Research Assistant Professor, Department of Applied Mathematics

Research Assistant Professor in Optimization and Operations Research / Statistics and Data Science / Financial Mathematics / Engineering and Computational Mathematics / Mathematical Science (three posts)

With over 85 years of rich heritage, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has evolved alongside society and made pivotal contributions to the development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, the Nation and the world. The University pursues world-class excellence in education, research and knowledge transfer to nurture socially responsible leaders and professionals, 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 2025 – it is ranked in the global top 30 for seven subjects, is first in Hong Kong for three subjects, and is in the global top 100 for 26 subjects. For further details about the University, please visit PolyU’s website at https://www.polyu.edu.hk/.

Department of Applied Mathematics

Research Assistant Professor in Optimization and Operations Research / Statistics and Data Science / Financial Mathematics / Engineering and Computational Mathematics / Mathematical Science (three posts) (Ref. 251010011) 

The Department of Applied Mathematics (AMA) is one of the constituent departments of the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences. Apart from making a significant contribution to most of other academic programmes of the University by providing service teaching, the Department also offers master programmes in Applied Mathematics for Science and Technology, Operational Research and Risk Analysis and Quantitative Finance and FinTech. Starting from 2025/26 academic year, the Department offers a new Bachelor Scheme in Applied Mathematics and Finance Analytics and Fast-track Integrated Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Programmes and will launch a new master programme, MSc in Mathematics for Artificial Intelligence Technology in 2026/27. Members of the Department have expertise in applied optimization and optimal control, engineering computation, operational research, management science and applied statistics, FinTech, data science and machine learning. There are currently 56 academic staff and about 154 research personnel in the Department. Please visit the website at https://www.polyu.edu.hk/ama for more information about the Department. 

The Department has established Joint Laboratory of Applied Mathematics with the Academy of Mathematics and Systems Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (JLab), CITIC-PolyU Interdisciplinary Mathematical Digital AI Joint Laboratory (AIJLab) and Mathematical Optimization Innovation Laboratory with Huawei. The appointees are expected to be actively involved in the activities of the Laboratory. 

Duties 

The appointees will be required to: 

1. Conduct research as the main duty and actively pursue external research grants, such as General Research Fund, as Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator;
2. Provide quality teaching at undergraduate or postgraduate level;
3. Contribute to departmental service; and
4. Perform any other duties as assigned by the Head of the Department or his delegates.

Qualifications

Applicants should:

1. Have a PhD degree in Mathematics / Statistics / Financial Mathematics / Operations Research / Computational Mathematics / Applied Mathematics or a closely related field with experience in Data Science and Analytics;
2. Preferably have at least two years of relevant postdoctoral research experience;
3. Have demonstrated promise of a high level of creativity in research and teaching in some subdivisions of his/her field;
4. Be able to demonstrate effective classroom teaching; and
5. 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. Consideration of applications will commence on 31 October 2025 until the positions are 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/.