Three 2011 PhD graduates became the first recipients of School of Engineering PhD Research Excellence Awards when they were presented with their honors at a special ceremony in November.

The winners were Dr Weiping Wang, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Dr Huanfeng Duan, Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Dr Yu Zhang, Computer Science and Engineering. In addition, 2011 graduate Dr Yinshi Li, Mechanical Engineering, received an Honorable Mention.

The awards recognize the outstanding achievements of the School's PhD students and recent graduates, being granted to those who have made significant and influential contributions to their discipline during PhD studies at HKUST.

"HKUST has a strong tradition of excellence in engineering research," said Prof Ajay Joneja, Chair of the Engineering Research Committee which assessed the award candidates. "It was really difficult for the Committee to select such a small set of winners from a much larger number of highly accomplished PhD students and graduates. We are very proud of the achievements of all the contestants, for their numerous innovative contributions in areas that are relevant in shaping the society of the future."

Dr Wang also received the Young Investigator Award at the 5th World Association for Chinese Biomedical Engineers (WACBE) World Congress on Bioengineering in Taiwan and the Air Products Award for the Best Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Postgraduate Student 2011.