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Summer Undergraduate Research Programme (SURP)
Research Projects
Some 50 virtual research topics are offered by CUHK host supervisors. Applicants are recommended to choose more than one project 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)
| Department of Linguistics and Modern Languages | |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. LAI Yee King Regine |
| Research Project: | Phonological Learning |
| Project Description: | The student will participate in a project that investigates human’s ability to implicitly learn phonological rules. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. MOK Pik Ki Peggy |
| Research Project: | Speech Production & Perception Research |
| Project Description: | Depending on students’ background and interests, there are various speech research projects available for students to participate, e.g. voice quality and voicing contrast in Wu Chinese, acquisition of heritage Cantonese tones, acquisition of liquid consonants by Japanese learners of Mandarin. Students will be able to analyse real production and perception data. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. WONG Chun Man Patrick |
| Research Project (1): | Brain & Language |
| Project Description: | Using a team-science approach, this project examines the neural basis of language learning and processing. Students will work closely with researchers to conduct a literature review, brainstorm ideas for specific experiments, collect data for ongoing experiments, and/or analyse existing data.
For students who have a strong background in this area of research, additional responsibilities may be assigned such as participating in MRI and EEG experiments. Students with appropriate experience may also have the opportunity to work with special populations such as children with autism and dyslexia. Interested students are encouraged to familiarise themselves with journal papers published by the research group (brain.cuhk.edu.hk) and discuss specific project details at the first meeting with the host researchers considering students’ background and interests, as well as the lab’s latest focus. |
| Research Project (2): | Foreign Language Learning |
| Project Description: | The project will study how foreign languages are learned and the factors that influence learning success by studying classroom learners and/or artificial language learning in the lab. Students will work closely with researchers to conduct a literature review, brainstorm ideas for specific experiments, collect data for ongoing experiments, and/or analyse existing data.
Interested students are encouraged to familiarise themselves with journal papers published by the research group (brain.cuhk.edu.hk) and discuss specific project details at the first meeting with the host researchers considering students’ background and interests, as well as the lab’s latest focus. |
| Research Project (3): | 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 researchers to conduct a literature review, brainstorm ideas for specific experiments, collect data for ongoing experiments, and/or analyse existing data.
Interested students are encouraged to familiarise themselves with journal papers published by the research group (brain.cuhk.edu.hk) and discuss specific project details at the first meeting with the host researchers considering students’ background and interests, as well as the lab’s latest focus. |
| Department of Educational Psychology | |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. SO Wing Chee Catherine |
| Research Project: | Robot-Based Intervention for Promoting Social & Behavioural Skills in Children with Autism |
| Project Description: | This project aims to provide robot-based intervention to Cantonese-speaking children with autism and examine the behavioural and social learning outcomes. Quantitative and qualitative data will be collected.
Students with a background in education or psychology are preferred. Experiences in training children with autism will be an advantage. |
(In alphabetical order of CUHK department and surname of supervisor)
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. CHOI Chung Hang Jonathan |
| Research Project (1): | Design of Nanoparticles for In Vivo Applications |
| Project Description: | In this project, students will learn about basic concepts in bionanotechnology and drug delivery, tools in nanoparticle and biomaterials synthesis, and animal experiments. |
| Research Project (2): | Design of Nanoparticles for Intracellular Applications |
| Project Description: | In this project, students will learn about basic concepts in bionanotechnology and drug delivery, tools in nanoparticle and biomaterials synthesis, and cell experiments. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. HO Yi Ping Megan |
| Research Project: | Biophysical Phenotyping of Stem Cells |
| Project Description: | The aim of the project is to develop and validate techniques for the characterisation of stem cells’ biophysical properties. Participating students will receive training on microfabrication and biomechanics in a face-to-face programme.
