Description: | Loneliness has been recognised by the World Health Organisation as a social determinant of health. Nostalgia intervention offers a novel and potentially effective strategy to address loneliness by evoking nostalgic memories. This project aims to examine the effects of the nostalgia intervention on loneliness, negative emotions, social connectedness, meaning in life and nostalgia amongst community-dwelling older adults in Hong Kong. Student involved is expected to assist with literature reviews, the delivery of interventions and gain experience in data collection within a community setting. In addition, students will have the chance to participate in manuscript writing. Priority will be given to native Chinese speakers, fieldwork is optional. |
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(In alphabetical order of CUHK department and surname of supervisor)
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Chit TSUI |
| Research Project: | Developing New Reagents for the Synthesis of Organofluorine Compounds |
| Project Description: | This project will train students in the field of organic synthesis with an emphasis on organofluorine chemistry. Organofluorine compounds are important for numerous applications in our daily life including pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and materials. Basic background knowledge in organic chemistry is necessary. Experiences in organic chemistry laboratory are bonus. Students will carry out the experimental work in standard organic synthesis research laboratory under the guidance of senior postgraduate students. Suitable training in laboratory techniques and scientific literature will be provided. Students will also participate in regular group meetings and presentations. English is the main language used in the research group. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Xinglong ZHANG |
| Research Project (1): | Exploration of Large Language Models (LLMs) in Chemical Dataset Assembly |
| Project Description: | Brief introduction (project summary) This SURP project tests whether off-the-shelf, web-based LLMs can help assemble small, clean chemical datasets from literature and supplementary files. The student will (i) select a topic (e.g., reaction conditions & yields for one catalyst class or chemical properties for a small set of molecules), (ii) use LLM chat UIs to extract structured data, (iii) standardize names/units with web tools (name-to-structure converters, unit calculators), and (iv) evaluate accuracy against a small hand-checked “gold set.” The outcome is a dataset (~500 records), and a model comparison showing where LLMs help or fail in data assembly—without writing code.Student background Required: • Undergraduate chemistry (organic/physical/analytical) and confidence in reading papers. • Comfortable using web apps, spreadsheets (Google Sheets/Excel), and reference managers. • Careful, detail-oriented data entry and documentation.Nice-to-have: • Prior literature reading/annotation; basic knowledge of SMILES/InChI and common units. |
| Research Project (2): | Δ-Learning: Correcting GFN2-xTB Properties to DFT Quality |
| Project Description: | This project tests a pragmatic “Δ-learning” strategy: use a small set of DFT single-points to learn the correction between fast GFN2-xTB predictions and higher-accuracy DFT values. The student will (i) compute xTB properties (e.g., dipole moment μ, HOMO–LUMO gap Eg, total energy) for ~200 small molecules, (ii) compute DFT single-points for a labeled subset (50–80 molecules, e.g., B3LYP/def2-SVP or ωB97X-D/def2-SVP), and (iii) train a lightweight ML model (ridge/RF/XGB) to predict Δ = DFT − xTB. Outcomes include a clean dataset, trained models, parity/learning-curve plots, and guidance on how many DFT labels are needed to “uplift” xTB at minimal cost.
Specific requirements:
Software & compute:
Data & scope:
Core tasks & milestones:
Deliverables: |
| Research Project (3): | Conformer-Aware ML for Solvation-Related Properties (xTB + RDKit) |
| Project Description: | Many solution properties depend on conformational ensembles. This project asks whether conformer-averaged descriptors improve prediction of a target property (choose one: logS, logP, or ΔG_solv from FreeSolv). The student will (i) generate conformers with RDKit (ETKDG), (ii) compute per-conformer descriptors via xTB (–prop: energy, dipole; optional polarizability) plus RDKit surface/shape metrics, (iii) aggregate features across conformers (mean/min/SD), and (iv) train small ML models (ridge/ElasticNet/RF/XGB). The result is a clear comparison of single-conformer vs. conformer-aware models with transparent feature importance.
