Featured PhD Graduates
Dr. Henry Ho completed his PhD at the City University of Hong Kong in 2014 under the supervision of Prof. Dannii Yeung. Afterward, he worked as a post-doctoral fellow at the School of Public Health, University of Hong Kong. He subsequently joined the Department of Psychology at the Education University of Hong Kong, where he currently serves as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Ho’s research focuses on understanding how individuals can effectively navigate the demands of work while finding engagement, satisfaction, and thriving in the process.
He has secured funding from the Research Grants Council’s General Research Fund (GRF), the Equal Opportunities Commission’s (EOC) Funding Programme of Research Projects and Commissioned Research Projects to investigate workplace mistreatment, workplace discrimination, and work-family conflict. His work has been published in esteemed journals such as Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, Health Psychology, Journal of Happiness Studies, and Journal of Positive Psychology. Dr. Ho has received several prestigious awards, including the APS Rising Star designation by the Association for Psychological Science, Dean’s Research Award and Faculty Teaching Award at the Education University of Hong Kong, and Young Investigator Award at the University of Hong Kong.
Dr. Ho’s profile can be accessed at this link:
https://www.eduhk.hk/pswellbeing/view.php?m=53474&secid=53485
Dr. Jiasheng Huang completed her PhD in 2020 under the supervision of Prof. Nancy Xiaonan Yu. Currently, she serves as an associate professor in the Department of Psychology at Sun Yat-sen University. Her major research areas include the promotion of physical and mental health among at-risk populations. Dr. Huang focuses on the intervenable determinants of mental health, particularly through mindfulness constructs such as mindful parenting and self-compassion. She also studies the reciprocal influence between lifestyle behaviors and psychological well-being, employing advanced methodologies like psychological networks and machine learning.
Dr. Huang has secured several prestigious research grants, including the National Science Foundation Grant and the Ministry of Education Project of Humanities and Social Science of China. Her work is well-published and recognized in the academic community, with publications in prominent journals including Applied Psychology: Well-being and Health, Midwifery, Mindfulness, and Structural Equation Modeling. Additionally, she contributes to the field as a reviewer for numerous esteemed journals.
For more information on Dr. Huang's research and contributions, please visit her professional page:
https://psy.sysu.edu.cn/teacher/892.
Dr. Isangha completed his PhD in 2025 under the supervision of Professor Cherry Tam. His academic journey is grounded in the fields of health psychology and social work, where he explores the complex interplay between physical and mental well-being and broader social dynamics.
He is currently an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Social Work and Social Administration at The University of Hong Kong. In this role, he teaches courses on working with young adults, ethnic minorities, trauma, resilience, and growth in the Bachelor of Social Sciences (Counselling) programme, and also serves as the coordinator of the capstone project.
Dr. Isangha’s research addresses critical issues such as men’s health, intimate partner violence, and child protection, with a particular focus on the long-term impacts of childhood trauma. He is especially passionate about promoting men’s health, advancing the well-being of children and youth, and supporting migrants facing unique social and psychological challenges. Through his work, he seeks to generate insights that drive meaningful change and strengthen support systems within communities. His commitment to these areas reflects a deep belief in the power of research to transform lives and foster resilience.
For more information about his research, please visit:
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=fFuHSNgAAAAJ&hl=en
Dr. Xiang LI received her PhD in Social Work in 2013 under the supervision of Professor Annis FUNG Lai Chu. Subsequently, she was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and worked as a research fellow at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, where she continued to expand on her research interests in child development, antisocial behavior, and mental health. Dr. LI is currently an Assistant Professor at the Department of Applied Social Sciences, PolyU.
To date, she has published more than 30 research articles in SSCI journals within her fields (e.g., Psychological Assessment, Journal of Youth and Adolescence, and Development and Psychopathology) and secured a total of around 3 million as a Principal Investigator from multiple research grants (e.g., Early Career Scheme and General Research Fund). As an expert in her field, Dr. Li serves as an Editorial Board member of Child Psychiatry & Human Development and a reviewer for many leading journals (e.g., Computers in Human Behavior and Trauma, Violence, & Abuse). In recognition of her outstanding teaching quality, Dr. LI received the Gold Award (Nurturing Wellbeing & Purpose) in the Wharton-QS Stars Reimagine Education Awards 2021 (as a team member).