Students with a background in engineering who are interested in biological applications are preferred. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. TONG Kai Yu Raymond |
| Research Project (1): | Augmented Reality Training Platform to Improve Brain Cognitive Function |
| Project Description: | The aim of the project is to develop software on game/training interface to improve cognitive function for adults and kids. The students should have good development and debugging skills in using at least one of the following languages: C/C++, C#, Python and JAVA. Students with experience in machine learning, data analytics, and/or augmented reality (AR) application is preferred. |
| Research Project (2): | Soft Robotic Design for Biomedical Engineering Applications |
| Project Description: | The aim of the project is to design and evaluate new type of soft robotic device for medical application, including rehabilitation and assistive technology. Students who have good drawing skill with software such as SolidWorks are preferred. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. REN Hongliang |
| Research Project (1): | AI-Based Multimodal Guidance for Snake Robot in Confined Environments |
| Project Description: | Flexible snake robot, with multi-degree of freedom, can work inside the human body and carry out diagnostics and operations. A conventional rigid articulated robot system has limits in a confined and complicated area. In this study, one of the key challenges for the snake robotic intervention system: AI-based image guidance and motion control for deformable snake robots in confined deformable environments will be addressed. This will involve computer-based surgical simulation using existing medical images and motion planning, as well as hands-on experiments in collaboration with the robot developers. Students participating in this project will have the chance to work with a team and clinical collaborators.
Students who are major in mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, computer science and/or robotics are welcome to join. |
| Research Project (2): | Deeply-Learned Programmable Robots with Mechanoelectrical Perceptions for Biomedical Applications |
| Project Description: | This research focuses on data-driven deep learning-based AI techniques for soft robotics with programmable metamorphic capabilities, endowing them with skin-like mechanoelectrical sensory capabilities to enhance their functionality. For example, in in-vivo medical procedure, the mechanoelectrical perception ability is essential for a reconfigurable robotic platform to adapt to the changing confined biological environments. The provided sensory feedback and AI-based perception can improve the efficacy and efficiency of in-vivo procedures and hence be of great aid to the interventionists.
Students who are major in mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, computer science and/or robotics are welcome to join. |
| Research Project (3): | Flexible & Stretchable Sensing Electrodes for Soft Robots |
| Project Description: | This project will attempt to explore the use of flexible and stretchable electrodes for soft biomedical robots. The properties of electrodes and the performance of the soft robots and sensors will be optimised. The static and dynamics performance of soft robots will be investigated.
Students who are major in mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, computer science and/or robotics are welcome to join. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. SUN Xiankai |
| Research Project (1): | Novel Photonic Nanostructures for Integrated Photonics |
| Research Project (2): | Photonics Based on Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials |
| Research Project (3): | Physics & Applications of Nano-Optics & Nano-Optomechanics |
| Project Description: | Students will conduct research in a lab environment under the guidance of the supervisor. Knowledge in physics, optics, acoustics, electronics and/or material science will be an advantage. |
| 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 regarding the emergence of international law. Emphasis will be placed on data collection and analysis. This summer project will be conducted entirely in English. The key outcomes are for the students to:
(1) Develop the knowledge and understanding of the core principles of empirical legal research; (2) Learn to interpret and organise research findings; (3) Gain critical knowledge regarding international law. |
| Research Project (2): | Understanding Globalisation |
| Project Description: | This summer project aims at introducing the student to core methods of empirical research regarding globalisation. Emphasis will be placed on data collection and methods of empirical analysis. The summer project will be conducted entirely in English. The key outcomes are for the students to:
(1) Develop the knowledge and understanding of the core principles of globalisation; (2) Learn to interpret and organise research findings; (3) Gain critical knowledge regarding global institutions of governance |
(In alphabetical order of CUHK department/school and surname of supervisor.)
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. KONG Pik Shan Alice |
| Research Project: | Lifestyle Factors & Glycemic Control in Patients with Diabetes |
| Project Description: | The project will focus on Hong Kong adult patients with type 2 diabetes. The attachment aims to provide students with a clinical research exposure relating to the examination of lifestyle factors, such as diet, sleep, and physical activity, and their impact on physical health of diabetes patients.
Through the project, students are expected to gain a better understanding on published evidence relating to various lifestyle factors and physical health in type 2 diabetes patients; study research methodology relating to lifestyle factors and health; analyse descriptive statistics data; learn fundamental principals in statistical analysis to examine correlations; and write up short conclusion report. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. WANG Chi Chiu Ronald |
| Research Project: | Acupuncture for Endometriosis: Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis |
| Project Description: | Endometriosis is defined as the growth of endometrium outside of the uterus. As a common gynaecological condition, endometriosis is estimated to affect about 10% of women at reproductive age. The cardinal symptoms and presentations include pelvic pain, menorrhagia, depression, subfertility and even cancer. Currently there is no effective treatment to cure the disease or prevent the recurrence. Acupuncture is a widely recognised therapy for many chronic diseases, including endometriosis. However, its efficacy and the underlying mechanism for endometriosis symptoms remains uncertain.
In this study, a systematic review and meta-analysis will be conducted. Students will be involved in searching the literatures, extracting the data, carrying out statistical analysis, and drafting the manuscript. Students participating in this project will be able to observe animal models in the research laboratory. At least one student who is able to read simplified Chinese is preferred in the group. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. LAM Tsz Ping |
| Research Project: | Effectiveness of Brace Clinic for Management of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis – Analysis of a Randomised Controlled Trial |
| Project Description: | There is a general agreement that bracing is effective in treating scoliosis. Important issues are on brace compliance and other determinants that govern bracing effectiveness. It is hypothesised that joint consultation by both an orthopaedic surgeon and orthotist for follow up of scoliosis patients being treated with bracing will enhance treatment outcome.
The project is a prospective randomised controlled study on adolescents diagnosed with AIS requiring bracing. Patients were already allocated to either one of the clinic settings, namely (a) Brace Clinic with joint consultation by an orthopaedic surgeon and orthotist and (b) Scoliosis Clinic where only an orthopaedic surgeon primarily saw the patient. As the cohort is reaching skeletal maturity when braces are gradually being weaned off, the stage has been reached when treatment outcomes can be compared between the Brace Clinic and Scoliosis Clinic. Cobb angle taken without brace at cessation of bracing will be the primary measurement for comparison. Through the study at the Brace Clinic, students can gain experience on how patients with orthopaedic and spinal problems are assessed and managed. Clinical exposure for other orthopaedic subspecialty can be arranged as needed. Students participating in the project will conduct computer-assisted measurement on whole spine radiographs on spinal curvature with the use of the advanced EOS system, and analyse the treatment outcomes for a randomised controlled study. A final report on critical appraisal of the study design, data analysis and interpretation, evaluation of any potential bias and appreciation of study limitation will be compiled under supervision. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. ONG Tim Yun Michael |
| Research Project (1): | Improving the Outcome of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (ACLR): The Journey to Return-to-Play |
| Project Description: | Persistent quadriceps atrophy can be seen in almost half the patients after ACL reconstruction and can persist beyond 12 months after surgery.
The project aims to compare the extent of persistent quadriceps atrophy in patients after ACLR. The association between levels of biochemical markers and the extent of persistent quadriceps atrophy after ACLR will also be explored. The study will be conducted in English, but communication with some of the patients would require Chinese. Other members of the research team will be able to provide support in translation. Assessments can partially be performed via online platform. |
| Research Project (2): | Improving the Symptoms of OA Knees: Muscle Function as the Key to Success |
| Project Description: | Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common disease, estimated to affect one in eight adults and it is a major cause of chronic pain. The incidence of knee OA increases with age and further increases with longer lifespan and higher average weight of the population. Improving muscle function can potentially slow the progression of OA knees.
The project aims to assess the effectiveness of different non-operative treatments for the improvement of pain and function of OA knees. These treatments aim to strengthen quadriceps muscles and involve strengthening exercise, or other biophysical modalities such as knee brace, vibration platform or pulsed electromagnetic field. The clinical symptoms and function, as well as the change in the blood levels of myokines of these modalities will be compared in this project. The study will be conducted in English, but communication with some of the patients would require Chinese. Other members of the research team will be able to provide support in translation. Assessments can partially be performed via online platform. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Katie MEEHAN |
| Research Project: | Exploring Deregulation of Cell Death Genes in Oral Tongue Cancer |
| Project Description: | The dysregulation of cell death is highly relevant to tumorigenesis but the relationship between cell death and cancer is complex. Multiple types of cell death exist and can co-occur to various degrees. Cell death can be categorised into programmed cell death (PCD) or non‑PCD based on associated signalling pathways. Within these two broad categories are various subtypes of cell death including apoptosis or anoikis (PCD) and autophagy, necrosis, mitoptosis, ferroptosis or pyroptosis (non-PCD). This project will use a bioinformatics and in silico approach to explore the molecular dysregulation of genes involved in various sub-categories of cell death in oral tongue cancer. Students participating in this project will interrogate previously generated data as well as publically available data (e.g. The Cancer Genome Atlas) and assess the relationship between subsets of cell death genes on clinical prognosis using survival analyses and immune infiltration using CIBERSORT and TIMER.
