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Tenure-track Faculty in Economics with Specialization in AI and Machine Learning
Advertiser: Urban Governance and Design, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou)
Field(s) of specialization: Law and Economics - Urban; Rural; Regional Economics - Computational Economics
Position type(s): Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Full Professor
Location of job: No. 1 Du Xue Rd, Nansha district, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 511458, China
Degree required: Doctorate
Job start date: Flexible
Job duration: Continuing/permanent
Letters of reference required: 3
Application deadline: 31 Jul 2025 midnight UTC (accepting applications)
Posting end date: 31 Jul 2025
Ad text:

Job Posting Details

Founded in June 2022, HKUST (GZ) is located in Nansha, Guangzhou, the geometric center of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. It is perfectly placed for geographical convenience and forms part of an axis for technological progress. They call it the new Silicon Valley of the East.

It is the world’s first university to experiment with an innovative academic structure. With Hubs and Thrusts instead of Schools and Departments, it is geared to promoting interdisciplinary learning in a restless search for innovative solutions to humanity’s major challenges.

HKUST(GZ) boasts cutting-edge research facilities tailored to meet the needs of our investigating scientists in various disciplines. HKUST(GZ) is a spin-off from the world-class HKUST. But both benefit from the synergy of unified and complementary campuses with shared resources--another radical departure from the conventional practice in higher education. The HKUST(GZ) community will consist of 800 faculty members, 4000 undergraduates and 6000 postgraduates.

Our academic staff are drawn from the world’s finest institutions. Here English is the medium of instruction and undergraduate programs are carefully articulated with postgraduate studies.

The Urban Governance and Design (UGOD) Thrust in the Society Hub aims to conduct cutting-edging research and disseminate knowledge to assist in the economic and social development of the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and beyond. In 2025, the UGOD Thrust expects to have an Urban AI minor for undergraduate students. For more information about the Society Hub, please visit Society Hub – The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) (hkust-gz.edu.cn).

We welcome applicants interested in the following positions to apply, including but not limited to:

1. Tenure-track/tenured Faculty in Economics with Specialization in AI and Machine Learning

Position Overview:

The Thrust of Urban Governance and Design at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) [HKUST(GZ)] invites applications for multiple open rank faculty positions (Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor) in Economics, with a focus on the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) technologies to economic research.

Responsibilities:

  • Conduct high-quality research and publishing in top-tier academic journals
  • Teach undergraduate and/or graduate courses in economics and related subjects
  • Supervise and mentor graduate students
  • Engage in collaborative, cross-disciplinary research projects within the university and beyond
  • Contribute to the academic community and participate in departmental and university service

Qualifications:

  • PhD in Economics, Computer Science, AI, or related disciplines
  • Strong theoretical, algorithmic, and/or computational skills
  • Demonstrated expertise in applying AI and machine learning technologies to economic problems
  • Strong research record with a proven ability to publish in top-tier journals
  • Enthusiasm for cross-disciplinary collaboration and research

2. Tenure-track/tenured Faculty in AI and Society

Position Overview:

We are seeking scholars committed to advancing the use of AI technologies, including generative AI and large language models (LLMs), in diverse social settings and populations, with a specific focus on urban governance and social development. The successful candidate will contribute to the development and implementation of AI-driven solutions that understand human behaviors, address urban challenges, enhance city management, and improve the quality of urban life.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Conduct high-impact research in AI and Society with applications to urban governance in addressing population and social challenges.
  • Lead or support the construction and development of the AI and Society research team.
  • Develop and teach undergraduate and graduate courses in related fields.
  • Supervise and mentor students and research staff.
  • Engage in interdisciplinary collaboration within the university and with external partners.
  • Contribute to the development of innovative social development and governance strategies leveraging AI technologies.

