Professor/Associate Professor/Assistant Professor in Materials Innovation for Life Sciences and Energy

University of Hong Kong; Hong Kong; On-site; HKD 1,500,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Annual leave

Medical benefits

Housing allowance

Start-up package

Retirement benefits

Job summary

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) invites applications for faculty positions at all levels (Full Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor) affiliated with the Materials Innovation Institute for Life Sciences and Energy (MILES) and a relevant HKU unit.

We welcome outstanding candidates across physical sciences, engineering, and biomedical sciences in chemistry, materials, nanoscience, energy materials, and related areas.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a relevant discipline (physical sciences, engineering, or biomedical sciences).
• Proven ability to secure competitive research funding.
• Commitment to teaching and mentoring excellence.
• Senior candidates: international research leadership and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Lead high-impact, externally funded research programs at HKU/MILES.
• Collaborate across departments and faculties to advance interdisciplinary research.
• Contribute to teaching and mentoring of students and junior researchers.

Education

Ph.D. in a relevant discipline (physical sciences, engineering, or biomedical sciences)

Job description

Professor/Associate Professor/Assistant Professor in HKU

Materials Innovation Institute for Life Sciences and Energy (MILES)

of HKU (Ref: 537677)

Founded in 1911, The University of Hong Kong (HKU) is a leading international university renowned for excellence in research and education. HKU is a highly international university ranked 11th in the world by QS in 2027, and it offers a comprehensive range of programmes across ten faculties. The University’s diverse community of students and staff — including Ph.D. students and postdoctoral fellows from top universities in the US, UK, China, and beyond — contributes to a vibrant, multicultural campus.

Materials Innovation Institute for Life Sciences and Energy (MILES)

The HKU Materials Innovation Institute for Life Sciences and Energy (MILES) is a highly interdisciplinary research institute at HKU, housed in a new state-of-the‑art laboratory space in the Tech Landmark (TLM) Building at HKU and a 12,000 m2 space in Hetao, Shenzhen, at the HK‑China border. MILES brings together around 24 HKU full‑time Professors from the Faculties of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, fostering a collaborative environment at the interface of these disciplines. It provides a unique platform for interdisciplinary research in chemistry, materials science, nanotechnology, biomedical science, and energy innovation. MILES faculty also enjoy the flexibility to recruit top Ph.D. students and postdoctoral fellows from all over the world year‑round, which helps to rapidly grow and advance their research teams.

The Positions

We now invite applications for faculty positions at all levels of Full Professor, Associate Professor and Assistant Professor. Exceptional candidates may be considered for appointment as Chair Professor. Appointees will be affiliated with both MILES and a relevant academic unit at HKU (for example, the Department of Chemistry in the Faculty of Science; the Departments of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Energy, and Electrical and Computer Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering; the School of Biomedical Engineering; or the School of Biomedical Sciences in the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine).

We are open to virtually all areas of the physical sciences, engineering, and biomedical sciences that are relevant to chemistry, materials, and nanoscience. Specific research focus areas of particular interest include:

• Novel organic and inorganic molecular, polymeric or nanoscale materials with interesting properties and functions


• Soft materials and biomaterials


• Biophysics and biochemistry involving novel molecules and materials


• Nanomedicine and bioengineering for new generations of medical imaging techniques, drugs and vaccines


• Energy materials, catalytic materials, and electrochemistry


• Electrocatalysis, gas storage and conversions


• Optoelectronic devices, solar cells and novel optical materials


• Renewable energy solutions, novel batteries, carbon neutrality approaches


• Computational chemistry, theoretical chemistry


• Machine learning, artificial intelligence and robotics for science (broadly defined).

Qualifications

Applicants should possess the following qualifications and attributes:

• A Ph.D. in a relevant discipline (physical sciences, engineering, or biomedical sciences)


• A demonstrated ability to secure competitive research funding


• A strong commitment to excellence in teaching and mentoring of students


• For senior positions, (1) an internationally recognized record of research excellence and scholarly achievement in an area related to chemistry, materials or nanoscience, and to lead a high‑impact research programme. (2) A collaborative, interdisciplinary mindset and proven academic leadership experience.

What We Offer

For Assistant Professors, the appointment will be made on fixed‑term full‑time contract for 3 years initially with the possibility of renewal and consideration for tenure before the expiry of the second three‑year fixed‑term contract. Exceptionally outstanding candidates at Professor/Associate Professor level may be considered for appointment on tenure terms subject to approval.

A highly competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience will be offered, in addition to annual leave and medical benefits. At current rates, salaries tax does not exceed 15% of gross income. The appointment will attract a contract‑end gratuity and University contribution to a retirement benefits scheme, totalling up to 15% of basic salary. Housing benefits will also be provided as applicable.

An internationally competitive start‑up package, including dedicated new laboratory space at MILES, will be tailored to the appointee’s needs and experience to support their research and ensure a strong foundation for their research endeavours.

The University is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to equality, ethics, inclusivity, diversity and transparency.

Applications close: Apr 15, 2027 (HK Time)