(Upper row, from left) Professors Yan Renbin, Wu Yilin and Shi Zhentao; (Lower row, from left) Professors Gong Xiting, Jason Yam Cheuk-sing, Yeung Ying-yeung and Duan Renjun
National Natural Science Foundation awards RMB41 million research funding to 25 CUHK professors
Twenty-five professors from CUHK have obtained funding support worth over RMB41.7 million from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC). Among them, seven professors are awarded funding from the “National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars”, the highest level of young research talent development program under the foundation.
Each of the seven professors accepted into the top-pier scheme, which opened its applications to young scholars from Hong Kong and Macao for the first time, will be granted RMB4 million to support their research for up to five years (The grant for a mathematics and scientific management project is RMB2.8 million). Below are the seven recognised academics:
| Scholar | CUHK Department |
| Professor Duan Renjun | Department of Mathematics |
| Professor Gong Xiting | Department of Decisions, Operations and Technology |
| Professor Shi Zhentao | Department of Economics |
| Professor Wu Yilin | Department of Physics |
| Professor Jason Yam Cheuk-sing | Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences |
| Professor Yan Renbin | Department of Physics |
| Professor Yeung Ying-yeung | Department of Chemistry |
Another seven professors have been awarded the “Excellent Young Scientists Fund” . They will each receive RMB2 million to support their research in Hong Kong for a maximum of three years. The seven academics recognised are:
| Scholar | Department/School |
| Professor Chen Sijie | School of Life Sciences |
| Professor Chen Zhi | Department of Decisions, Operations and Technology |
| Professor Duan Liting | Department of Biomedical Engineering |
| Professor Ke Te | Department of Marketing |
| Professor Xie Wensi | Department of Finance |
| Professor Philip Zhang Renyu | Department of Decisions, Operations and Technology |
| Professor Zhou Renjie | Department of Biomedical Engineering |
A group of 11 received support from the foundation’s “Young Scientists Fund”. Each of themwill be awarded RMB300,000 to support their projects for three years. They are:
| Scholar | Department/Institute |
| Professor Gary Choi Pui-tung | Department of Mathematics |
| Professor Huang Chaoran | Department of Electronic Engineering |
| Professor Huang Lingcao | Institute of Space and Earth Information Science |
| Professor Lai Jiewen | Department of Electronic Engineering |
| Professor Liao Rui | Department of Surgery |
| Professor Su Qi | Department of Medicine and Therapeutics |
| Professor Wang Sishuo | Department of Microbiology |
| Professor Wang Zijia | Department of Finance |
| Professor Xu Zhilu | Department of Medicine and Therapeutics |
| Professor Xue Haoran | Department of Physics |
| Professor Zhai Shixian | Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences |
