Department of Physics Welcomes 12 Outstanding Students to Summer Research Experience Programme 2026

Department of Physics Welcomes 12 Outstanding Students to Summer Research Experience Programme 2026

On 24 July 2026, the Department of Physics at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) welcomed participants of its Summer Research Experience Programme 2026 with a group gathering, postgraduate study briefing and laboratory tour.

The programme brought together 12 outstanding students from universities in Mainland China and the UK, including Sun Yat-sen University, Nanjing University, the University of Warwick and the University of Nottingham, for an intensive one-month research immersion at HKBU. Working closely with faculty members and research teams in the Department, the students gained first-hand experience of frontier research while exploring future opportunities for postgraduate study.

During the gathering, the participating students introduced themselves and shared their academic backgrounds, research interests and experiences in their summer projects. The lively exchange gave students an opportunity to get to know one another, learn about research beyond their own projects and connect with peers from different universities and disciplines.

Prof. Qianyuan Tang, Assistant Professor of the Department of Physics, introduced the students to the Department's research and academic environment and shared information about research postgraduate study at HKBU, including postgraduate opportunities and the RPg admission process.

The students also joined a laboratory tour led by Prof. Shu-Jen Wang, where they were introduced to ongoing research in smart materials and gained a closer look at the Department's experimental facilities and research environment. The tour complemented their individual summer projects and provided a broader perspective on the range of research being pursued within HKBU Physics.

For many participants, the programme offered their first opportunity to experience how frontier research is carried out on a day-to-day basis.

“As an undergraduate student, this was my first opportunity to become genuinely involved in frontier research,” said Dingfu Liu from Sun Yat-sen University. “It took me some time to adapt to the pace and way of doing research, but the experience has been very rewarding. It has also strengthened my interest in pursuing a PhD in the future.”

Throughout the one-month programme, the visiting students worked directly with researchers in the Department on research projects spanning different areas of physics and interdisciplinary science. Beyond developing research skills, the programme encouraged students to exchange ideas, interact with researchers at different career stages and gain a deeper understanding of academic research.

The Summer Research Experience Programme provides talented undergraduate students with an opportunity to experience HKBU's research environment firsthand and explore their interests through hands-on research. By bringing together students from different universities and academic backgrounds, the programme also creates opportunities for new ideas, connections and scientific exchange, while inspiring young researchers to consider the next stage of their academic journey.