Specific requirements:
Software & compute:
Data & scope:
Core tasks & milestones:
Deliverables: |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Kenny Chun Yu NG |
| Research Project: | Astroparticle Physics |
| Project Description: | We will work on topics related astro-particle physics. Potential topics include dark matter, gamma-ray or neutrino astronomy. Depending on the capability and the interests of student, it could involve astronomical data analysis or theoretical calculations. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Dajun WANG |
| Research Project: | Ultracold Atoms and Molecules |
| Project Description: | The student will work in the ultracold atom lab in the Physics Department. A solid background in quantum mechanics and other areas of physics is required. Knowledge of laser optics, electronic circuits, or programming will be a plus. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Jianfang WANG |
| Research Project (1): | Plasmon-driven Nitrogen Photofixation |
| Project Description: | Plasmonic nanoparticles and nanostructures can interact strongly with light. They offer a new means for the photogeneration of energetic charge carriers, which can be used to drive chemical redox reactions. In this project, we will focus on artificial nitrogen photofixation. The project is highly interdisciplinary. It will involve materials synthesis, characterization, photocatalsis, electromagnetism, and solid state physics. Students are preferred to be interested in experimental interdisciplinary research. They would learn materials synthesis, characterization, and photocatalysis. English will be used. There will be no field trips. |
| Research Project (2): | Plasmonic Control of 2D Excitons |
| Project Description: | Plasmonic nanoparticles and nanostructures can confine light to nanoscale volumes. They offer an excellent tool to control the emission properties of excitons in 2D semiconductors. 2D semiconductors possess diverse excitons, including bright, dark, valley, and localized excitons. Control of such 2D excitons will lead to new physics, new photonics and optoelectronic devices, which will be on the nanosale and potentially be fabricated on chips. We will synthesize and fabricate plasmonic nanostructures to control the emission properties of 2D excitons, including their energy, intensity, polarization, spatial distribution, and circular polarization state. Students are preferred to have knowledge in nanophotonics and nanostructures. English will be used. There will be no field trips. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Qisi WANG |
| Research Project: | Quantum Materials Synthesis and Characterization |
| Project Description: | The research project aims to explore new quantum materials, including nickel-based superconductors, chiral magnets, and spintronic materials. Tasks will include material synthesis using solid-state reaction, chemical vapor transport, and floating zone methods. Sample characterization, including X-ray diffraction, transport, and thermodynamic measurements, will also be performed. Preferred background knowledge includes quantum mechanics, solid-state physics, and laboratory experience. The working language will be English. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Yangqian YAN |
| Research Project: | Quantum Simulation of Ultracold Atomic Gases |
| Project Description: | Perform theoretical/computational research in ultracold atoms using knowledge of quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics, computational physics, etc.
Potential topic is to using PyTorch and Python to simulate Gross Pitaevskii Equation using GPU or use molecular dynamics/Monte Carlo methods to simulate elastic and inelastic collisions dynamics using Boltzmann equation, path integral Monte Carlo, study collective modes of exotic state of matter.
Familiar with programming skills, as well as understanding of the underlying physics principles.
Options and details could be discussed further. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Xiaodan FAN |
| Research Project: | Statistical Epitope Prediction |
| Project Description: | This project is to develop statistical machine learning methods to identify which part of an antigen protein sequence will be recognized and bound by antibodies. Students applying for this project shall be interested in understanding human immune systems and should have learnt mathematical statistics and Python programming. Students will have access to our high-performance computing facility to run large machine learning models. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Chun Yip YAU |
| Research Project: | Change-point Detection with Deep Learning |
| Project Description: | Change-point analysis (CPA) is an important area in Statistics, which aims to detect abrupt changes in the probabilistic structure in data streams observed across time. CPA has profound applications in various fields, including manufacturing, healthcare, economics and finance, and environmental monitoring. Recent advances in deep learning have led to various novel methods for CPA. These methods allow CPD to handle data with complex structures. This goal of this research is to review and compare recent deep-learning based methodologies in CPA, and explore extensions and modifications for existing methods to improve accuracy, interpretability, generalizability, or computational efficiency. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Edwin CHAN |
| Research Project (1): | A Peptide Engineering Approach to Improve Efficacy and Stability of Inhibitors that Target Repeat Expansion RNAs |
| Project Description: | Repeat expansion diseases are a group of disorders caused by the expansion of a short DNA sequence in a gene. These diseases can affect a variety of tissues and organs, and can lead to a variety of symptoms, including neurodegeneration, muscle weakness, and cognitive decline.
Peptide inhibitors are short chains of amino acids that can bind to and inhibit the activity of proteins. Peptide inhibitors have been shown to be effective in suppressing the toxicity of repeat expansions in a number of animal models. One example of a peptide inhibitor that is being studied for the treatment of repeat expansion diseases is BIND. BIND is a 21-amino acid peptide that has been shown to bind to and inhibit the toxicity of expanded CAG repeats. In animal models, BIND has been shown to improve symptoms and extend lifespan in a number of repeat expansion diseases, including Huntington’s disease and spinocerebellar ataxia. Peptide inhibitors are a promising new approach to the treatment of repeat expansion diseases.
This project aims at improving efficacy and stability of these inhibitors. |
| Research Project (2): | An In-silico Approach to Identify Small Molecules that Target Repeat Expansion RNAs |
| Project Description: | Repeat expansion diseases are a group of disorders caused by the expansion of repetitive DNA sequences in the genome. These diseases can affect a variety of tissues and organs, and can lead to a wide range of symptoms, including neurodegeneration, muscle weakness, and cognitive impairment.
Small molecule inhibitors are a class of drugs that can bind to specific toxic repeat expansion RNAs. In the context of repeat expansion diseases, small molecule inhibitors have been shown to be effective in suppressing the expansion of repeat sequences and reducing the severity of symptoms. Small molecule inhibitors offer a promising new approach to the treatment of repeat expansion diseases.
This project takes an in-silico approach to identify small molecule inhibitors that have high affinity towards repeat expansion RNAs. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Ting Fung CHAN |
| Research Project (1): | Exploring the Functional Implications of Micropeptides Encoded by Long Non-coding RNA |
| Project Description: | Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have traditionally been considered as transcriptional noise or regulators of gene expression at the RNA level. However, recent advances in genomics and proteomics have revealed that many lncRNAs have the potential to encode small functional peptides, known as micropeptides. These micropeptides are often overlooked due to their small size and limited sequence conservation. The project aims to shed light on the largely unexplored world of micropeptides encoded by lncRNAs and investigate their possible functional effects in cellular processes. Using an integrated proteomics and bioinformatics approach, our lab has identified many putative novel micropeptides. In this project, the student will help confirm the translation and expression of micropeptides in different cell types and conditions, and investigate the functions of micropeptides in cellular processes, such as cell proliferation, differentiation, or response to stress. The findings of this study could have far-reaching implications for our understanding of lncRNA biology and the regulation of cellular processes. It may uncover novel mechanisms by which micropeptides encoded by lncRNAs contribute to cellular function and provide valuable insights into disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets. Ultimately, this project aims to bridge the gap between non-coding RNA research and the functional proteome, thereby opening up new avenues of investigation in molecular biology. |
| Research Project (2): | Unraveling Fusion RNA Landscape in Central Nervous System Tumors with Direct Long-read Sequencing |
| Project Description: | Central nervous system (CNS) tumors, particularly in children and young adults, represent a devastating group of cancers where molecular profiling is critical for diagnosis and therapy. Gene fusions are now recognized as key drivers and diagnostic hallmarks of many CNS tumor subtypes. However, current short-read sequencing methods often miss complex or repetitive fusion events. This project will leverage the power of nanopore direct RNA-sequencing to comprehensively discover novel and known fusion transcripts in CNS tumor samples. This long-read technology allows for the full-length, strand-specific sequencing of RNA, providing unparalleled ability to characterize fusion structures and their isoforms. Students working on this project will assist in the molecular and experimental validation of the findings. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Liwen JIANG |
| Research Project: | Organelle Biogenesis & Function |
| Project Description: | Our research focuses on understanding the underlying mechanisms of protein trafficking, organelle biogenesis and function in eukaryotic cells (e.g. plants) using a combination of imaging, cellular, molecular, biochemical and genetic approaches, as well as the applications of state-of-the-art platforms including 3D TEM (transmission electron microscopy), Cryo-EM/ET (electron tomography) and Cryo-FIB(focused ion beams)/CLEM (correlative light and electron microscopy). The students will have the opportunity to learn and involve in a specific project while working together with graduate students or postdoc in the labs. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Byung-ho KANG |
| Research Project: | 3D Electron Microscopy of Organelle Biogenesis and Remodeling |
| Project Description: | Students will participate in electron microscopy imaging of eukaryotic cells to perform high-resolution structural analysis of organelles such as mitochondria, chloroplasts, and Golgi stacks. The project provides hands-on training in sample preparation for three-dimensional electron microscopy (electron tomography) and in the reconstruction of cellular volumes to study organelle biogenesis and remodeling during development or under stress conditions. Students with interests in cell biology, electron microscopy, or image analysis are encouraged to join. Proficiency in any of the following languages—English, Chinese, or Korean—is sufficient for participation. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Kin Ming KWAN |
| Research Project (1): | Genetic Control of Blood-Cerebrospinal Fluid Barrier Development and Functioning in the Brain |
| Project Description: | Lab techniques are needed.
Using mouse as the model to study how the neurons are developed in our brain.
Project Objectives: |
| Research Project (2): | Genetic Control of Neuronal Cell Development in the Brain. |
| Project Description: | Lab techniques are needed.