Qualifications:

  • A Ph.D. in Law/Sociology/Ethics, AI, Computer Science, Information, or a related field.
  • A strong record of research and publications in reputable journals.
  • Experience in teaching and curriculum development at the university level.
  • Demonstrated ability to secure research funding from both government and industry source.
  • Commitment to interdisciplinary research and education.
  • Excellent communication and teamwork skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience with AI applications in urban governance and social development.
  • Expertise in social computing, algorithm, statistics, urban informatics.
  • Proven track record of industry collaboration and technology transfer.
  • Leadership experience in academic or research settings.
  • Extensive experience in teaching and teaching research.

3. Tenure-track Faculty in AI for Urban Governance and Design

Position Overview:

We are seeking scholars who are specialized or developing a specialization in urban governance and design. The successful candidate will contribute to the development and implementation of AI-driven solutions for urban governance and design.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Conduct high-impact research in AI with applications to urban setting.
  • Support the construction and development of the AI research team for the Thrust.
  • Develop and teach undergraduate and graduate courses in related fields.
  • Supervise and mentor students and research staff.
  • Engage in interdisciplinary collaboration within the university and with external partners.

Qualifications:

  • A Ph.D. in AI, GIScience, Parametric Architecture, Computer Science, or a related field.
  • A strong record of research and publications in reputable journals or top conferences.
  • Experience in teaching and curriculum development at the university level.
  • Demonstrated ability to secure external research funding from both governments and industries.
  • Commitment to interdisciplinary research and education.
  • Excellent communication and teamwork skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience with AI applications in urban scenarios.
  • Expertise in urban street level-data acquisition, 3D modeling, Web3.0, Digital twin, and city street rendering.
  • Proven track record of industry collaboration and technology transfer.
  • Leadership experience in academic or research settings.
  • Excellent experience in teaching and research.

4. Tenure-track/tenured Faculty in GeoAI

Position Overview:

We are seeking scholars dedicated to advancing the integration of AI and geospatial technologies, particularly in the context of urban governance and smart city development. The successful candidate will contribute to the development and implementation of GeoAI-driven solutions that address urban challenges, enhance city management, and improve the quality of urban life.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Conduct high-impact research in GeoAI with applications to urban scenarios.
  • Support the construction and development of the GeoAI research team.
  • Develop and teach undergraduate and graduate courses in related fields.
  • Supervise and mentor students and research staff.
  • Engage in interdisciplinary collaboration within the university and with external partners.

Qualifications:

  • A Ph.D. in AI, GIScience (including GIS, Remote Sensing, Photogrammetry, Geomatics, etc.), Computer Science, or a related field.
  • A strong record of research and publications in reputable journals or top conferences.
  • Experience in teaching and curriculum development at the university level.
  • Demonstrated ability to secure external research funding from both government and industry source.
  • Commitment to interdisciplinary research and education.
  • Excellent communication and teamwork skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience with AI applications in urban scenarios.
  • Expertise in one of the research directions: 1) Geo-Foundation Models (language, vision, multi-modal) and relevant application in urban scenarios, 2) advanced remote sensing technologies such as SAR/InSAR, LiDAR, Hyperspectral imaging, etc., 3) urbanization and urban environmental changes for sustainable development in the context of climate change.
  • Proven track record of industry collaboration and technology transfer.
  • Leadership experience in academic or research settings.
  • Extensive experience in teaching and research.

5. Tenure-track/tenured Faculty in AI for Urban Planning

Position Overview:

We are seeking dedicated scholars to advance the application of AI in urban studies, particularly in urban planning and design. The successful candidate will develop and implement innovative AI-based analytical methods to address research challenges in urban planning and governance. The ideal candidate will have a strong background both in urban planning and AI, and will demonstrate a commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Conduct high-impact research in AI for Urban Planning and/or Design.
  • Lead or support the construction and development of the AI for Urban Planning research team.
  • Develop and teach undergraduate and graduate courses in related fields.
  • Supervise and mentor students and research staff.
  • Engage in interdisciplinary collaboration within the university and with external partners.
  • Contribute to the development of innovative urban planning and governance strategies leveraging AI technologies.

