The Urban Governance and Design (UGOD) Thrust in the Society Hub of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) aims to conduct cutting-edging research and disseminate knowledge to assist in the economic and social development of the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and beyond. In 2025, the UGOD Thrust expects to have an Urban AI minor for undergraduate students. For more information UGOD, please visit Society Hub – The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) (hkust-gz.edu.cn). UGOD Thrust welcomes applicants with research focus in the following areas, including but not limited to:

• AI and design, particularly in the context of urban governance and smart cities.
• Economics with Specialization in AI and Machine Learning
• AI and Society, including generative AI and large language models (LLMs), in diverse social settings and populations, with a specific focus on urban governance and social development.
• AI for Urban Planning
• GeoAI, particularly in the context of urban governance and smart city development.
• AI for Urban Governance and Design

*Details about the above job openings can be found at Career | HKUST(GZ), positions related to GIS/GeoAI are described as below:

Qualification of Candidates

1. Tenure-track/ Tenured Faculty in GeoAI

Position Overview:

We are seeking scholars dedicated to advancing the integration of AI and geospatial technologies, particularly in the context of urban governance and smart city development. The successful candidate will contribute to the development and implementation of GeoAI-driven solutions that address urban challenges, enhance city management, and improve the quality of urban life.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct high-impact research in GeoAI with applications to urban scenarios.
• Support the construction and development of the GeoAI research team.
• Develop and teach undergraduate and graduate courses in related fields.
• Supervise and mentor students and research staff.
• Engage in interdisciplinary collaboration within the university and with external partners.

Qualifications:

• A Ph.D. in AI, GIScience (including GIS, Remote Sensing, Photogrammetry, Geomatics, etc.), Computer Science, or a related field.
• A strong record of research and publications in reputable journals or top conferences.
• Experience in teaching and curriculum development at the university level.
• Demonstrated ability to secure external research funding from both government and industry source.
• Commitment to interdisciplinary research and education.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with AI applications in urban scenarios.
• Expertise in one of the research directions: 1) Geo-Foundation Models (language, vision, multi-modal) and relevant application in urban scenarios, 2) advanced remote sensing technologies such as SAR/InSAR, LiDAR, Hyperspectral imaging, etc., 3) urbanization and urban environmental changes for sustainable development in the context of climate change.
• Proven track record of industry collaboration and technology transfer.
• Leadership experience in academic or research settings.
• Extensive experience in teaching and research.

2. Tenure-track Faculty in AI for Urban Governance and Design

Position Overview:

We are seeking scholars who are specialized or developing a specialization in urban governance and design. The successful candidate will contribute to the development and implementation of AI-driven solutions for urban governance and design. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct high-impact research in AI with applications to urban setting.
• Support the construction and development of the AI research team for the Thrust.
• Develop and teach undergraduate and graduate courses in related fields.
• Supervise and mentor students and research staff.
• Engage in interdisciplinary collaboration within the university and with external partners.

Qualifications:

• A Ph.D. in AI, GIScience, Parametric Architecture, Computer Science, or a related field.
• A strong record of research and publications in reputable journals or top conferences.
• Experience in teaching and curriculum development at the university level.
• Demonstrated ability to secure external research funding from both governments and industries.
• Commitment to interdisciplinary research and education.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with AI applications in urban scenarios.
• Expertise in urban street level-data acquisition, 3D modeling, Web3.0, Digital twin, and city street rendering.
• Proven track record of industry collaboration and technology transfer.
• Leadership experience in academic or research settings.
• Excellent experience in teaching and research.

Applicants must have a PhD degree in relevant fields.  Senior academics should have proven teaching commitment and performance, experience and readiness in cross disciplinary curriculum and program design, and demonstrated service to the academic community and/or the public. 

As a highly internationalized campus, English is the medium of instruction and administration at HKUST(GZ). We offer a dynamic and collaborative academic environment within the culturally rich city of Guangzhou. Our faculty is highly diverse, joining us from world-leading institutes around the globe.

Remuneration and Conditions of Service

• Highly competitive salary aligned with international standards, commensurate with qualifications and experience
• Generous research funds, ample laboratory space with excellent research equipment and support will be provided.
• Many other funding opportunities in the Greater Bay area
• Great community of interdisciplinary, international staff & students
• Family-friendly campus with on-campus housing available.
• Private health insurance for staff and eligible family members resides in the Chinese mainland

All posts are tenure-track appointments in Chinese Mainland and to be offered by the HKUST(GZ) in accordance with the local employment laws and regulations. Appointment to Professor rank and some Associate Professor rank will be made on substantive basis with tenure while initial appointment to other tenure-track faculty ranks will be made on a 6-year contract basis with a mid-term review. 

Application Procedure

Please submit the application via the HKUST(GZ) Recruitment System (https://facrecruit.hkust-gz.edu.cn/). You should first sign up to create your personal account.

Review of applications will continue until all positions are filled.  We thank applicants for their interest. Please be advised that only shortlisted candidates will be notified of the result of the application. 

For questions regarding the recruitment system or general inquiry, please reach us at facultyhire@hkust-gz.edu.cn. For Hub/ Thrust specific questions, please address to Hub’s individual email: gzrecruitsoc@hkust-gz.edu.cn with subject title of “Application to job title, e.g. Application to Open-Rank Professor in AI for Urban Governance and Design ”.


About HKUST(GZ)

Formally established in June 2022, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) (HKUST(GZ)) is a cooperatively-run university between the Chinese mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. With a spirit of pioneering innovation, HKUST(GZ) charts new territories in cross-disciplinary education and explores new frontiers in pedagogies, aiming to serve as a role model of the mainland-Hong Kong integrated educational development and become a world-famous high-level university, endeavoring to nurture future-oriented, high-level and innovative talents. HKUST(GZ) is located at No.1 Duxue Road, Qingsheng Hub Cluster, Nansha District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China. The campus covers an area of about 1,669 mu (111.3 hectares) and is divided into two construction phases. The first phase covers an area of about 716 mu (47.7 hectares) with a floorage of about 636,000 square meters (63.6 hectares), which has been officially put into use in September 2022. In response to the increasingly complex challenges faced by the rapidly changing world, HKUST(GZ) adopts a brand-new and cross-disciplinary academic structure featuring “Hub” and “Thrust” to substitute the conventional one characterized by “school” and “department”, facilitating cross-disciplinary integration while vigorously developing emerging and frontier disciplines. This is a groundbreaking move in the higher education community across the globe. HKUST(GZ) comprises four Hubs, namely Function Hub, Information Hub, Systems Hub, Society Hub and 16 thrusts. At steady state, the HKUST(GZ) community will consist of 800 faculty members, 4000 undergraduates and 6000 postgraduates. Our academic staff are drawn from the world’s finest institutions. Here English is the medium of instruction and undergraduate programs are carefully articulated with postgraduate studies.

For more information on HKUST(GZ), you may visit the university website(hkust-gz.edu.cn).