In this project, students will (1) generate lists of key genes involved in each category of cell death; (2) analyse the expression of these genes in our previously published gene expression data and other freely available, large datasets (e.g. TCGA); (3) explore the relationship of these genes with overall survival and immune infiltration using Kaplan Meyer analysis and CIBERSORT/TIMER respectively; and (4) compile the results in a comprehensive and cohesive report and discuss their importance. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. NG Hoi Yee Iris |
| Research Project: | Hearing Loss in Ageing Community: Implications on Identification, Management, Psychosocial & Neurophysiological Effects |
| Project Description: | Students will be involved in an ongoing series of studies conducted by the project team. Depending on their study background, students will have the chance to administer neurophysiological or behavioural measurements from local elderly, or to obtain hands-on experiences on data processing and analysis. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. CHAN Ngan Yin Rachel |
| Research Project (1): | Effects of Motivational Enhancement Programme to Reduce Excessive Media Use & Enhance Sleep in Adolescents: A Pilot Study |
| Project Description: | Excessive media use is a very common behaviour in adolescents. Numerous studies have demonstrated that excessive media use is associated with a number of negative consequences including functional and psychosocial impairments, poor interpersonal relationship, mental and physical illness. Particularly, sleep disturbance is reported as one of the common comorbid condition. In regard to this, we proposed a motivational enhancement programme to reduce media use and improve sleep in adolescents.
In this study, adolescents will be invited to join four weekly individual session (20-30 mins per session) using a motivational interviewing (MI) approach. Sleep and media use behaviours will be assessed before and after the intervention. Students in this project will be provided with basic training in motivational interviewing techniques and coding skills. Proficiency in English is required and knowledge in Chinese is preferred. |
| Research Project (2): | Efficacy of a Sleep Intervention Mobile App in Improving Youth’s Sleep |
| Project Description: | This project aims to evaluate the efficacy of a sleep intervention mobile app in improving youth’s sleep.
Insomnia is a very common problem in youths and affects their mental, physical and academic performance. However, insomnia help-seeking behaviour is relatively low with only 10% of them had tried to seek help. Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia is the first line treatment for insomnia management, but the accessibility and feasibility of this treatment is very limit due to lack of trained therapists and geographical limitations. Therefore, this project will test the efficacy of a smartphone app in managing insomnia problems. Students involved in this project will be provided with basic training in conducting structural interview with the subjects and provide support to them during the intervention. Proficiency in English and knowledge in Chinese are required. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. CHAN Wing Yan Joey |
| Research Project (1): | Diurnal Preference in Patients with REM Sleep Behavioural Disorder (RBD) |
| Project Description: | Circadian disruption is common in patients with neurodegeneration and is also found in patients with RBD, a prodromal state to alpha synucleinopathy. In this project, students would be expected to perform literature review, data input, data analysis and provide an interpretation of the data gathered. |
| Research Project (2): | Predictors of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS) in Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) Patients with or without Depression |
| Project Description: | EDS is one of the core symptoms in OSAS. In patients with co-morbid depression and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), other factors such as depressive symptoms, insomnia symptoms might also contribute. This study will compare the contributing factors in two groups of patients. In this project, students are expected to perform literature review, data input, data analysis and provide an interpretation of the data gathered. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. TEOH Yuen Chun Jeremy |
| Research Project: | A Systematic Review on the Diagnostic Performance of Prostate Health Index for Prostate Cancer Detection |
| Project Description: | The project aims to conduct a comprehensive literature review on the diagnostic performance of prostate health index for prostate cancer detection. Qualitative and quantitative analysis will be performed, with specific comparison between Caucasian and Asian population. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. NG Wai Lung Billy |
| Research Project (1): | Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery |
| Project Description: | Lung cancer is among the most common and deadly cancers worldwide. Approximately 85% of all lung cancer cases are non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs), and this subset commonly harbours mutations in the Kirsten Rat Sarcoma Viral Oncogene Homolog (KRAS). KRAS-mutant NSCLCs are often unresponsive to existing treatments such as targeted therapies and immunotherapies. Hence, there is an urgent need to identify new drug targets and to develop novel therapeutic compounds that will benefit patients with KRAS-mutant NSCLCs.
