THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG

Faculty Positions in the Department of Chemistry Jointly with the Materials Innovation Institute for Life Sciences and Energy (MILES)

The Department of Chemistry at The University of Hong Kong (https://chemistry.hku.hk) is proud to be ranked No. 1 among all Chemistry departments in the Hong Kong Research Assessment Exercise.  Achieved through outstanding research and high-quality teaching, the Department is dedicated to maintaining our excellence as a leading department in the field, both regionally and globally.

MILES (https://www.hkumiles.com) is a newly established research institute by HKU, located at the border of Hong Kong and Mainland, housed in a state-of-art, ~12,000 m2 facility equipped with cutting-edge laboratories and offices.  MILES currently has around 20 faculty members collaborating across the Faculties of Science, Engineering and Medicine of HKU, fostering a highly interdisciplinary and collaborative environment.

As part of our ongoing strategic development, we are offering positions to outstanding academics with a strong publication record, innovative research ideas, and a passion for teaching and mentorship to join our esteemed professoriate team.  

The Positions

We now invite applications for appointments as Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Full Professor of Chemistry jointly affiliated with MILES.  Brand-new lab space up to 200 m2 will be offered, along with internationally competitive startup funding and salary. We are open to virtually all areas of chemistry, including but not limited to,

1)    Novel organic and inorganic molecular, polymeric or nanoscale materials with interesting properties and functions
2)    Soft materials and biomaterials
3)    Biophysics and biochemistry involving novel molecules and materials
4)    Nanomedicine and bioengineering for new generations of medical imaging techniques, drugs and vaccines
5)    Energy material, catalytic materials and electrochemistry
6)    Renewable energy solutions, novel batteries, carbon neutrality   
7)    Computational chemistry, theoretical chemistry, machine learning for chemistry, biochemistry and materials science

Duties and Responsibilities
•    Conduct high-quality research in the field
•    Publish research findings in reputable scientific journals and present research at conferences
•    Secure external funding through grant applications and actively participate in collaborative research projects
•    Teach and mentor undergraduate and postgraduate students in chemistry courses
•    Contribute to academic and administrative duties of the Department

Requirements
•    A Ph.D. in Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science, or Biomedical Sciences.
•    A strong publication record in reputable scientific journals
•    Experience in securing external research funding and engaging in collaborative research projects is preferred
•    Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
•    Commitment to delivering high-quality teaching and mentoring to students
•    Complementary expertise with the Department's existing strengths and focus on Materials, Chemical Biology, Spectroscopy, and Synthetic Chemistry

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, totaling up to 15% of basic salary.  Housing benefits will be provided as applicable.  A start-up package, including up to 200 m² of new lab space at MILES, will be tailored to the appointee's needs and experience.

How to Apply

The University only accepts online application for the above posts.  Applicants should apply online and upload a covering letter, an up-to-date C.V. (including a list of publications), a teaching statement (maximum 2 pages), a research statement outlining current and future of research plans and interests, and recommendation letters of at least three referees sent by email directly to the chair of recruiting committee hjdai@hku.hk. It is important to note that at least one of the referees should be able to comment, amongst other things, on the applicant’s research ability and his/her contribution to teaching or research in his/her department, while the remaining two should have knowledge of his/her recent academic or employment experience.  Review of applications will start as soon as possible, and applicants are encouraged to apply by November 30, 2024.  The search will continue until the posts are filled.  Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview.