Join us at HKU-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

1. Conduct high-quality research in the field

2. Publish research findings in reputable scientific journals and present research at conferences

3. Secure external funding through grant applications and actively participate in collaborative research projects

4. Teach and mentor undergraduate and postgraduate students in chemistry courses

5. Contribute to academic and administrative duties of the Department

Requirements

1. A Ph.D. in Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science, or Biomedical Sciences.

2. A strong publication record in reputable scientific journals

3. Experience in securing external research funding and engaging in collaborative research projects is preferred

4. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

5. Commitment to delivering high-quality teaching and mentoring to students 

6. 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.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Responsible for supervising the medical ethics review of experimental projects, ensuring that all animal experiments comply with internationally recognized ethical standards and laws and regulations, including but not limited to animal welfare and ethical review.

2. Plan and conduct daily maintenance, upgrades, and emergency repairs of laboratory facilities to ensure that the experimental environment meets scientific research needs and safety standards.

3. Efficiently manage the procurement, warehousing, use, maintenance, scrapping, and loss compensation processes of laboratory materials and equipment, and promote the construction and management of large-scale instrument and equipment public platforms.

4. Establish and improve the laboratory quality management system, including but not limited to quality monitoring, data analysis, and report writing.

5. Handle certificates and licenses related to laboratory operations (such as laboratory construction certificates, animal experiment licenses, etc.), and collaborate with laboratory safety management personnel to ensure that all license processing meets safety requirements.   

Requirements

1. A master's degree or above in biology, chemistry, physics, biomedical engineering or related fields, with rich experience in laboratory management

2. A deep understanding of laboratory management regulations, medical ethics principles, and animal welfare policies both domestically and internationally.

3. Familiar with the process and requirements for obtaining various certificates and licenses in the laboratory.

4. Strong organizational coordination and problem-solving skills, able to collaborate across departments and effectively advance projects

5. Good communication skills and leadership can motivate team members and promote teamwork.

6. Proficient in using laboratory management software and office software, with the ability to analyze data and write reports

7. Experience in GMP and laboratory animal center management is preferred.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Responsible for developing and improving laboratory safety management systems, including but not limited to chemical safety (highly toxic, dangerous, easily producible, flammable, and explosive), biosafety, radiation safety, and ensuring effective implementation of various systems.

2. Regularly conduct laboratory safety risk assessments, develop emergency plans, organize emergency drills, and effectively prevent safety accidents.

3. Organize laboratory safety education and training to enhance MILES members' safety awareness and emergency response capabilities, ensuring all experimenters understand and comply with laboratory safety regulations.

4. Responsible for daily safety supervision and inspection of the laboratory, promptly identifying and addressing safety hazards.

5. Ensure that laboratory operations comply with relevant national and local regulations, and be responsible for obtaining certificates and licenses directly related to laboratory safety, such as chemical use permits, radiation safety permits, etc.

Requirements:

1. A Master's degree or above in chemistry, materials science, safety engineering, biology, or biological sciences or related majors

2. A deep understanding of laboratory safety management regulations, policies, and standards.

3. Rich experience in laboratory safety management, especially in the fields of chemistry and materials.

4. Good communication skills and leadership, strong organizational and coordination abilities, and problem-solving skills.

5. Applicants with qualifications for laboratory safety management and hazardous chemical safety management, and experience in laboratory safety management at universities or research institutes, are preferred.

Applications are invited for appointment as Post-doctoral Fellow (2 posts) in the HKU Material Innovation Institute for Life Sciences and Energy (MILES) at Shenzhen Hetao, to commence as soon as possible for two to three years, with the possibility of renewal. Two positions are available, working closely with Professor Julian A. Tanner (https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/julian-alexander-tanner) in collaboration with other MILES research groups on nucleic acid engineering, developing highly innovative multidisciplinary and collaborative research at the interface of biomedical science, chemistry and engineering.

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-the-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.