In this project, students will join an international team of researchers to create preclinical drug candidates for the effective treatment of NSCLCs. Students with a background in chemistry, pharmacy, biomedicine, genome, molecular biology or pharmacology are welcome. |
| Research Project (2): | Anti-Coronavirus Drug Discovery |
| Project Description: | Currently, there is no effective drug targeting beta-coronaviruses, including the SARS-CoV-2. Although the antiviral drug remdesivir showed promising preclinical efficacy, a recent clinical trial by WHO suggested that it has no substantial effect on a patient’s chances of survival. Therefore, there is a dire need for effective therapeutics that can reduce clinical severity and improve survival.
In this project, students will join an international team of researchers to create preclinical drug candidates for the effective and timely pharmacological management of COVID-19 and, more importantly, the future coronavirus (CoV) outbreaks. Students with a background in chemistry, pharmacy, biomedicine, genome, molecular, biology or pharmacology are welcome. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. KWOK Kin On | |
| Research Project (1): | Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance with Multidisciplinary Thinking in Behavioural Science in Hong Kong | |
| Project Description: | Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) 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 aim to address this public health problem from the perspective of behavioural science, for example the perceived risk of AMR acquisition, through field studies and systematic review of literatures.
Students are expected to perform field data collection, systematic review of literatures and data analysis. Proficiency in Cantonese or English will be an advantage. |
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| Research Project (2): | Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance with Multidisciplinary Thinking in Infectious Disease Epidemiology in Hong Kong | |
| Project Description: | Antimicrobial resistance renders antimicrobials ineffective for treatment. This study aims to explore the determinants for the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in different settings in the population. By the end of the project, candidate should be able to gain the specific domain knowledge of antimicrobial resistance and build up skills in performing systematic review, gain hands-on experience with empirical data collection (if applicable), and build up skills in analysing empirical data. | |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. TSE Lap Ah Shelly | |
| Research Project (1): | Exposure Prevention Behaviour Survey & Urinary Concentrations of Short/Long Half-Life Chemicals among E-Waste Recycling Workers in Hong Kong | |
| Project Description: | The main objectives of this project are to investigate urinary concentrations of selected short/long half-life chemicals among local e-waste recycling workers using office workers as unexposed reference and develop Exposure Prevention Behaviour model focusing on respiratory protective equipment.
Students may need to assist in data collection, literature review, data input and analysis, and subject interview. Proficiency in English is required while Chinese is welcome. |
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| Research Project (2): |
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| Project Description: | The research objectives are to develop a validated exposure prevention behaviour index towards infection control and prevention for non-healthcare working population using confirmatory factor analysis. The levels of exposure prevention behaviour index and its key components for workers from various non-healthcare industries between three selected cities will also be compared for making recommendations. A repeated multicentre sequential mixed-method study using quantitative and qualitative approach will be adopted for this study.
Students may need to assist in data collection, data handling, transcription, and study subject interview. Proficiency in both Chinese and English will be an advantage. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. CHONG Yuen Yu |
| Research Project (1): | Developing a Mobile App-Based Interactive Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (iACT) Using Chatbot for Promoting Youth Resilience |
| Project Description: | This project aims to develop a mobile app-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) using chatbot for improving resilience of parents of children with special health needs in Hong Kong. The proposed chatbot is a mobile app-based conversational agent that combines chat and robot functions. It can provide a variety of information and answer questions through text conversation with users. In this project, students will be involved in (1) qualitative interviews of parents to explore their psychological needs of caring for children with special health needs (via face-to-face / Zoom / Window Teams); (2) formulating a new decision tree with suggested responses when a user navigates the mobile app and receives the ACT training, and (3) other duties related to the development of the chatbot system.
