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 Associate 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.
The interplay between personal values and everyday affect
My research focus on the interplay between personal values and everyday affect. Specifically, I am interested in understanding the emotions elicited due to the pursuit of different personal values. I am also interested in the change of personal values at both the individual level and aggregated level considering affective experiences.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Doctoral Candidates Seeking Academic Appointments
Sociology
Sociology Cultural and political sociology
Sociology of gender and sexualities
Sociology of arts and culture
Crime,family and social development
Miss Fang was a visiting scholar at the University of California, Berkeley, and is currently completing the final stage of her PhD at City University of Hong Kong. Her research focuses on sociology, gender and family studies, and cultural studies, with a particular interest in public policy and how different ethnic groups respond to policy changes.
She applies both qualitative and quantitative methods in her work and is experienced in using and extending theoretical frameworks in empirical research. She has also served as a teaching assistant at City University of Hong Kong, supporting undergraduate courses in the social sciences. Her academic work has been published in journals indexed by SCI and SSCI.
Health psychology
My research focuses on how families and couples cope with multiple stressors, such as chronic illness, stigma, and financial challenges. Additionally, I concentrate on minority groups, including LGBTQ+ individuals and people living with HIV, as well as older adults. Methodologically, I am dedicated to developing advanced statistical methods for analyzing dyadic data, such as multilevel common fate models and meta-analytical actor-partner interdependence model, and meta-analytical common fate model.
Harmonizing Mind, Body, and Spirit:
Unveiling the Power of Sound Magnetic Balance Intervention on Mood Regulation and Stress Reduction through a Randomized Control Trial
Lam Chun Yiu obtained his Ph.D. in 2025 under the supervision of Prof. Ben Li. His research focuses on the sound magnetic balance intervention as a new intervention for people with emotional malfunctioning.
Skilled in various qualitative and quantitative analysis methods developed from research field as well as the licensed social worker background, his career goal is to advance research in the sound healing field on differnet people in need especially carergiver and older adult.
Social stratification and mobility;
Urban studies;
Family studies
XU Chi is a doctoral candidate at the Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, City University of Hong Kong. Her interdisciplinary research spans migration and immigration, social stratification, and family studies, with a particular emphasis on how changes in family structure shape social (in)equality across the life course. By integrating perspectives from sociology and public policy, her work examines the interplay between institutional, demographic, and cultural factors in shaping individual and family outcomes.
Her publications appear in leading journals such as the International Journal of Intercultural Relations, Social Inclusion, and Journal of Educational Studies, reflecting her interdisciplinary expertise in sociology and public policy.
HKPFS Students
Achievement Emotions
Socioemotional Development
Positive Psychology
Educational Psychology
Second Language Acquisition
Nan CHEN is a PhD candidate in Educational Psychology at City University of Hong Kong, under the supervision of Dr. Na Na (Anna) Hui. She obtained her BA in English Language Literature and Teaching from Sun Yat-sen University and her MA in TESOL from University College London. Her research interests encompass achievement emotions, socioemotional learning, positive psychology, and second language acquisition. Since Year 2, she has been teaching courses on Psychology for Young Professionals and Psychology Research Design and Analysis. Additionally, Nan Chen is a certified life coach accredited by the International Coach Federation (ICF). In her spare time, she volunteers to conduct workshops on intrinsic motivation, meditation, and career development for teenagers and adults. For further inquiries, she can be reached at nchen29-c@my.cityu.edu.hk.
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.
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.
Conceptualization of flourishing and languishing in college students using a longitudinal approach
SUN Chaoran is a Ph.D. candidate in the Social Science Ph.D. program under the mentorship of Prof. Sylvia Kwok. She is interested in the psychosocial mechanism of psychopathology and flourishing. Her current research explores the individual and ecological mechanism of flourishing and languishing and the influence of the Microsystem, Exosystem, and Macrosystem. She is also interested in leveraging computational strategies to conceptualize and predict long-term mental disorder onset and flourishing. Before joining CityU, Chaoran was a social-emotional counselor working with adolescents. She finished her counseling master's degree at UPenn and her psychology bachelor’s degree at Nankai University. Aside from research, Chaoran enjoys attending conferences, traveling, networking, and exploring new things.