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PhD Student
PhD in the Kwok Lab, City University of Hong Kong Full-time
PHD recruitment in Prof. Chun Kit Kwok’s lab at the City University of Hong Kong (Chemistry and Biology background)
Introduction of Team
Dr. Chun Kit Kwok (https://scholars.cityu.edu.hk/en/persons/chun-kit-kwok(6ce9c7ef-3df6-4fe1-bc95-d749d1d6d748).html) is a professor of Department of Chemistry in City University of Hong Kong. He is a fellow of the Hong Kong Young Academy of Science (YASHK) and has received many prestigious awards and honors, including the NSFC General Program Grant, NSFC’s Excellent Young Scientists Fund (Hong Kong and Macau), the Royal Society International Exchange Fellowship, the Croucher Innovation Award (5 million HKD), the RGC Research Fellow Scheme (5.28 million HKD), the Hong Kong Institute for Advanced Study Rising Star in Chemistry, the RNA Society Early-Career Research Award, the CityU President Award, and the CityU Outstanding Research Award. He has been recognized as the top 2% of the World’s Most Highly Cited Scientists by Stanford University in 2021, 2023 and 2024. Dr Kwok has published over 70 research papers in prestigious journals including Nature, Nature Methods, Nature Communications, Nature Protocols, Cell Genomics, Cell Reports, Genome Biology, Nucleic Acid Research, Journal of the American Chemical Society, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, Chemical Science, and others. He has been invited to write reviews and feature articles as corresponding author for renowned journals such as Trends in Biochemical Sciences, Trends in Biotechnology, Nature Plants, Nature Chemical Biology, Nucleic Acid Research, Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology, etc. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=chun+kit+kwok&sort=date). Since 2016, Prof. Kwok’s lab has established research collaborations with many Universities (Cambridge University, Oxford University, Harvard Univesity, UC San Francisco, Tsinghua University, National University of Singapore, Sun Yat-sen University, University of Hong Kong, Chinese University of Hong Kong, and etc.). For more information, please go to http://kitkwok.com and https://youtu.be/7D5u_E_I0tU for more details.
The current research is focus on “explore the role of RNA structures and interactions in biology”, “develop targeting tools for detection, imaging, intervention of important RNA structures and interactions”, as well as “invent innovative nucleic acid-based technologies for sensing chemical pollutants and biological toxins”. With adequate funds, great team spirit and scholarly culture, we invite talents to join.
Research Themes
1) G-quadruplex structure and function
2) RNA biology and gene regulation
3) Aptamer development and application
Scholarships
Value of postgraduate studentship: ~18,700 HKD per month, and after comprehensive exam will raise to ~19, 200 HKD per month.
For student with HK PhD Fellowship Scheme will have ~28,100 HKD per month. Applicant can refer to following website
1: https://www.cityu.edu.hk/pg/research-degree-programmes/steps-and-procedures
2: https://www.cityu.edu.hk/pg/research-degree-programmes/scholarships-financial-aid-and-fees;
3: https://www.cityu.edu.hk/pg/hong-kong-phd-fellowship-scheme
Requirements
1) Bachelor or Master degree in Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry, Chemical Biology, Bioinformatics or related disciplines.
2) Research experience in Molecular biology, Chemical Biology, RNA biology, and nucleic acids is preferred.
3) Strong initiative and responsibility, excellent time and stress management, as well as great ability to work independently and as a team.
4) Good skills with English literature reading, listening, writing and presentation.
To apply
Please kindly send your CV, including research experience and research interests to Prof. Kwok (email: [Please click the Apply button for the link or address]), and title indicates “XXX PhD application”. Application’s information will be kept strictly confidential.
Refer to: For PhD admissions, the English requirement is as follows: TOEFL ≥ 550 (paper-based test) or ≥79 (internet-based test) or IELTS ≥6.5. CV should contain: 1. Academic background; 2. GPA; 3. Publications; 4. TOEFL or IELTS; 5. Names and contact details of 2 referees.