Using mouse as the model to study how the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier are developed in our brain.
Project Objectives: |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Kwok Fai LAU |
| Research Project (1): | Investigate the Roles of Alzheimer’s Disease Amyloid Precursor Protein Interactors in Neurodevelopment |
| Project Description: | The accumulation of amyloid-β peptide (Aβ), derived from the amyloid precursor protein (APP), is a pathological hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The processing of APP is influenced by several interactors, including FE65 and GULP1, which have been shown to modify how APP is cleaved and accumulated. Recently, these APP interactors have gained attention for their roles in regulating essential neurodevelopmental processes, such as neurite outgrowth, which is crucial for the formation and maintenance of neural networks. Understanding these processes is vital, as neurite outgrowth underpins the development of neuronal connectivity and the establishment of functional neural circuits. This project aims to elucidate the mechanisms by which APP interactors modulate neurite outgrowth, shedding light on their potential impacts on neurodevelopment and their broader implications in neurodegenerative diseases. By revealing these mechanisms, the research could uncover new therapeutic targets for diseases like AD. |
| Research Project (2): | Alzheimer’s Disease Amyloid Precursor Protein Interactors and Autophagy |
| Project Description: | Autophagy is a highly conserved metabolic mechanism by which unnecessary or dysfunctional cellular components are removed. This process involves the sequestration of these components into double-membrane vesicles called autophagosomes. The autophagosomes subsequently fuse with lysosomes to form autolysosomes, leading to the disassembly of the contained material and the recycling of the resulting macromolecules. Beyond its normal cellular functions, autophagy is also thought to play a critical role in the metabolism of amyloid-β peptide (Aβ). The accumulation of Aβ, which is derived from the amyloid precursor protein (APP), is a pathological hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Recent research has reported that APP interactors can modulate autophagy, suggesting a link between these processes. This project aims to investigate the specific mechanisms by which APP interactors influence autophagy, potentially unveiling new insights into the pathogenesis of AD and identifying novel therapeutic targets to mitigate its progression. |
| Research Project (3): | Investigate the Roles of the GEFs of the Small GTPase ARF6 in Neurite Outgrowth |
| Project Description: | This project focuses on investigating the roles of guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) that regulate the small GTPase ARF6 in neurite outgrowth. Neurite outgrowth is a critical process in the development of neural networks and overall neurodevelopment, influencing how neurons extend axons and dendrites to establish connections. ARF6, a member of the ADP-ribosylation factor family, plays a pivotal role in membrane trafficking, cytoskeleton remodeling, and signal transduction. This study aims to elucidate how specific GEFs interact with ARF6 to modulate these processes, thereby affecting neurite outgrowth. This research seeks to map the pathways and mechanisms through which ARF6 and its GEFs influence neurite growth. The findings from this project could provide valuable insights into the fundamental biology of neuronal development and identify potential targets for therapeutic intervention in neurodevelopmental disorders. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Haiwei LUO |
| Research Project (1): | Mining Coral Microbiomes for Novel Probiotic Candidates Using an Evolutionary Genomics Framework |
| Project Description: | Introduction: Coral reefs are foundational to marine biodiversity but are facing catastrophic decline due to climate-change-induced heatwaves that cause catastrophic bleaching. A promising strategy to enhance coral resilience is the use of probiotics (beneficial microorganisms administered to support host health). However, a major bottleneck has constrained their scalable application: most introduced probiotics are only transient colonizers, quickly washed away from the coral, which limits the duration of their beneficial effects and raises questions about their long-term efficacy. Our laboratory has developed a novel, evolution-guided framework to overcome this very challenge. Instead of selecting probiotic candidates based solely on pre-defined beneficial traits observed in a petri dish, we proactively search for bacteria with genomic signatures indicative of an evolutionary trajectory toward host dependency. These hallmarks, which include the expansion of mobile genetic elements (insertion sequences) and the widespread inactivation (pseudogenization) of core metabolic genes, mirror patterns seen in young terrestrial symbionts. The core hypothesis is that bacteria already on this evolutionary path are intrinsically pre-adapted for stable, long-term residency within a host, as they likely rely on the host environment to compensate for their own metabolic deficiencies. This approach successfully identified our lead next-generation probiotic (NGP), Ruegeria MC10. This project aims to build on this success by mining our extensive collection of over 1,000 cultured coral-associated bacteria to discover new NGP candidates. You will use bioinformatics to analyze bacterial genomes, hunting for these key evolutionary signatures to identify the most promising candidates for future experimental validation, directly contributing to the expansion of a scalable toolkit for coral reef restoration.Specific Requirements:-Background: Students in Genetics, Genomics, Bioinformatics, Molecular Biology, or Marine Science. A strong interest in bioinformatics is essential.-Skills/Language: No wet-lab work. The project is primarily computational. Proficiency in English is required; no Cantonese/Chinese necessary. -Field Trips: None. The project is based entirely on our existing genomic datasets and will be conducted on campus. |