Students with a background in computer science and/or health science are preferred. |
| Research Project (2): | Effect of Acceptance & Commitment Therapy-Based Lifestyle Counselling Programme for People with Early Psychosis on Physical Activity: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial |
| Project Description: | This project aims to determine the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effects of an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-based Lifestyle Counselling Programme (ACT-LCP) on the physical and psychosocial health outcomes of patients with early psychosis over a 12-week follow-up period. Prevalence of being physically active, as measured by the accelerometer-based wristband activity tracker at 12-week post-intervention is the primary outcome of the study. In this project, students will be involved in (1) developing an ACT-based counselling protocol which targets at fostering the autonomous motivation of patients with early psychosis to engage in healthy lifestyle behaviours, and (2) other duties related to the subject recruitment and conducting group-based counselling sessions under supervision.
Students with a background in psychology and/or sport science are preferred. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. CHOW Ka Ming |
| Research Project: | Mothers’ Barriers to Sustain Exclusive Breastfeeding in the First Six Months |
| Project Description: | Breastfeeding is considered the optimal way to feed infants. With vigorous efforts by Department of Health to promote breastfeeding, breastfeeding initiation rates in Hong Kong have increased in recent years but many mothers do not sustain breastfeeding and relatively few mothers exclusively breastfeed their children up to 6 months of age as recommended by the World Health Organization.
Breastfeeding is a modifiable behaviour and breastfeeding practices are affected by a wide range of historical, socioeconomic, cultural and individual factor. A holistic understanding of both perceived and actual barriers to sustain exclusive breastfeeding at different levels is deem necessary to inform policy makers of the priority and effectiveness of different strategies to improve exclusive breastfeeding rates. This study aims to explore the perceived barriers and enabling factors to sustain exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life, in particular at following stages: (i) antenatal (preparation); (ii) immediate post-partum (initiation of breastfeeding); (iii) the first month (establishment of breastfeeding); and (iv) from 1-6 months (sustaining of breastfeeding). |
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(In alphabetical order of CUHK department/school and surname of supervisor.)
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. CHING Shuk Chi Emily |
| Research Project: | Analysis of Networks |
| Project Description: | The study of networks has emerged in many branches of science. A system consisting of a large number of components that interact with each other can be represented as a network with the individual components being the nodes and the interactions between the components as the links joining the nodes. The overall behaviour of such a system depends crucially on the interactions among the nodes or the network structure depicting how the nodes are linked with each other.
In this project, students will learn basic concepts of network theory and carry out analysis of a real-world network of cultured neurons, reconstructed from measurements. Knowledge of computer programming is required and experience with MATLAB or Python will be an advantage. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. WANG Jianfang |
| Research Project: | Plasmonic Control of Two-Dimensional Excitons |
| Project Description: | Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) layers offer a platform for both optoelectronics and valleytronics. It is important to develop new approaches for accessing and controlling the spin and valley information in TMD materials. Plasmonic nanoparticles can interact strongly with light. They are excellent candidates for realising such control.
The aim of this project is to construct hybrid nanostructures out of plasmonic nanoparticles and 2D TMD materials, investigate the interaction between the plasmon and the 2D excitons, and develop new approaches for the control of the spin and valley information in TMD materials. Students with a background in photonics and nanomaterials are welcome. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. Laura FALKENBERG |
| Research Project: | Effects of Future Climates on Marine Organisms |
| Project Description: | The research project focuses on studying climate change effects (e.g. ocean warming, ocean acidification, extreme weather events) on marine algae, animals, and ecosystems. The research will consider algae and invertebrate (e.g. copepod, gastropod, mollusk, or urchin) with a view to understand how they, and the ecosystems they are found in, may operate in the future. The project will measure the response observed within a wider context that encompasses physiology (e.g. growth, metabolism), behaviour (e.g. feeding interactions), and ecology (e.g. habitat use, competition, trophic cascades). To explore these organism responses, the students will use tank experiments within which organism are held, and conditions manipulated. The experimental work will, therefore, include establishing the experimental set-up (with organisms), measuring and maintaining experimental treatments, and quantifying organism responses.
Students with a background in marine biology and/or ecology are preferred. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. JIANG Liwen |
| Research Project: | Organelle Biogenesis & Function |
| Project Description: | The research project 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. Students will have the opportunity to learn and involve in a specific project while working together with senior researchers. |
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(In alphabetical order of CUHK department/school and surname of supervisor.)