For more information about Dr. Li, please visit:
https://www.polyu.edu.hk/apss/people/academic-staff/dr-li-xiang/
Dr. Mac Ma completed his PhD in Psychology in 2021 under the supervision of Prof. Sam Ye at City University of Hong Kong. Following his graduation, he held a postdoctoral fellowship studying the effects of disease threats on psychological and behavioral changes. In 2023, Dr. Ma joined The Hong Kong Polytechnic University as a Research Assistant Professor. He leverages his extensive experience in health and social psychology and applied social sciences, focusing on the innovative use of big data and technological applications. His work also explores the impact of societal changes on cultural influences, public health, and social behaviors.
Dr. Ma's research has been published in top-tier journals, including Social Psychological and Personality Science, Applied Psychology: Health and Wellbeing, Computers in Human Behavior, SSM-Population Health, and BMC Public Health. His work provides deep insights into the psychological and behavioral responses to public health challenges and the role of digital behavior in health and social psychology. It has attracted significant funding, including a notable $500,000 grant from the MHRC 3rd Mini-seed Fund Scheme of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Actively engaged academically, he reviews for several scientific journals. Dr. Ma's numerous accolades highlight his impactful contributions to advancing public health and social sciences.
For more information, please visit:
https://www.polyu.edu.hk/apss/people/academic-staff/dr-mac-ma/
Prof. Ting Kin NG completed his PhD in Psychology in 2013 under the supervision of Prof. Sik Hung NG and Prof. Sam YE. Following his graduation, he held postdoctoral fellowships at City University of Hong Kong and The University of Hong Kong, and served as a Research Assistant Professor at Lingnan University. He is currently an Assistant Professor at Lingnan University.
His research interests encompass cross-cultural psychology, social psychology, mental health, and psychometrics. He has published over 50 journal articles indexed in Web of Science and served as an Associate Editor of Current Psychology.
For more in-depth information about his research, please visit:
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=0kH2d3sAAAAJ&hl
Dr. Diyang QU completed her PhD in Psychology in 2023 under the supervision of Prof. Nancy YU Xiaonan. Following her graduation, she pursued a postdoctoral fellowship at Tsinghua University, where her research focused on implementing mental health programs in low-resource areas. She has actively conducted research and made significant contributions to the field of health psychology. Dr. QU's research has been supported by prestigious grants, including the 73rd China Postdoctoral Science Foundation Funded Project.
Her research findings have been recognized through publication in renowned journals, such as Nature Mental Health, JAMA Network Open, and The Lancet Regional Health–Western Pacific. Dr. QU has also served as a reviewer for scholarly publications, showcasing her expertise. In recognition of her exceptional contributions, Dr. QU has received the prestigious Shuimu Tsinghua Scholar and Vanke Scholar awards from Tsinghua University.
For more detailed information about Dr. QU's research, please visit:
https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=zh-CN&user=2-0zaaUAAAAJ
Xiaoyu Zhou completed her PhD degree in 2019 from the Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences at City University of Hong Kong. She was supervised by Prof. Dannii Yeung. During her studies, she was awarded the Fulbright Visiting Student Award, which sponsored her overseas exchange at Ball State University in the United States.
After graduation, she worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences at Tsinghua University, and then took up a Visiting Fellow post in the Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences at City University of Hong Kong. Currently, she is a Lecturer (equivalent to an assistant professor) at the Center for Computational Communication Research at Beijing Normal University Zhuhai campus.
Her research focuses on the impact of emotions on cognition and behavior in interpersonal or social communication. She has published several articles in top-tier SSCI journals as the first author, including Emotion and The Journal of Positive Psychology. She also serves as a reviewer for international journals, such as the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Motivation and Emotion, and Social and Personality Psychology Compass.
