HKBU Rising Stars shine among Stanford University's World’s Top 2% Scientists 2026
A total of 80 HKBU scholars have been named among the World’s Top 2% Scientists by Stanford University, marking a 27-percent increase from the previous edition. The Research Office is particularly proud to count five recipients of the Rising Star Research Grant among this year’s honourees, all of whom secured top rankings in Hong Kong.
2023/24 Rising Star cohort
A recipient of the first Rising Star Research Grant cohort, Professor Ma Guancong ranks third in General Physics. Having joined HKBU in 2017 as an emerging researcher, he is now Chair Professor of Physics and Metamaterials. Professor Ma has published over 40 papers in top-tier journals, including Science, Nature, Nature Materials, Nature Physics, Physical Review X, and Physical Review Letters.
From the same cohort,Professor Gao Meng (Academy of Geography, Sociology and International Studies) ranks 15th in Environmental Sciences. Earlier this year, he was also awarded the Research Grants Council's Senior Research Fellowship, securing approximately HK$8.5 million to support his project addressing urban heat and air pollution in the Greater Bay Area through machine learning and ecological engineering.
2024/25 Rising Star cohort
Professor Zhou Kaiyang (Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science) secured 20th place in Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing. Specialising in machine learning and computer vision, Professor Zhou has published over 50 technical papers in top journals, including IEEE TPAMI and IJCV and garnered over 20,000 citations. He now serves as an Associate Editor of IJCV.
2025/26 Rising Star cohort
From the latest cohort,Professor Zhao Jun (Associate Professor, Department of Biology) is placed 16th in Organic Chemistry. As an expert in the field of environmental catalysis, he was awarded the IAAM Scientist Medal by the International Association of Advanced Materials for his contributions to Green and Sustainable Catalysis and his lecture at the 64th Assembly of Advanced Materials Congress in Stockholm.
Professor Wang Sai (Assistant Professor, Department of Interactive Media) is ranked ninth in Communication and Media Studies. With research interests spanning computer-mediated communication, media psychology, and human–computer interaction, she focuses on how social interactions mediated by emerging technologies and digital services influence user psychology and behaviour.
More successes to come
Established in the 2023/24 academic year, the Rising Star Research Grant cultivates a sustainable and thriving research culture by identifying and supporting outstanding academic talent. We are delighted to see our awardees build upon this solid foundation to reach new heights, and we look forward to celebrating further achievements as their work unfolds.
