Research Assistant Professor (Ref. 261007006)

THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY

Rooted in 90 years of heritage and intellectual achievement, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has evolved alongside society and made pivotal contributions to the development of Hong Kong, the Nation and the world. The University pursues world-class excellence in education, research and knowledge transfer to nurture socially responsible professionals and leaders, as well as to drive impactful research and innovation. PolyU will strive to continually excel as an innovative world-class university that makes a positive impact on society, living up to the University’s motto: “To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind”.

Ranked among the top 100 universities globally by well-known ranking organisations such as Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), Times Higher Education (THE) and U.S. News & World Report, PolyU offers a wide range of world-class educational and research programmes in seven faculties and three independent schools. PolyU has furthermore achieved commendable results in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 – it is ranked in the global top 30 for five subjects, is first in Hong Kong for four subjects, and is in the global top 100 for 24 subjects.  For further details about the University, please visit PolyU’s website at https://www.polyu.edu.hk/.

DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Research Assistant Professor (Ref. 261007006)

The Department of Language Science and Technology (LST) is an academic unit within the Faculty of Humanities dedicated to the scientific study of language in all its facets. With a team over 70 committed academic and teaching/clinical staff members, our work spans from investigating the biological and cognitive foundations of language to its societal function in multilingual environments and its transformation through technology. The Department pursues interdisciplinary research that integrates core language science domains such as artificial intelligence and big data analytics, with applications in communication, education and healthcare. Alongside research activities, the Department actively translates scholarly insights into practice through clinical services, educational outreach, and technology development that serve both local and international communities. The Department houses several specialised units, including the Speech Therapy Unit, the Research Centre for Language, Cognition and Neuroscience, and the Centre for Translation Studies, which serve as vital hubs for both research and practical application. More information about the Department can be found at https://www.polyu.edu.hk/lst/.

Duties

The appointee will be required to:

(a) conduct research as the main duty and actively pursue external research grants, such as General Research Fund, as Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator;

(b) provide quality teaching at undergraduate or postgraduate levels;

(c) contribute to departmental service; and

(d) perform any other duties as assigned by the Head of Department or his/her delegates.

Qualifications

Applicants should:

(a) have a PhD or an equivalent research-based doctoral degree in a relevant field, such as Neuroscience, Linguistics, Cognitive Science, Speech-Language Pathology, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science or a closely related field;

(b) preferably possess at least two years of postdoctoral research experience;

(c) have demonstrated expertise in neuroscience and neurotechnology and the ability to integrate them with language and speech data using computational approaches, as evidenced by publications and research experience using one or more of the following:

• Neuroimaging (e.g., f/MRI, EEG/MEG, fNIRS or ECoG);

• Neuromodulation (e.g., TMS, tDCS/tACs or DBS);

• Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) or Assistive Neurotechnologies;

• Computational Modelling of Neural Signals;

(d) have a strong track record in designing and developing AI, machine learning or deep learning models for language or speech data;

(e) have a strong track record of publishing in high-quality international journals as a first or corresponding author, and demonstrated potential to secure competitive external research funding;

(f) be open to the use of e-learning and blended learning strategies in teaching and scholarship;

(g) have good networking ability and interdisciplinary collaboration skills;

(h) be able to demonstrate effective classroom teaching skills; and

(i) be highly proficient in written and spoken English.

Conditions of Service

A highly competitive package including a medical benefits plan and a gratuity payable upon completion of the term which is normally for two to three years initially, with possibility of extension.

Application

Please submit an application through PolyU’s career website (https://jobs.polyu.edu.hk/rap).  Consideration of applications will commence on 6 November 2026 until the position is filled. The University’s Personal Information Collection Statement for recruitment can be found at https://www.polyu.edu.hk/hro/careers/pics_for_recruitment/.

PolyU is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to fostering an environment that embraces diversity and demonstrates inclusion of people from all backgrounds, cultures, identities and experiences where all members of the University are treated with fairness, dignity and respect.  To learn more about the University’s “Statement on Equal Opportunities, Diversity, and Inclusion”, please visit our website at https://www.polyu.edu.hk/hro/equal_opportunities_diversity_and_inclusion/.