| Research Project (2): | Assessing the Impact of a Novel Probiotic on Reef Microbial Communities |
| Project Description: | Introduction: Coral reefs are in global decline, primarily due to mass bleaching events triggered by climate change. Probiotics (beneficial microbes administered to corals) offer a promising strategy to enhance thermal resilience. A key bottleneck, however, is that most probiotics fail to establish long-term residency within the coral host. Our lab has pioneered an evolutionary approach to select next-generation probiotics (NGPs) based on genomic signatures of host dependency. This method identified Ruegeria MC10-B4, a bacterial strain that successfully persists in corals for months and increases heat tolerance. Before such a probiotic can be widely deployed, its environmental safety must be validated. A critical concern is whether MC10-B4, if released from the coral, could disrupt the native microbial communities in the surrounding seawater and sediment, which are essential for reef health. This project will directly test the environmental impact of MC10-B4. Using laboratory microcosms, the student will investigate whether the addition of this probiotic alters the diversity and composition of natural marine microbial communities. We hypothesize that due to its host-adapted genome, MC10-B4 will have a minimal ecological footprint, supporting its development as a safe and scalable restoration tool.Specific Requirements:-Background: Students in Environmental Science, Marine Ecology, Microbiology, or Biotechnology. A strong interest in hands-on lab work and data analysis is essential.-Skills/Language: The project involves microbial culturing, DNA extraction, and basic bioinformatics (training will be provided).Proficiency in English is required; no Cantonese/Chinese necessary. -Field Trips: Yes, there is potential for day trips to our marine field station and local coral reef sites in Hong Kong waters to collect authentic seawater and sediment samples for the experiments. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Shelby McLLROY |
| Research Project (1): | Coral Ecology in a Warming World |
| Project Description: | • Conduct thermal performance assays on different marine invertebrate species associated to coral communities • Animal rearing, aquarium upkeep and experiment setup in the laboratory • Conduct field collection in Hong Kong waters and/or data analysis • Background in marine biology, animal physiology and ecological data analysis preferred • Able to help in fieldwork through diving or boat support preferred • Fluent written and spoken English |
| Research Project (2): | The Role of Feeding in Coral Resistance and Resilience |
| Project Description: | • As climate change accelerates coral bleaching worldwide, this project investigates the resilience of subtropical corals in Hong Kong, where bleaching events are rare but impactful. We explore how multiple stressors (like heat and hyposalinity), coral functional traits, and heterotrophy (feeding) interact to shape bleaching susceptibility and recovery. Through controlled experiments, we aim to identify resilient coral traits and quantify the role of heterotrophy in energy balance, providing critical insights for conserving subtropical coral ecosystems under global change.
• Candidates may help with coral sample collection in Hong Kong and assist with laboratory experiments.
Specific requirements: • Background in biology |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Jacky NGO |
| Research Project (1): | Structural Study of a Splicing Kinase in Complex With Viral Protein |
| Project Description: | Serine-arginine protein kinases (SRPKs) are a family of kinase that play critical roles in RNA metabolisms and viral infection. They have been found to govern the life cycles of different viruses including HBV, HSV, SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV2 by interacting and phosphorylating their viral proteins. In this study, we will apply recombinant technology, protein biochemistry, x-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy to investigate how SRPK1 interacts with some of these viral proteins. Candidates who major in biological or biomedical sciences are preferred. |
| Research Project (2): | Function of a Peptide Inhibitor in Neurodegenerative Diseases |
| Project Description: | Our lab has recently developed a peptide inhibitor that targets a family of kinases to inhibit angiogenesis and metastasis. In this project, we will test the effects of this inhibitor on different neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Martin TSUI |
| Research Project (1): | Wildfire Effects on Mercury Cycling in Grassland Ecosystem |
| Project Description: | Mercury is a global pollutant and can contaminate all terrestrial ecosystems. Wildfire is a big threat to terrestrial ecosystems and this project is aimed to examine if and how wildfire can affect the amount of mercury in grassland ecosystems, for example, we want to know the temperature to which mercury can volatilize from grassland soils and how that affect the chemical forms of mercury afterwards. Indeed, many intriguing scientific questions remain unanswered. This project will require some field sampling in the countryside of Hong Kong but for the most part the student will work in the laboratory to perform mercury analyses using state-of-the-art technology. The student who picks this project will receive training on laboratory safety, basic operations, and analytical work, etc. Students who can speak English would find the working environment to be perfectly fine. |