Applicants should possess a Ph.D. degree in biomedical sciences, chemistry, molecular biology, materials science or a related discipline, with experience in multidisciplinary research. The appointee will be involved in experimental work relating to aptamer-based diagnostics/therapeutics and DNA nanotechnology, publish research in reputable scientific journals, and will also help secure external funding to build up the research team in this area at MILES. The appointee should be organized, self-motivated, and able to work independently as well as in a team. The appointee should be an exceptional communicator both orally and in writing, ideally in both English and Chinese. A highly competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience will be offered, in addition to annual leave and medical benefits. 

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 and three referees), a research statement outlining current and future research plans and interests. Any questions about the position can be sent to Professor Julian Tanner at jatanner@hku.hk. 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.

Responsibilities

1. Conducting molecular organic synthesis and developing small molecule drugs/dyes/probes;

2. Synthesize developed drugs on a large scale according to GMP protocols;

3. Coupling of biomolecules;

4. Drug development and drug delivery research and development;

5. Molecular analysis using nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, and spectroscopy;

6. Molecular purification techniques such as HPLC.

Requirements

1. Master's degree or above, major in chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacy or related fields;

2. At least 5 years of work experience in molecular synthesis and drug development is preferred;

3. Priority given to those with GMP production experience;

4. Experience in successfully developing new drugs and obtaining FDA or CDE approval is preferred.

The Large scale Instrument and Equipment Platform of the Institute of Life Sciences and Energy Materials Innovation currently has multiple internationally first-class large-scale experimental equipment, including scanning electron microscopes, transmission electron microscopes, nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers, high-resolution confocal Raman spectrometers, X-ray diffractometers, X-ray photoelectron spectrometers, flow cytometers, etc. Due to laboratory construction needs, we are currently recruiting one platform management personnel. This position will be responsible for managing and maintaining our high-end research equipment, ensuring its normal operation, and providing efficient technical support and training for researchers.

Main responsibilities

1. Undertake the operation, use, and external operation management of the large instrument public platform equipment of the research institute.

2. Regularly maintain and upkeep instruments and equipment, promptly troubleshoot instrument malfunctions, and ensure the normal operation of instruments and equipment.

3. Provide instrument operation training and technical support to researchers, assist them in experimental design, and provide technical guidance.

4. Develop and implement instrument management regulations and safety operating procedures to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the laboratory.

5. Record and analyze instrument usage data, generate usage reports, and provide decision support.

6. Manage instrument appointment review, data organization and statistics, testing service fees, etc.

Job requirements

1. Master's degree or above, with a background in materials science, physics, chemistry, biomedical engineering, or related fields.

2. Experience in operating and managing large scientific research instruments is preferred.

3. Familiar with the operation and maintenance of one or more instruments including electron microscopes, scanning microscopes, nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers, high-resolution confocal Raman spectrometers, X-ray diffractometers, and X-ray photoelectron spectrometers.

4. Good communication skills and teamwork spirit, able to effectively collaborate with various departments and researchers.

5. Strong learning ability, able to quickly master the operation of new technologies and equipment.

6. Strong sense of responsibility, meticulous and serious work, possessing excellent problem-solving and hands-on abilities.

Professor Hongjie Dai (Chair Professor in the Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering Departments and School of Biomedical Sciences; Jackson-Wood Professor of Chemistry, Emeritus, Stanford University) has a postdoctoral position opening in HKU working in the area of optical imaging. Candidates with a PhD in physics or engineering and expertise in optical device design/building/engineering can apply. We are particularly interested in candidate who have hands-on experience in building optical imaging devices, including confocal microscopes, light sheet microscopes, two photon microscopes, photoacoustic imaging systems, optical coherence tomography systems and super-resolution microscopes and raman spectroscopy/imaging systems.  

Candidates with strong background and publications records are encouraged to apply. Compensation is highly competitive, matching the salary levels of top universities in the US. Send your inquiry to hjdai@hku.hk with CV, research experience/accomplishments and names of three references.