Her professional profile can be accessed at the following link:
https://rsgyy.bnu.edu.cn/yjjg/jszbxyjzx/rcdw6/bab39a7dfdee42009252a8ea5ef542d1.html
Current Research Students
Values, self, social relationships, socioecological psychology, residential mobility, inequality
I am a Ph.D. student in social and cultural psychology under the supervision of Dr. Sam Ye since 2022 after I earned my B.Sc. in psychology from Fudan University, China.
I am interested in how macro-level social structural factors (e.g., residential mobility, social hierarchy) impact human psychology, e.g., values, self, and social relationships/networks. My research endeavours to enlighten the mysterious power of social context and help construct a good life and a good society.
I used multilevel analysis, daily dairy, social psychology experiment, and computational social science methods.
• Personal values and subjective well-being
Xi CHEN’s research examines how everyday affective experiences contribute to personal value development and how multiple values systematically shape subjective well-being.
Contact:
Email: alice.chen@my.cityu.edu.hk
Profiles:
CityUHK Scholars: https://scholars.cityu.edu.hk/en/persons/xchen745/
Workplace Bullying in Hong Kong — An Exploratory Study on the Cultural and Organizational Influences on its prevalence: Implications towards a Confucius Asian context
Elaine is a research student currently under the supervision of Professor Dennis Wong, at the Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, City University of Hong Kong. She obtained her Bachelor of Science (Psychology)/Bachelor of Arts (English) double degree from the University of New South Wales, Australia; and her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing in English from the University of Hong Kong; and Master of Social Sciences in Counselling from the City University of Hong Kong. Her research interests are bullying and workplace violence, as well as mental wellbeing. Her current research is an exploratory study on the cultural and organizational influences on the emergence and continuation of workplace bullying in Hong Kong.
Neighbourhood services, social capital and mental well-being among Chinese empty-nest older adults
Shuting is currently a PhD Candidate in the Department of Social and Behavioural Science at the City University of Hong Kong. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Sociology from Xi'an Jiaotong University in 2020 and subsequently pursued her Master's degree in Public Administration with a specialization in mental health promotion at the Renmin University of China, completing her studies in 2022.
During her academic journey, Shuting broadened her perspectives as an exchange student at National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan. She actively engaged in various social surveys and gained practical experience with non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Shuting's doctoral thesis focuses on neighbourhood services, social capital, and mental well-being among Chinese empty-nest older adults. Beyond her specific focus, Shuting is passionate about public mental health promotion for vulnerable populations and advocates for evidence-based interventions within communities.
If you have any inquiries or wish to connect with Shuting, she can be reached at shutindai2-c@my.cityu.edu.hk. Feel free to reach out for further collaboration and discussions.
Objectification and dehumanization, especially sexual objectification; power and social hierarchy
I am Yijia, a PhD student majoring in social psychology. Before joining CityU, I obtained both my bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University.
After exploring a variety of areas in social psychology for several years, I am now interested in two major topics: 1) objectification and dehumanization, especially women’s sexual self-objectification and its antecedents; 2) power and social hierarchy, especially the influence of these structural factors in society on individuals’ self-perceptions, decisions, and even behaviors.
Due to my personal experiences in a patriarchal society, I am extremely interested in women, striving to gain a deeper understanding of this group. I hope that my research can be of some assistance to this vulnerable group in a society that is highly hierarchical and full of glass ceilings for them.
Positive education
Social and emotional learning (SEL)
Emotional skills, including emotion regulation and emotional stability
Mental health and wellbeing
I pursued my Bachelor's and first Master's degrees in electronic engineering before realizing the significance of cultivating social and emotional skills. This realization led me to transition into the field of student wellbeing, where I obtained another master's degree in education. Currently, I am a PhD student under the supervision of Prof. KWOK LAI Yuk Ching Sylvia in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences. My primary research interests revolve around positive education programs (PEPs) and emotional skills, exploring their impact on students' mental health and overall wellbeing. My ultimate aspiration is to offer valuable insights into designing and implementing social and emotional learning (SEL) curricula tailored to the needs of Chinese students, fostering their positive growth. If you share an interest in these fields, please don't hesitate to reach out to me at xinyidu9-c@my.cityu.edu.hk.
Sociology of gender and sexuality
• Cognitive ageing
• Social frailty
• Socioecological model of ageing
• Advanced quantitative methods
Anqi is a PhD student supervised by Prof. Lamson Lin Shen. She graduated from University College London with a BSc in Psychology with Education and an MSc in Cognitive and Decision Sciences.
Her doctoral work examines psychosocial determinants of cognitive ageing, especially how social frailty and social connection shape cognitive health across individual, interpersonal, community, and societal levels, with the aim of identifying modifiable social pathways to promote healthy cognitive ageing and reduce inequities.
Contact:
Email: anqihao2-c@my.cityu.edu.hk
Profiles:
CityUHK Scholars: https://scholars.cityu.edu.hk/en/persons/anqihao2/
Poverty and Inequality
Social Capital
Mental Wellbeing
Human Capital
She holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Warwick and a Master’s degree in a social science–related field from the University of Hong Kong. This academic training supports her work on income inequality and its connections to key social domains such as housing dynamics in Hong Kong, mental wellbeing, and human capital framework.
Emotion-Focused Intervention
Reducing Aggression Among Preschool Children
Emotional Competence
Parental Emotion Socialisation
As a counselling psychologist actively involved in both clinical practice and research, my research focus lies in exploring emotion-focused interventions to reduce aggression among preschool children. Through my research, I aim to develop strategies prioritising emotional competence and social-emotional learning, tailoring interventions to meet the specific needs of young children. Along with this, I am deeply interested in parental emotion socialisation, seeking ways to empower parents with the knowledge and skills to foster emotional competence in their children. Ultimately, I am driven to contribute to the advancement of my field and enhance the well-being of young children and their families through evidence-based practices and innovative approaches.
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)
Tianlin JIANG is a PhD student in Social Work supervised by Prof. Kwan Chi Kin. She holds degrees from South China Normal University, the University of Manchester, and University College London.
Her research examines disability-inclusive employment at the intersection of social policy, organisational behaviour, and inclusive HR management to advance equitable labour-market participation for persons with disabilities. She also studies mental health impacts of animal-assisted services/interventions among persons in recovery.
Contact:
Email: tjiang33-c@my.cityu.edu.hk
Profiles:
CityUHK Scholars: https://scholars.cityu.edu.hk/en/persons/tjiang33
• Human decision making
• Bias and belief
• Reinforcement learning
JIANG Zheng (姜正) is a PhD student supervised by Prof. Zhen Shanshan. He majored in Computer Science at Tongji University and later completed an MRes in Neuroscience at the University of Leeds, with interdisciplinary experience at the Chinese Institute of Psychology.
His research applies computational methods and neuroimaging techniques (e.g., fMRI, EEG) to understand belief updating, confidence, learning in changing environments, and social interaction.
Contact:
Email: zjiang96-c@my.cityu.edu.hk; zhengj21301@gmail.com
Profiles:
CityUHK Scholars: https://scholars.cityu.edu.hk/en/persons/zjiang96
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zhengjiang21301/
• Learning
• Intelligence
Shuo JIAO is a PhD candidate supervised by Prof. Shanshan ZHEN. Her research investigates how individuals learn and make decisions in dynamic social interactions, focusing on the interplay between intelligence and motivation.
She combines behavioural experiments, computational modelling, and fMRI to examine the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying these processes, with applications in educational and organisational contexts.
Contact:
Email: shuojiao3-c@my.cityu.edu.hk
Profiles:
CityUHK Scholars: https://scholars.cityu.edu.hk/en/persons/shuojiao3/
A Recursive Process Model: Trusting Relationship on Drug Sales and Purchases from Online and Offline Perspectives
Kan Wan Sang is currently pursuing a Ph.D. degree at the City University of Hong Kong. His research interests include Trust, Digital/Online Sociology, and Criminology, with a focus on topics such as online social capital, drug trafficking, and peer-to-peer (P2P) fraud. He possesses a strong proficiency in both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. Additionally, he has actively engaged in various academic activities, including attending academic conferences and authoring scholarly papers.