| Research Project (2): | Can Fungi Transform Mercury Into Its Toxic Forms? |
| Project Description: | Mercury is a global pollutant and can contaminate all terrestrial ecosystems. Fungi are very unique components in terrestrial ecosystems and are widely thought to mediate mercury transformations, however, little is known at the moment. In this project, the student will work to collect fungi from different terrestrial habitats in Hong Kong and analyze their mercury content. The student will also use genomic tools to examine the microbial attributes to which the fungi are capable of transforming mercury, or if bacteria are involved in the process. This project will require some field sampling in the countryside of Hong Kong but for the most part the student will work in the laboratory to perform mercury analyses using state-of-the-art technology. The student who picks this project will receive training on laboratory safety, basic operations, and analytical work, etc. Students who can speak English would find the working environment to be perfectly fine. |
| Research Project (3): | How Earthworm Changes Properties of Soils and Mercury Toxicity? |
| Project Description: | Mercury is a global pollutant and can contaminate all terrestrial ecosystems. Amynthas earthworm casts are pellets of grainy, coffee ground-like soil left by earthworms that alter soil texture, structure, and water retention, etc. Such changes of soil properties can create a potential in mediating mercury transformations, potentially making mercury more toxic through microbial conversion to organic methylmercury. In this project, the student will identify and collect Amynthas earthworm casts from different terrestrial habitats in Hong Kong and analyze their mercury content. The student will also use genomic tools to examine the microbial attributes to which the Amynthas earthworm casts are capable of transforming mercury, or if bacteria are involved in the process. This project will require some field sampling in the countryside of Hong Kong but for the most part the student will work in the laboratory to perform mercury analyses using state-of-the-art technology. The student who picks this project will receive training on laboratory safety, basic operations, and analytical work, etc. Students who can speak English would find the working environment to be perfectly fine. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Congyan ZHANG |
| Research Project: | The Organelle Intercellular Transfer Through Open-Ended Membrane Tubular Connections |
| Project Description: | Brief introduction of the research project: This study explores organelle cell-to-cell transfer via tubular intercellular connections. A transient split-GFP reporting system will be established to visualize and quantify the frequency and extent of mitochondrial intercellular migration transfer through tubular connections. Using this system, we seek to identify the conditions that trigger transfer, the transport rate, and the dependencies on the cytoskeleton, motor proteins, and fusogens involved in these events.
Study background: cell biology, cell culture, molecular biology Language requirement: English Perform experiments in the lab, no trips |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Xiaohong ZHUANG |
| Research Project (1): | Interplay Between Mitochondrial Dynamics and Mitochondrial Quality Control |
| Project Description: | As the energy center of the cell, mitochondria display enormous metabolic plasticity to meet the cellular demand for plant growth and development, which is tightly linked to their structural and dynamic plasticity. Mitochondrial number and morphology are coordinated through the actions of the mitochondrial division and fusion. Meanwhile, damaged mitochondrial contents are removed to avoid excess toxicity to the plant cells. In this project, we aim to understand how mitochondrial dynamics is regulated to ensure mitochondrial balance for plant growth and stress resistance using both genetic, cellular and biochemical methods. |
| Research Project (2): | Selective Autophagy for Plant Stress Response |
| Project Description: | Derived from the Greek word meaning “self-eating”, autophagy acts as a cleaning-up process by breaking down damaged or unwanted proteins/cellular structures, thereby balancing cellular homeostasis in almost all eukaryotes. We aim to unveil molecular mechanisms of autophagy as potential targets for future application in sustainable agriculture and renewable energy production. We focus on developing tools such as gene editing, protein expression/purification, biochemical assays and confocal/electron microscopy to investigate the mechanism of the autophagosome formation. The students will work together with graduate students in a specific project. |
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(In alphabetical order of CUHK department and surname of supervisor)
| CUHK Supervisor: | Dr. Cheuk Yin HO |
| Research Project: | An Empirical Analysis of Text Data in Economics and Finance |
| Project Description: | This project aims to apply textual analysis and machine learning models to understand text data, e.g., words, messages, tweets, and ads. Using text data helps us to understand, for example, sentiments in financial markets.
Machine learning models, such as support vector machines and neural networks, will be utilized. Students are expected to collect text data, develop statistical models, write computer programmes, and evaluate model performances.
