Leung Cheuk Tong Outstanding Young Professorship

Professor Ye Hailong is an Associate Professor of Structural Engineering in the Department of Civil Engineering at The University of Hong Kong (HKU). He holds a BEng degree in civil engineering from Southwest Jiaotong University, an MSc degree in structural engineering from Zhejiang University, and a PhD in civil engineering from The Pennsylvania State University, where he was honoured with the Outstanding Research Award, Leo P. Russell Graduate Fellowship, and CMT Laboratories Graduate Scholarship in Civil Engineering. Prior to his tenure at HKU, he worked at The University of Sheffield with the prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship.

Professor Ye's research focuses on sustainable construction materials, including both basic and applied research of green high-performance concrete, low-carbon binders, construction admixtures, and durability monitoring of concrete structures. His original research, recognised by the prestigious Natural Science Award from the Ministry of Education, has contributed to the scientific understanding of concrete chemistry and long-term performance in challenging service environments. Professor Ye’s research initiatives have garnered support from various sources including the Research Grants Council, Innovation and Technology Commission, and National Natural Science Foundation of China, with a cumulative research expenditure exceeding HK$15 million. Engaged in knowledge exchange, he has presided over several contract research projects with the Drainage Service Department, focusing on finding innovative solutions for addressing the concrete corrosion challenges prevalent in sewerage structures across Hong Kong.

Professor Ye has published over 130 peer-reviewed journal papers indexed in the Web of Science and holds 10 patents, in addition to numerous keynotes and invited talks at regional and international conferences. His work has been cited over 5,500 times with an h-index of 42, and he was consistently ranked in the Top 2% Scientists in the World for Career-long Impact in Building and Construction. His contributions to the advanced materials science and technology in the field of construction materials were recognised with the IAAM Scientist Medal from the International Association for Advanced Materials. Professor Ye is an active member of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) and a co-opted director of the Greater China Section of American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). He serves as an Associate Editor of ASCE’s Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering and Elsevier journal CEMENT. Professor Ye has taught more than six different courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels at HKU, including those in mechanics of materials, construction materials, and structural theory. He has mentored 2 research assistant professors, 7 postdoctoral fellows, 12 PhD/MPhil students, and over 30 MSc students.