Professor Danfeng Denver Li appointed as Acting New Executive Director of HKIAS

  

Professor Danfeng Denver Li appointed as New acting Executive Director of HKIAS

The Hong Kong Institute for Advanced Study (HKIAS) is pleased to announce that Professor Danfeng Denver Li has been appointed as the Acting Executive Director of HKIAS, effective from July 1, 2026. Professor Li is currently  serving as Associate Dean for Research and Postgraduate Education in the College of Science and Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK). An internationally recognised scientist in condensed-matter physics and materials science, he has received prestigious honours including the Asian Young Scientist Fellowship in 2025, the Oxide Electronics Prize for Excellence in Research in 2024, and the AAPPS-APCTP Chen-Ning Yang Award in 2023. His pioneering work includes the discovery of the first nickelate superconductor, opening a new research area in high-temperature superconductivity.

With his distinguished research profile, academic leadership, and experience in advancing research and postgraduate education, Professor Li is well positioned to guide HKIAS into its next chapter. His appointment marks an important leadership transition for the Institute as Professor Shuk Han Cheng steps down as Executive Director at the end of June 2026, and HKIAS looks forward to working closely with Professor Li to further advance its mission to promote world-class research and foster meaningful scholarly exchange.

HKIAS also expresses its heartfelt gratitude to Professor Cheng for her dedicated service and exceptional contributions to the Institute. Her leadership has strengthened HKIAS’ role as a platform for distinguished scholarly exchange and global scientific engagement.

HKIAS warmly welcomes Professor Li to this new role and looks forward to working closely with him to further advance the Institute’s mission and community in the years ahead.