Students are expected to be familiar with statistics and basic machine learning models. Programming experiences in Python are preferred. Proficiency in English is required. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Chung Shing CHAN |
| Research Project: | Application Research on Augmented Models and Smart Experiential Engagement in Ecological Conservation of Yim Tin Tsai, Sai Kung |
| Project Description: | This project aims to utilise augmented modeling technology to showcase and highlight the diverse day and night floral and faunal species found on Yim Tin Tsai (YTT) Island. By employing innovative and advanced digital tools, we will create interactive visual representations of the island’s ecological richness, emphasizing the importance of integrating technological innovation into nature conservation.
The project involves conducting comprehensive ecological surveys and research to identify and document the various species inhabiting Yim Tin Tsai during both day and night. These findings will be transformed into a captivating and immersive augmented reality experience. Using Augmented Reality (AR) applications, community members and the public will have the opportunity to engage in interactive experiences that foster a deeper understanding and appreciation, as well as a sense of stewardship and responsibility for the island’s unique biodiversity, including the day-and-night land and coastal species and their habitats.
The project includes smart experiential engagement activities, such as AR-based guided tours, workshops, and educational activities to involve the local community and raise awareness about the importance of nature conservation. By integrating technology with community involvement, this project aims to promote sustainable practices and encourage active participation in the preservation of Yim Tin Tsai’s natural heritage.
Specific requirements: |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Yan LIU |
| Research Project (1): | Campus Digital Twin for Microclimate and Mobility Analysis |
| Project Description: | This project proposes the development of a high-fidelity digital twin of the university campus to investigate the interplay between the built environment, the urban heat island (UHI) effect, and pedestrian behavior. Using the digital twin model, the project aims to identify hotspots that discourage foot traffic and evaluate the cooling efficacy of existing green infrastructure. The findings are expected to provide data-driven insights for campus planning, informing strategies to enhance outdoor thermal comfort, optimize shading, and encourage walkability.
Potential candidates are expected to have: 1) good English language skills; 2) good knowledge and operational skills in GIS; 3) some computer programming skills will be an advantage. |
| Research Project (2): | Climate Vulnerability Assessment Using an Urban Digital Twin |
| Project Description: | This project aims to develop and utilize a high-fidelity digital twin of the urban area to analyze and simulate the impacts of climate change, with a primary focus on flooding and extreme heat events. The goal is to move beyond traditional static models and create a dynamic, data-driven simulation environment that can predict vulnerabilities, test mitigation strategies, and support resilient urban planning.
Potential candidates are expected to have: 1) good English language skill; 2) good knowledge and operational skills in GIS; 3) some computer programming skills will be an advantage. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Derrick LAI |
| Research Project (1): | Greenhouse Gas Dynamics in the Coastal Wetlands of Hong Kong |
| Project Description: | Conduct field measurement / lab experiments to investigate the production, consumption and/or emission of greenhouse gases (e.g. nitrous oxide) in the coastal wetlands of Hong Kong. |
| Research Project (2): | Carbon Dynamics in the Terrestrial Forests of Hong Kong |
| Project Description: | Conduct field measurement / lab experiments to investigate the storage, stability, and mineralization of soil organic carbon in the terrestrial forests of Hong Kong. |
| Research Project (3): | Temporal Variations of Greenhouse Gas Dynamics in Urban Hong Kong |
| Project Description: | Conduct field measurement and data analysis of atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations to characterize the temporal variations and governing factors. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Minseop KIM |
| Research Project: | Work Schedules and Child Wellbeing in China |
| Project Description: | As around-the-clock economies become common, a growing body of research has explored how parents’ atypical work schedules affect child outcomes. However, limited research has been conducted in Mainland China, where distinct patterns of findings may emerge. The current project aims to investigate the association between parental work schedules and child wellbeing outcomes, using survey data from a representative sample of Chinese families. Students participating in the research project will conduct in-depth reviews of key theoretical perspectives and prior empirical evidence, along with opportunities to understand and work with the survey data. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Jin SUN |
| Research Project (1): | Cyberfraud Prevention & Policing |
| Project Description: | This is a project about Responsive Policing for Cyberfraud Prevention (https://doi.org/10.1080/10439463.2025.2548237).
Language requirement: Mandarin Chinese or Cantonese is required. Other foreign language and regional studies knowledge is appreciated.
Interested students are expected to submit the CV and the research proposal (1-3 pages) to the PI via email at jinsun@cuhk.edu.hk.
