The HKU School of Computing and Data Science (CDS) is pleased to announce that Prof. Chuan WU and Prof. Guodong LI have received Outstanding Researcher Award (ORA) and Outstanding Research Student Supervisor Award (ORSSA) respectively in the 2024–25 Outstanding Researcher Awards Scheme. This recognition reflects the School’s strengths in cutting-edge research and exemplary leadership in research education and supervision.

Prof. Yi MA, CDS Director extended his sincere congratulations to both professors, and remarked: “Since the establishment of CDS in July 2024, we have remained firmly committed to building a vibrant academic community that advances innovative education and drives impactful, multidisciplinary research. I am deeply proud to see our professors recognised under this Scheme, which affirms not only their outstanding research achievements, but also our collective mission to educate, inspire, and lead the next generation of scholars and innovators.”

The Outstanding Researcher Awards Scheme is one of HKU’s most prestigious internal honours, recognising academic staff who demonstrate exceptional research achievements, research impact, and dedication to nurturing research talent.

In this year’s Scheme, Prof. Chuan WU received the Outstanding Researcher Award (ORA) for her sustained and internationally recognised research accomplishments. Prof. Wu has globally recognised expertise in cloud computing, resource scheduling, and distributed machine learning systems. She was elevated to IEEE Fellow in 2024 and is also an ACM Distinguished Member and an AAIA Fellow. Her research impact further evidenced by multiple best paper awards, editorial leadership in leading IEEE journals, and inclusion among the World’s Top 2% Scientists (career-long impact).

Prof. Guodong LI was honoured with the Outstanding Research Student Supervisor Award (ORSSA) for his exemplary mentorship and leadership in postgraduate research training. Prof. Li received his PhD from HKU after completing his undergraduate and master’s studies at Peking University, and previously served at Nanyang Technological University. He is widely respected for his dedication to teaching and supervision, and he currently mentors a strong cohort of PhD students. 

These recognitions build on CDS’s strong performance in previous years. In 2023–24, two CDS professors were also honoured under the Scheme: Prof. Ruibang LUO (Outstanding Young Researcher Award) and Prof. Yizhou YU (Research Output Prize). Together, these consecutive achievements underscore CDS’s sustained commitment to impactful research, innovative education, and the development of future research leaders.

The School extends its warmest congratulations to all award recipients and thanks them for their outstanding contributions to advancing research and education at HKU.