Qualifications:

  • A Ph.D. in Urban Planning, Urban Design, AI, Data Science, or a related field.
  • A strong record of research and publications in reputable journals.
  • Experience in teaching and curriculum development at the university level.
  • Demonstrated ability to secure research funding from both governments and industries.
  • Commitment to interdisciplinary research and education.
  • Excellent communication and teamwork skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Expertise in computational social science and urban informatics.
  • Experience with state-of-the-art AI for the development of smart cities.
  • Proven track record of industry collaboration and technology transfer.
  • Leadership experience in academic or research settings.
  • Excellent experience in teaching and teaching research.

6. Tenure-track/tenured Faculty in AI and Design

Position Overview:

We seek scholars who dedicated to advancing the integration of AI and design, particularly in the context of urban governance and smart cities. The successful candidate will contribute to the development and implementation of AI-driven design solutions such text-to-design, picture-to-design, video-to-design.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Conduct high-impact AI research in design with broad applications to urban contexts.
  • Lead or support the construction and development of the AI and Design research team.
  • Develop and teach undergraduate and graduate courses in related fields.
  • Supervise and mentor students and research staff.
  • Engage in interdisciplinary collaboration within the university and with external partners.
  • Contribute to the development of innovative urban design and governance strategies leveraging AI technologies.

Qualifications

  • A Ph.D. in AI, Design, GIScience, Urban Planning, Computer Science, or a related field.
  • A strong record of research and publications in reputable journals.
  • Experience in teaching and curriculum development at the university level.
  • Demonstrated ability to secure research funding from both government and industry sources .
  • Commitment to interdisciplinary research and education.
  • Excellent communication and teamwork skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience with AI applications in urban planning and governance.
  • Expertise in urban informatics, smart city technologies and design.
  • Proven track record of industry collaboration and technology transfer.
  • Leadership experience in academic or research settings.
  • Extensive experience in teaching and teaching research.

Applicants must have a PhD degree in relevant fields. Senior academics should have proven teaching commitment and performance, experience and readiness in cross disciplinary curriculum and program design, and demonstrated service to the academic community and/or the public.

English is the medium of instruction and administration at HKUST (GZ). HKUST(GZ) is committed to diversity in recruitment and equal opportunity employment and we strongly encourage suitable candidates of diverse backgrounds to submit their applications.

Remuneration and Conditions of Service

<a name="OLE_LINK1"></a>Salary is highly competitive of international standard and will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Generous research funds, ample laboratory space and excellent research equipment and support will be provided. All posts are tenure-track appointments in Chinese Mainland and to be offered by the HKUST(GZ) in accordance with the local employment laws and regulations. Appointment to Professor rank and some Associate Professor rank will be made on substantive basis with tenure while initial appointment to other tenure-track faculty ranks will be made on a 6-year contract basis with a mid-term review.

Application Procedure

Please submit the application via the HKUST(GZ) Recruitment System (https://facrecruit.hkust-gz.edu.cn/). You should first sign up to create your personal account. For more information on HKUST(GZ), you may visit the recruitment website (https://www.hkust-gz.edu.cn/faculty-recruitment/).

Review of applications will continue until all positions are filled. We thank applicants for their interest. Please be advised that only shortlisted candidates will be notified of the result of the application.

For questions regarding the recruitment system or general inquiry, please reach us at facultyhire@hkust-gz.edu.cn. For Hub/ Thrust specific questions, please address to Hub’s individual email: gzrecruitsoc@hkust-gz.edu.cn with subject title of “Application to job title, e.g. Application to Open-Rank Professor in AI for Urban Governance and Design ”.

(Information provided by applicants will be used for recruitment and other employment-related purposes. All application materials including publication samples and scholarly/creative works will be disposed of after the completion of the recruitment exercise.)

Application procedure

To apply, visit https://facrecruit.hkust-gz.edu.cn/. (See posting for details.)

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