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. CHAN Chung Shing |
| Research Project: | Investigating Hearing-Impaired Visitor Experience in Hong Kong Wetland Park from a Perspective of a Multi-Sensory Functional Landscape |
| Project Description: | This project aims to understand and assess the multi-sensory experiences of hearing-impaired visitors to the Hong Kong Wetland Park. This study will understand how sensory-impaired people perceive, react and interpret their surrounding landscaped environment distinctively by their constrained sensory ability.
Through the case of the Hong Kong Wetland Park, this study will discern the five human senses holistically, with respect to hearing-impaired visitor experiences, and specifically to understand how impaired sensory experiences are portrayed and perceived by the sampled visitors. Through a series of guided and free visits to the park, the study will elucidate the self-reported experiences of sensory stimuli, park environment and sensory-based factors of the hearing-impaired participants. Key research methods include systematic participant observations, self-administered questionnaires and focus-group discussions, targeting a sample of 240 participants. Students with knowledge in tourism, geography, sociology, psychology, or other fields in social sciences are welcomed. Proficiency in English is required and knowledge in Chinese is preferred. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. HE Ying Sylvia |
| Research Project (1): | A Comparative Study of New Towns in Three Asian Cities: Access to Activity Opportunities, Travel Patterns & Wellbeing |
| Project Description: | This project is built upon the supervisor’s ongoing research that examines Hong Kong’s local agglomeration economy with a focus on new towns and the job accessibility therein. In this project, we will also pay attention to other activity opportunities, such as those that serve maintenance trip purpose (e.g. shops, markets) and discretionary trip purpose (e.g. parks, cinema). Access to other activity opportunities may be less poor or even superior in new towns and hence can be seen as an attractive aspect of suburban living. Therefore, this project will investigate how access to opportunity affects travel patterns, physical activity and wellbeing to get a more balanced view of new town living and to provide policy recommendations regarding which activity opportunities need to be improved in new towns.
Students who are major in geography, urban planning, urban studies, or related fields in social science are welcome. Students participating in this project will be involved in conducting literature review, GIS analysis, questionnaire survey and interview. |
| Research Project (2): | Developing Modules & Case Studies for Urban (Big) Data Analytics & Smart City Governance |
| Project Description: | In this project, new case-study modules that allow students to access and learn the best practice of smart cities on various dimensions (e.g. mobility, economy, public health, built environment and governance) from around the world will be produced.
Students who are major in fields related to smart cities are welcome. Students participating in this project will be involved in conducting literature |
| Research Project (3): | Low-Carbon Transport, Individual Wellbeing & Planetary Health in the Era of Smart Cities & New Mobilities |
| Project Description: | This project seeks to understand the link between new mobilities and health and wellbeing at individual and urban/regional levels with a view to informing urban policymakers and planners on designing and implementing programmes that incentivise people to adopt more sustainable travel behaviours. Successful and less successful practices around the world will be synthesised and evaluated.
Students who are major in transport, urban planning, or geography are welcome. Students participating in this project will be involved in conducting literature review, and/or compiling the best practices or case studies of low-carbon transport to build a linkage between transport, environment, and public health. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. KIM Minseop |
| Research Project: | The Interplay of Parental Employment, Parenting, & Child Development: Evidence from Hong Kong |
| Project Description:
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This research project will examine whether and how parental employment influences parenting behaviours, which may in turn affect young children’s developmental outcomes, using survey data collected from a random sample of Hong Kong parents with pre-schoolers.
Students are expected to conduct literature reviews on relevant theories and previous empirical studies. They will also have an opportunity to manage and analyse survey data sets. |
| CUHK Supervisor: | Prof. FANG Kecheng |
| Research Project: | Journalistic Sourcing in Chinese Media |
| Project Description:
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This project aims to use computational social science methods including natural language processing, network analysis, and data visualisation to analyse how Chinese media use sources in their reporting. Students will work with the supervisor to conduct data analysis and write reports.
Students from social science majors as well as computer science are welcome. Proficiency in Chinese and English are required. Knowledge in computational methods as well as Chinese media landscape is preferred. |
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