From Aspirant to Scholar - Alumni Sharing

During his PhD studies, Dr Ruepert Jiel Dionisio CAO was supervised by Professor ZHU Ying and Professor Dorothy LAU from the Academy of Film at HKBU. “With their advice and encouragement, I embarked on research exploring online queer sexual cultures in the Philippine internet,” he recalled. His work adopts an interdisciplinary approach, blending film and media studies with anthropology, sociology, and gender studies. “HKBU honed my skills as an interdisciplinary scholar, and I am deeply grateful for the support that allowed me to pursue critical and innovative research,” he added.

Professor Zhu and Professor Lau’s mentorship extended beyond HKBU, helping Dr Cao present at international conferences and establish research collaborations. Their ongoing support has been pivotal to his academic journey, enabling him to contribute to global scholarship and advance his research on queer media in non-Western contexts. His significant publication, “Amateur porn in Filipino Twitter alter community: affordances, commodification, ghettoization, and gay masculinity,” has also sparked interest in queer sexually explicit media in Asia.

During his PhD studies, Professor YE honed his research skills under the mentorship of Professor YUEN Pong Chi at Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Science.“Professor Yuen's was instrumental in refining my research skills, guiding me to identify novel ideas and craft a quality paper,“ he recalls. “I was also grateful to collaborate with outstanding peers and engage in cutting-edge research. Their insights inspired me to enhance my manuscript and algorithm design, significantly improving the prospects of acceptance for my scholarly contributions. ”Activities such as the Postgraduate Research Symposium and access to advanced technologies further enabled him to publish groundbreaking work.

Supported by HKBU and the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS), Professor Ye completed an academic exchange at Columbia University, where he advanced his multimedia research. Professor Ye's work has earned more than 12,000 Google Scholar citations. He has served as the Associate Editor in top tier journals like IEEE Transactions on Image Processing and IEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security. Now a professor at Wuhan University, he inspires future scholars, embodying HKBU's legacy of innovation.

“HKBU School of Business' pioneering focus on social responsibility in business research aligned perfectly with my research inspirations and interests,” said Dr. Tommy CHAN, who transitioned seamlessly from undergraduate to PhD studies at HKBU. “The PhD programme at HKBU provided numerous opportunities to engage with senior scholars and visit affiliated overseas universities, which were crucial in preparing me for the international academic market,” he added.

Under the mentorship of Professor Christy CHEUNG, at Department of Management, Marketing and Information Systems, School of Business, Tommy honed his research skills and built a strong academic network. “Professor Cheung's expertise in digital well-being and insightful guidance shaped my critical thinking and research approach,“ he shared. Professor Cheung’s extensive network, combined with HKBU's collaborative environment, allowed him to connect with esteemed researchers and develop a global academic perspective. Now, as an Associate Professor at Alliance Manchester Business School, Tommy continues to inspire future scholars, carrying forward the values and skills instilled during his time at HKBU. His commitment to disciplinary service has been recognised through the Early Career Award (2022) and Doctoral Student College Faculty Mentor Award (2024) from the Association for Information Systems.

Professor Zach LEE’s academic journey began at HKBU, where he formed a profound bond with his mentor, Professor Christy CHEUNG, during his BBA studies. This connection inspired him to pursue a PhD at HKBU. “HKBU’s supportive environment was pivotal to my academic growth,” Zach reflected. Under the guidance of Professor Cheung, a globally renowned scholar in information systems, Zach delved into research on the societal implications of information technology uses and received comprehensive support in publishing, teaching, and professional development. 

HKBU’s emphasis on international exposure and collaborative culture further enriched Zach’s journey. He credits the University for expanding his global network, enabling him to collaborate with leading scholars and publish in top-tier journals. Zach’s dedication to research, teaching, and service in the information systems field earned him the prestigious AIS Early Career Award in 2021. His work, published in top journals like Information Systems Journal and featured in the APA PsycTests® database, has made a significant impact in both academia and the gaming industry.

Professor OUYANG Guang’s journey to international recognition in neuroscience began with interdisciplinary research at HKBU under the mentorship of Professor ZHOU Chang Song at the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science. “At HKBU, I found a strong research team and renowned scholars conducting cutting-edge interdisciplinary work,” he shared. Professor Zhou’s guidance in bridging Physics, Brain Sciences  Biology and Computational Sciences enabled groundbreaking discoveries. Together with their German collaborator, Professor Sommer, the team developed tools to analyse brain response variability, a key area in cognitive neuroscience.

Their landmark achievement, the Residue Iteration Decomposition (RIDE) method, is now used by researchers in 15 countries and has generated over 100 publications. “This success would not have been possible without Professor Zhou’s expertise and HKBU’s support for international collaboration,” he noted. Today, Professor Ouyang builds on his HKBU foundation, exploring neural cognition and translating research into education and human enhancement.