Funded Ph.D. Opportunities — DELTA Water Lab, PolyU
Dr. Jinyue (Jerry) Jiang will join The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in January 2027. The DELTA (Data-driven Environmental Laboratory for Technology and Analytics) Water Lab develops AI tools and computational models to understand water systems and improve how they operate. We ground frontier computational methods in real-world water-sector challenges to develop reliable and responsible solutions for our global water future. The lab will be computational-focused. Our research spans three connected areas:
- Net-zero water: Geospatial, thermodynamic, and techno-economic/life-cycle assessment (TEA/LCA) modeling of electrified water processes and their energy and carbon implications.
- Smart water: Predictive, generative, and agentic AI for water research and practice, including reliable, explainable models and tools for environmental decision-making. We also study water technologies that support sustainable AI infrastructure.
- Circular water: Water reuse, resource recovery, and unconventional water sources, from treatment processes to the infrastructure connecting communities.
Positions and Start Dates
We are recruiting one or two Ph.D. students, with anticipated start dates in January, May, or September 2027. Applicants should hold, or be close to completing, a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a relevant field. Relevant backgrounds include environmental engineering, environmental science, chemical engineering, computer science, data science, geographic information science (GIS), sustainable energy, and related disciplines.
Funding
- Full scholarship: A stipend of HK$19,220 per month.
- Fellowship opportunities: Strong candidates are encouraged to apply for the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) and the PolyU Presidential PhD Fellowship Scheme (PPPFS), which offer higher stipends of up to HK$28,700 per month and additional support.
Please consult PolyU’s current fellowship and scholarship information for applicable rates, eligibility, and terms.
Who Should Apply?
We welcome applicants interested in developing a research direction at the intersection of water and computation. We value curiosity, a strong quantitative foundation, careful reasoning, willingness to learn, and the ability to communicate and collaborate. Experience with large language models, chemical language models, machine learning, geospatial analysis, process modeling, or TEA/LCA can be useful. However, we place greater weight on quantitative skills, learning potential, and research interests than on an exact match with past project experience.
Application and Further Information
Interested applicants should email Dr. Jinyue (Jerry) Jiang at jjian128@asu.edu, attaching a CV and briefly describing their research interests, quantitative and computational experience, and preferred start date. Formal admission is through PolyU’s research postgraduate application process. Please consult the university’s fellowship and scholarship schemes, including HKPFS and PPPFS, for current funding options. Learn more about our research: DELTA Water Lab website.