The three basic elements that should be articulated in each proposal are: (1) Description of the case study subject/entities (i.e., company, organization, institution, interview groups, etc.): Briefly describe the case study subject in terms of its business/organization and/or key business activities. (2) Rationale/Case Materials: Why is this subject and this body of entities of interest to the study? What unique issue(s) might this case study address or highlight? What reference materials are available for this case study? (3) Timeline: Briefly identify key tasks, goals and/or expected outcomes associated with the case study and a rough timeline for carrying out, developing and/or implementing them. |
| Research Project (2): | Climate Change/ESG/Environmental Crime & Policing |
| Project Description: | This is a project about Responsive regulation on climate change/ESG/environmental crime & policing.
Language requirement: Mandarin Chinese or Cantonese is required. Other foreign language and regional studies knowledge is appreciated.
Interested students are expected to submit the CV and the research proposal (1-3 pages) to the PI via email at jinsun@cuhk.edu.hk.
The three basic elements that should be articulated in each proposal are: (1) Description of the case study subject/entities (i.e., company, organization, institution, interview groups, etc.): Briefly describe the case study subject in terms of its business/organization and/or key business activities. (2) Rationale/Case Materials: Why is this subject and this body of entities of interest to the study? What unique issue(s) might this case study address or highlight? What reference materials are available for this case study? (3) Timeline: Briefly identify key tasks, goals and/or expected outcomes associated with the case study and a rough timeline for carrying out, developing and/or implementing them. |
| Research Project (3): | AI, Biomed, Biotech and Other Frontier Tech Governance |
| Project Description: | This is a project about AI, biomed, biotech and other frontier tech governance.
Language requirement: Mandarin Chinese or Cantonese is required. Other foreign language and regional studies knowledge is appreciated.
Interested students are expected to submit the CV and the research proposal (1-3 pages) to the PI via email at jinsun@cuhk.edu.hk.
The three basic elements that should be articulated in each proposal are: (1) Description of the case study subject/entities (i.e., company, organization, institution, interview groups, etc.): Briefly describe the case study subject in terms of its business/organization and/or key business activities. (2) Rationale/Case Materials: Why is this subject and this body of entities of interest to the study? What unique issue(s) might this case study address or highlight? What reference materials are available for this case study? (3) Timeline: Briefly identify key tasks, goals and/or expected outcomes associated with the case study and a rough timeline for carrying out, developing and/or implementing them.” |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Yuying TONG |
| Research Project (1): | Parenting Over the Life Course: International Comparative Perspective |
| Project Description: | Investigates how parenting roles, practices, and parent–child relations evolve over time across countries and policy regimes.
Uses a life-course, intersectional lens for literature review and harmonize the data across different countries.
Examines work–family policies, care arrangements, intergenerational support, and impacts on well-being and inequality.
Requirements: |
| Research Project (2): | Emerging Topics in Migration Studies |
| Project Description: | Explores new fronts in migration: digitalization/remote work, climate mobility, platform-mediated labor, AI in border/governance, and gendered/household decision-making.
Integrates comparative, intersectional perspectives across origin–destination systems; combines secondary data (surveys, admin/big data) with targeted qualitative work.
Assesses impacts on labor markets, integration, well-being, and inequality; maps policy innovations and gaps.
Requirements: |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Dr. Zhen LIU |
| Research Project: | A Multi-Modal Remote Sensing and Deep Learning Framework for Urban Transportation Infrastructure Carbon Sequestration Assessment |
| Project Description: | Brief Introduction: As cities strive toward carbon neutrality, transportation infrastructure plays a crucial role in both carbon emissions and sequestration. This project develops a multi-modal framework that integrates 3D LiDAR point clouds with multi-source remote sensing data to support urban-scale carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) analysis. Students will work on data fusion, deep learning–based semantic segmentation, and spatial modelling to identify roads, buildings, and vegetation, and to quantify their associated carbon fluxes. The project also explores an AI-driven automated carbon monitoring workflow, highlighting the potential of machine learning and geospatial technologies to support low-carbon urban planning.Student Background (Recommended): Students with academic background or interest in remote sensing, GIS/spatial analysis, environmental science, computer science, or data science are welcome. Prior experience with Python or deep learning frameworks (e.g., PyTorch/TensorFlow) is helpful but not mandatory; training and guidance will be provided.Language Requirement: Students should be able to communicate in English or Chinese through spoken communication or email correspondence.Fieldwork / Additional Notes: Depending on project progress, students may participate in on-campus or nearby off-campus field data collection using handheld LiDAR devices or small UAV platforms to acquire supplementary datasets. Participation will be supervised, and fieldwork requirements will be confirmed during the project. |
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