Human-Machine Interaction
Hello! My name is Larry KOU Yilin (Chinese: 寇翼麟). I am a Ph.D. student at CityU under the supervision of Prof. Nancy YU Xiaonan in Psychology and Prof. Wang Jianping in Computer Science. My research is centered on human–machine interactions, with a particular emphasis on autonomous vehicles. At present, I am exploring strategies to enhance cooperative interactions between human–driven vehicles and autonomous vehicles, employing a combination of survey, behavioral experiment, and simulation. Prior to my time at CityU, I was a MPhil student at Beijing Normal University, concentrating on human motivation and terror management theory.
• Developmental social cognition
• Theory of mind
• Human–AI perception
Victoria LAI earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, City University of Hong Kong. She trained in research methods while collaborating with psychology faculty and with the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
Her research examines prediction and control in social decision-making (e.g., trust and cooperation). She plans to extend this work using non-invasive brain stimulation to developmental and psychiatric populations.
Contact:
Email: victolai2-c@my.cityu.edu.hk
Profiles:
CityUHK Scholars: https://scholars.cityu.edu.hk/en/persons/victolai2/
Organizational behavior
Organizational citizenship
Organizational management
I got a master's degree in economics from CityU and later had two RA experiences. Now studying for a PhD at CityU, my main research interests revolve around organizational studies and family economics.
• Adolescent and young adult mental well-being
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Personality disorders
Mengqun LIU is a PhD student in psychology supervised by Prof. YOUNG Kim Wang Daniel.
Her work explores: (1) adapting Metacognitive Therapy to target social anxiety and depression in adolescents and young adults; (2) evaluating Narrative Enhancement and Cognitive Therapy (NECT) delivered individually for borderline personality disorder; and (3) mental health impacts of online AI-generated sexual offences, including individual, social, and platform moderators to inform interventions.
Contact:
Email: mengquliu2-c@my.cityu.edu.hk
Profiles:
CityUHK Scholars: https://scholars.cityu.edu.hk/en/persons/mengquliu2/
My research area is social psychology, with a particular focus on objectification/ dehumanization and social inequality. More specifically, I am deeply interested in the objectification of women and women's self-objectification, as well as the inequalities against women. I hope that my research can contribute to the knowledge that empowers women and brings greater awareness to the challenges they face. If you share similar research interests or would like to collaborate, please feel free to reach out to me at molly.mo@my.cityu.edu.hk
• Well-being
• Positive psychology
• Interventions among secondary school students
Kate NG is a PhD student in the Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences at City University of Hong Kong. With a first-class honours Bachelor’s degree in Education and Music, she has been recognised with multiple awards, including the Parsons Entrance Scholarship, the HKSAR Government Scholarship, and the Academic Excellence Award (Dean’s List).
Her doctoral research investigates how structured choral programs support well-being and socio-emotional development among junior secondary school students in Hong Kong, with emphasis on mental health integration, community building, and inclusive educational practice.
Profiles:
CityUHK Scholars: https://scholars.cityu.edu.hk/en/persons/kateng2/
• Personality
• Self-concept
• Discrimination against minorities
• Subjective well-being
• Long-term partnerships
Tianxing PANG is a PhD student in social and cultural psychology supervised by Prof. Sam Ye.
Her projects explore value similarity effects on attitudes toward sexual minorities, longitudinal interplay between personality and values, and links between fertility intentions and personality among young Chinese women.
Contact:
Email: tianxpang2-c@my.cityu.edu.hk
Profiles:
CityUHK Scholars: https://scholars.cityu.edu.hk/en/persons/tianxpang2/
• Personal values
• Demographic decisions
• Loneliness
Qiyu is a PhD student in social psychology supervised by Dr. YE Shengquan (since 2024), after earning a BSc in Psychology from City University of Hong Kong.
She studies how individual differences and gender relate to demographic decisions, using longitudinal and experimental designs to uncover mechanisms linking personal values to life choices.
Contact:
Email: qiyuqiu2-c@my.cityu.edu.hk
Profiles:
CityUHK Scholars: https://scholars.cityu.edu.hk/en/persons/qiyuqiu2/
Study on social-psychological factors related to pro-tree conservation intention and behaviours
Mr So is a part-time student studying social-psychological factors related to pro-tree conservation intention and behaviours. Mr So is the chief executive of the Conservancy Association, an environmental NGO advocating tree conservation in Hong Kong since 1968. He has worked in arboriculture and landscape management for over 24 years. He has worked proactively on developing arboriculture training for the government and academic institutes since 2005. He is an adjunct associate professor at the School of Biological Science of HKU and the founder of the Advanced Diploma on Tree Management and Conservation of HKU SPACE. He received the Outstanding Teacher Award from the HKU SPACE in 2021. Mr So is the expert under HKCAAVQ and has been appointed member of different tree management and industry development advisory bodies under the Development Bureau, Education Bureau, and the academic sector.
Adolescent Mental Health
Family and Children
Positive Psychology and Intervention
Mindfulness
I graduated from the University of California, Davis (UCD), armed with a double major in Psychology and International Relations. This was complemented by an enriching special education internship in the United States, where I dedicated my efforts to making a difference in the lives of others.
The quest for deeper knowledge led me to the Nanyang Technological University(NTU) in Singapore for my graduate studies, where I specialized in Developmental Psychology. This experience not only broadened my academic horizons but also enriched my understanding of the human psyche.
Post-graduation, my path took me to Beijing, where I embraced the role of a psychology teacher at an international school. There, I applied my skills and insights to guide and support young minds through their developmental journeys.
Currently, I am pursuing my doctoral degree , driven by a passion to pioneer in mental health research. My goal is to harness a more specialized scientific perspective, aiming to contribute significantly to the well-being and positive development of young people in China.
• Pediatric disease management and adaptation
• Dyadic coping
Changyuan TANG is a PhD candidate in health psychology at City University of Hong Kong supervised by Prof. YU Xiaonan Nancy.
Her research examines adaptive processes in families caring for children with chronic illnesses, including parental dyadic coping, parental identity formation, and mental health outcomes and protective factors (e.g., resilience).
Contact:
Education: PhD student, Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, City University of Hong Kong; MSc (Applied Psychology), Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne; BSc (Psychology), Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne
Immigrant mental health, depression, parent-child relationships
I was an undergraduate student majoring in Psychology at CityU. Now, I continue to embark on my research journey in health psychology at CityU under Prof. Nancy Yu’s supervision.
Currently, I am working on a community-based project to facilitate family harmony among New Arrivals in Hong Kong. I hope our research can benefit the participants and contribute to the field. I can’t wait to explore different possibilities on this journey!
Health psychology; self-management of chronic illness; dyadic coping
I am a PhD candidate under the supervision of Prof. YU Xiaonan Nancy. My research interests include illness self-management, coping, cognitive functions, and psychological well-being in children and adolescents living with chronic illnesses. Taking a dyadic perspective, my research examines the interactions between pediatric patients and their caregivers through the illness-coping process. Additionally, I am interested in developing and evaluating intervention programs that aim to improve self-management behaviors, health outcomes, and overall quality of life for this population. Currently, my research focuses on family illness management and HAART adherence among HIV-positive children and adolescents.
I am interested in the application of Artificial Intelligence in depression
I graduated from National University of Singapore with a master degree in Statistics. After that I worked as an IT engineer in Singapore for two years. Currently my primary research interest is the application of Artificial Intelligence in depression. I feel honored and grateful as a research student of Department of Social and Behavior Sciences behavior at City University of Hong Kong.
Child and adolescent well-being
Positive education
Parenting and family
Ms. Xie is a PhD candidate supervised by Professor Sylvia Kwok. Her research focuses on parenting practices and influences on children’s emotional and social well-being. She is also interested in societal and familial factors contributing to parenting practices. Besides, she has engaged in the projects and is doing research on positive education and students’ learning motivation. Before pursuing her PhD, she obtained her Master of Psychology at The University of Hong Kong and had been working for youth in NGOs and universities in Hong Kong.
Suicide, Resilience, & Social media platform
Research Focus:
• Incorporate the concept of resilience into suicide research by examining effective resilience factors against suicide-related outcomes.
• Investigate prevalence and pattern of suicide risk in online social media platform (e.g., r/SuicideWatch subreddit), specifically focusing on its time-varying nature and linguistic features from posts.
• Utilizes meta-analysis, growth-based trajectory modelling, and time-varying effect modelling to address related research questions.
Education:
• 2017-2019 Central China Normal University, Geography, BS
• 2019-2022 Central China Normal University, Psychology, BS
• 2022-Present City University of Hong Kong, Psychology, Ph.D. candidate
Current doctoral student in City University of Hong Kong
Master of Science in Education, University of Pennsylvania
Bachelor of Science in Psychology, University of Washington
Objectification, Social cognition, Career development
ZHANG Jingyu is currently a PhD student in social psychology supervised by Prof. WANG Xijing. She received her BS in Psychology from Nanjing University, China. Her research is focused on three main directions: 1) identifying experienced objectification from social structure and education system, 2) examining the downstream effects of self-objectification on goal pursuit and personal growth, and 3) unpacking different dimensions of sexual objectification perpetration. Quantitative methods such as surveys, laboratory and online experiments are predominantly used in her research.
• Mental health nursing
• Depressive symptoms and problem-solving among parents of children with cancer
• Family adaptation in pediatric oncology
ZHOU Tianji is a joint PhD candidate in nursing (supervised by Prof. ZHANG Jingping, Central South University) and in psychology (supervised by Prof. YU Xiaonan Nancy, City University of Hong Kong).
His research focuses on developing and implementing interventions to alleviate depressive symptoms in Chinese parents of children with cancer, drawing on experience in mental health nursing, medicine, and statistics.
Profiles:
CityUHK Scholars: https://scholars.cityu.edu.hk/en/persons/tianjzhou6
Doctoral Candidates Seeking Academic Appointments
• Health psychology
• Stress adaptation
• Psychosomatic medicine
CHEN Bowen is a PhD candidate in health psychology under the supervision of Prof. YU Xiaonan Nancy. Her research applies the biopsychosocial model to examine long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including mechanisms at biomedical, psychological, and social levels.
Prior to CityU, she earned a Bachelor of Medicine from Sun Yat-sen University (2021). Through hospital and CDC internships and collaborative research with health professionals, she developed insights into population mental health and interdisciplinary training in public health, medicine, and statistics.
Contact:
Email: sylviachan0507@outlook.com
Profiles:
CityUHK Scholars: https://scholars.cityu.edu.hk/en/persons/bowenchen5/
HKPFS Students
• Well-being
• Values of LLM/AI
• Culture
Nanying LI is a PhD candidate in social psychology under the supervision of Prof. Sam Ye. Before joining CityU, she obtained a BSc from New York University and an MSc from the University of Pennsylvania. Her research background spans developmental and social psychology.
Her interests include human values, well-being, culture, and the intersection of AI and psychology—specifically: (1) how large language models differ in human values and cultures; and (2) the relationship between human values/value change and well-being across the lifespan.
Contact:
Email: nanyingli2-c@my.cityu.edu.hk
Profiles:
CityUHK Scholars: https://scholars.cityu.edu.hk/en/persons/nanyingli2/
• Community-based drug treatment
• Online recruitment fraud prevention
Anran SUN is a first-year Criminology PhD student supervised by Prof. Matthew Manning. She completed a BA in Criminology and Socio-Legal Studies at the University of Toronto and an MA in Criminology at the University of Hong Kong.
Motivated by the view that public safety requires upstream, evidence-based prevention and service strategies, her doctoral research investigates applied criminological problems to inform prevention-focused policy and practice. Current areas include drug treatment and recovery pathways, lived and working conditions of sex workers in Hong Kong, supports for post-incarceration reintegration, and the dynamics of employment-related scams. Her work combines empirical field research and policy analysis to generate practical recommendations for community agencies, policymakers, and justice practitioners.
Contact:
Email: anransun3-c@my.cityu.edu.hk
Profiles:
CityUHK Scholars: https://scholars.cityu.edu.hk/en/persons/anransun3/
• Self-regulation
• Risky sexual behaviours
• Adolescence
• Positive psychology
Alebel Addis TESFAW is a PhD student in the Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences at City University of Hong Kong, supervised by Prof. Sylvia Kwok, supported by the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS). He earned an MA in Developmental Psychology from Addis Ababa University (2019) and a BA in Psychology from Jimma University (2014), graduating first in his cohort.
Prior to his doctoral studies, he served as a lecturer and Head of the Psychology Department at Wolkite University, Ethiopia. Over seven years, he gained experience in teaching, research, community engagement, and academic leadership, and facilitated training on soft skills, life skills, and employability for students, teachers, and community members.
His research interests include parenting styles, adolescent self-regulation, mental health, risky behaviours, and positive psychology, with a specific focus on how personal, familial, and environmental factors shape adolescent development and well-being in Ethiopia, and on developing culturally relevant interventions to promote resilience and positive outcomes.
Contact:
Email: aatesfaw2-c@my.cityu.edu.hk
Profiles:
CityUHK Scholars: https://scholars.cityu.edu.hk/en/persons/aatesfaw2/
• Resilience
Qifan WANG is a PhD student in Psychology at City University of Hong Kong under the supervision of Prof. Nancy Xiaonan Yu. He completed a BA in Psychology and Linguistics at Emory University and an MSEd in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages at the University of Pennsylvania.
Before his PhD, Qifan worked in the education sector as a college application consultant and charter school teacher. His research interests include emotion regulation, resilience, and their interplay within family systems.
Contact:
Email: qifawang-c@my.cityu.edu.hk
Profiles:
CityUHK Scholars: https://scholars.cityu.edu.hk/en/persons/qifan-wang
• Peer relationships
• Proactive and reactive aggression
• Peer bullying victimisation
• Evidence-based interventions
ZHOU Weiye is a PhD student in the Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences at City University of Hong Kong, supervised by Prof. FUNG Lai-chu Annis. He obtained dual Bachelor’s degrees in Information Management & Information Systems and Psychology from Peking University (2022), and an MSc in Psychology of Education from University College London (UCL) (2023).
Before joining CityU, he completed two years of full-time service as a primary school teacher in a rural area through the Teach For China programme, gaining experience in adolescent education in underprivileged regions. His research focuses on adolescents’ social development and peer relationships, with an emphasis on developing and evaluating interventions to reduce risks of aggression and peer bullying victimisation.
Contact:
Email: weiyezhou4-c@my.cityu.edu.hk
Profiles:
CityUHK Scholars: https://scholars.cityu.edu.hk/en/persons/weiyezhou4
Human decision-making and learning
I received my bachelor's degree in Psychology from the Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences at Zhejiang University, China and my master's degree in Cognitive Neuroscience (specialization in neural computation and neurotechnology) from Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour at Radboud University, the Netherlands. My research interest lies in the intersection of computational neuroscience and cognitive neuroscience. I am especially interested in how humans learn and make decisions in uncertain, complex environments, which can be formalized in the theoretical framework of reinforcement learning. Currently, I use behavioural paradigms, computational cognitive modelling and neuroimaging techniques (e.g., fMRI/EEG) to understand the neurocomputational mechanisms underlying human decision-making and learning.
Language processing and production
Prior to joining the Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences at the City University of Hong Kong, I completed a Bachelor and Master’s degree in Psychology at the University of Klagenfurt (Austria) and the KU Leuven (Belgium) respectively.
During my Bachelor's studies, I developed a keen interest in quantitative methods and cognitive psychology. I expanded my academic experience by working as a tutor for Statistics and later joined the Department of Cognitive Psychology as a research assistant. Through my studies and research internships during my Master's program, I further enhanced my knowledge in these topics.
My current research interests include the processing, planning and production of language. I am interested in applying both behavioural and neuroscientific methods to study the underlying mechanisms.