Hongyang Du

Hongyang Du

Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, the University of Hong Kong. Email: duhy@hku.hk or duhy@eee.hku.hk

Network Intelligence and Computing Ecosystem (NICE)


Research Directions

Our main research directions include:

  1. AI for Network:
    • Generative artificial intelligence and network optimization
    • Reinforcement learning and its applications in computer networking systems
    • AI-enabled semantic communications
    • Human-centric AI for user-centric network design
  2. Network for AI:
    • Distributed training and inference of large AI models
    • Next-generation wireless transmission technologies
    • Edge intelligence

My Support and Expectations

Our research is highly interdisciplinary, involving collaboration with experts from AI, networking systems, human–computer interaction, psychology, and electrical engineering. Our focus is primarily on publishing in top-tier AI conferences and IEEE journals, complemented by practical implementations. Our primary goal is to prepare our students for future academic positions as well as high-impact positions in industry. Here’s what we’re looking for and what you can expect from this journey:

1. What I Offer:

  • Resources: Full scholarships covering study and living in Hong Kong, plus access to advanced research facilities.
  • Guidance: Hands-on mentorship with clear direction. For outstanding students, I also offer adequate freedom and opportunities for growth.
  • International Connections: Strong ties with leading researchers and institutions worldwide. I will help you build international academic connections.
  • Friendly Environment and Work-Life Balance: Collaborative and supportive lab culture where teamwork and mutual respect are valued. Say no to 996; embrace sustainable productivity.

2. What I Expect from You:

  • Passion for Learning: Strong self-motivation and ability to quickly learn from new fields.
  • Academic Foundation: Academic background in computer science, AI, electrical engineering, electronic information/communication engineering, mathematics, or related fields. Candidates with bachelor’s degrees from 985 / QS Top 50 universities or 211 / QS Top 80 universities + strong publication records are encouraged due to HKU committee considerations.
  • Experience: Relevant research experience and coding ability demonstrated through papers, projects, or competitions.
  • Personal Qualities: Responsibility, reliability, and good communication skills.
  • Graduation Requirements: A PhD degree is just a ticket for your future career, so there is NO requirement for the NUMBER of papers. Instead, the graduation requirement is for us to work together to help you find a satisfactory job, which marks the success of our collaborative journey.

Open Positions

We have multiple openings for PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, visiting students, research assistants, and interns:

1. PhD Students

Several full scholarship opportunities:

2. Postdoctoral Researchers

Applications are accepted year-round:

3. Visiting Students / Research Assistants / Interns

We welcome outstanding students (including qualified PhD students, master and undergraduate students, either online or in-person) to join our lab and participate in cutting-edge research projects. Priority will be given to students who can build long-term collaboration, HKU students, and those intending to apply for a PhD at HKU with me.

How to apply

If you’re interested in joining NICE Lab or would like more information, please contact me:

  • Email: duhy@hku.hk
  • Subject Line: PhD/PostDoc/RA/xx Application-University-Name
  • Attachments: CV, undergraduate transcripts, relevant publications (if any), and research statement (optional but recommended; one page discussing your research background and its relevance to my work)

Because of the high volume of emails I receive, I may not be able to respond to everyone, including some excellent applicants. However, please note that I do read every email and will reply to those that are most relevant to my research. I wish everyone the best of luck in finding the position that suits them best.