


Research Assistant Professor

Dr. KAI Mingfeng
Dr. Kai Mingfeng joined Prof Dai’s group from November 2020 as a Research fellow. Dr. Kai obtained his PhD in Civil Engineering from City University of Hong Kong, in August 2020. He later got appointed as Research Assistant Professor from July 2021. His research work is focused on molecular dynamics simulation of eco friendly and high performance materials comprising of cement and geopolymer composites.
Post Doctoral Fellows

Dr. Mehran KHAN
Dr. Mehran Khan joined Prof. Dai’s group from April 2021 as a Research Associate. Later, he was appointed as a Postdoctoral Fellow from July 2021. Dr. Mehran obtained his Ph.D. in Structural Engineering from Dalian University of Technology (DUT), China, in December 2020 and Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from Capital University of Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan. His research interest is mechanical performance of multi-scale hybrid fiber reinforced cementitious materials. Currently, his research focuses on high performance fiber reinforced cementitious composites under elevated temperature.

Dr. Muhammad Riaz Ahmad
Dr. Riaz obtained his Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China in 2021. He joined Prof Dai’s group in April 2021 as Post-doctoral fellow. His PhD research work is related to development of bio-composites focusing on improvement in compatibility between the eco-friendly binders and vegetal aggregates. His research interests include lightweight concrete, durability of concrete, magnesium phosphate cement and geopolymer materials.

Dr. Yazan ALREFAEI
Mr. Yazan Alrefaei is an HKPFS awardee who joined PolyU in September 2017. Yazan is originally from Syria and obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Kuwait University. His Ph.D. work was focused on the rheology and fresh properties of the sustainable alkali-activated materials. Currently, he is working as a Post Doctoral Fellow in the group.

Dr. Peng ZHANG
Dr. Peng Zhang joined Prof. Dai’s group from September 2021 as a Research Associate. Later, he was appointed as a Postdoctoral Fellow from December 2021.Dr. Zhang obtained his Ph.D. in Solid Mechanics from Dalian University of Technology, China, in December 2020. His PhD research focuses on developing accurate phase field models for progressive failure in composites at different length scales.

Dr. Wei-He LIU
Dr. Wei-He LIU joined Prof. Dai’s research group from September 2021 as a Research Associate. Dr. Liu obtained his PhD in Civil Engineering from City University of Hong Kong, in August 2021. His research is focused on the study of engineered cementitious composites, FRP-reinforced high-performance fiber reinforced cementitious composites and life cycle assessment of the FRP-reinforced sea water sea sand cementitious composites, using mechanical and mathematical models.

Dr. Qingdong XUAN
Dr. Qingdong XUAN joined Prof. Dai’s research group from January 2022 as a Post-Doctoral HK Scholar. Dr. Xuan obtained his Ph.D. from University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), China, in June 2020. His research interests include solar energy and advanced building envelopes. Currently, his research will particularly focus on radiative cooling and its practical applications.

Dr. IWAMA Keitai
Dr. Iwama Keitai joined Prof. Dai’s group from May 2022 as a postdoctoral fellow. Dr. Iwama obtained his PhD in Civil Engineering from Yokohama National University of Japan, in September 2020. He worked as a postdoctoral fellow at Yokohama National University for 1.5 years. His previous research focused on multi-scale structural concrete modelling at high temperatures. He has now developed the multi-scale platform for evaluating the long-term chemical and mechanical behavior of SCC-FRP structures.

Dr. LAN Jirong
Dr. Lan Jirong obtained his Doctor of engineering in resource and environment from Wuhan University, China in Dec 2022 (Outstanding graduate of the year). He joined Prof Dai’s group in Feb 2023 as Post-doctoral fellow. His PhD research work is based on biochemical and mechanochemical methods, low energy consumption, modification and preparation of tailings and biomass into high value-added environmental functional materials.
PhD Students

Mr. Sushil KUMAR
Sushil KUMAR joined Prof. Dai’s research group from September 2017 as a full time PhD student in Structures. He obtained M.Tech (Structures) degree from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, in 2014. His PhD work focuses on understanding the structural behavior of precast BFRP grid-reinforced geopolymer concrete sandwich panels subjected to in-plane loading.

Mr. Zhihao HAO
Mr. Zhihao HAO joined the Prof. Dai J. G.’s research group from September 2019, and focus on the research about the durability of FRP-SSC structure. Mr. HAO graduated with his Bachelor degree in Civil Engineering from Shandong University and got his MSc degree in the department of Civil and Environmental engineering from Imperial College London (Distinction degree)

Mr. Jing-Cheng TENG
Mr. Jing-Cheng TECNG joined Prof. Dai’s group from January 2020 and his PhD work focuses on study of impermeable FRP tubular pile wall for marine reclamation. He obtained Masters degree in Civil Engineeering from PolyU in September 2019. His MSc work focused on modelling of suction bucket foundation in clay: from finite element analysis to macro-element model.

Miss Ning YANG
Miss YANG Ning joined Prof. Dai’s group as a Research Assistant from June, 2019. YANG obtained her Master Degree of Science in Corrosion and Protection from the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Science, China, in September, 2019 and joined as a PhD student from September 2020. Her research work focus on intelligent or multi-functional coating for steel/concrete structures.

Mr. Ke-Fan WENG
Mr. Ke-Fan WENG has joined Prof Dai’s group as a Research Associate from Aug 2019 and focused on the research and development of FRP reinforced ultra-high-performance concrete formwork for semi-prefabricated construction of marine concrete structures. He is pursuing his PhD study under the joint supervision scheme of PolyU and SUS Tech from September 2020.

Mr. Ji-Xiang ZHU
Mr,Ji-Xiang ZHU joined Prof. Dai’s group as a Research Associate from Augest 2019. He obtained his MSc in Civil Engineering from PolyU in July 2019 and is now a PhD student from September 2020. His research work focues on the use of high performance cementitious composites ECC and UHPC as permanent formwork for marine and underground structures.

Mr. Chandra Sekhar DAS
Mr. Chandra Sekhar Das joined Prof. Dai’s research group as Research Assistant in September 2019. He completed his Bachelors from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Dhanbad) and has started his PhD from September 2020. His research work is focused on Engineered Geopolymer Composites (EGC) and corrosion study of reinforced structures.

Mr. Umar Hayat
Mr. Umar Hayat is a Presidential PhD Fellowship Scheme awardee who joined Prof. Dai’s research group from January 2022 as PhD student. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from University of Engineering and Technology Taxila, Pakistan. He completed his master’s degree in Structural Engineering from Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), South Korea. His PhD work focuses on mechanical behavior of concrete confined with LRS-FRP.
Research Associates/ Assistants

Mr. Jian-Cong LAO
Mr. Jian-Cong LAO jointed Prof Dai’s group as a Research Associate after his graduation from the MSc program in Civil Engineering in PolyU in September 2020. His research work focuses on the research and development of FRP reinforced ultra-high-performance concrete formwork for semi-prefabricated construction of marine concrete structures
Former Group Members
Dr. Liu Yongjie
Research Assistant (2008)
Associate Professor, Sichuan University
Dr. GAO Wanyang
PhD Student (2008)
Associate Professor, Shanghai Jiaotong University
Dr. LONG Yulin
Research Associate (2009)
Associate Professor, Guangdong Institute of Technology, China
Dr. WANG Guolin
Research Associate (2009)
Associate Professor, Shanghai Institute of Technology
Dr. BAI Yulei
PhD Student (2009)
Professor, Beijing University of Technology
Mr. SUN Dianyu
MPhil (2011)
The Architectural Design & Research Institute of Zhejiang University Co., Ltd
Dr. WANG Wenwei
Research Fellow (2011)
Professor, Southeast University, China
Dr. WANG Xiaohui
Research Associate (2011)
Professor, Shanghai Maritime University
Dr. HOU Xiaomeng
Research Associate (2011)
Associate Professor, Harbin Institute of Technology, China
Mr. MUNIR Sarfaraz
PhD Student (2011)
Dr. DING Zhu
Research Associate (2012)
Professor, Shenzhen University, China
Dr. SUN Xiaoyan
Research Assistant (2012)
Associate Professor, Zhejiang University, China
Dr. DUAN An
Research Assistant (2012)
Associate Professor, Zhejiang University, China
Ms. NI Jing
Research Assistant (2013)
Dr. ZHENG Jianjun
Research Fellow (2013)
Professor, Zhengjiang Institute of Technology, China
Mr. LI Tao
Research Assistant (2013)
Dr. DING Yao
PhD Student (2013)
Post-Doctoral Fellow, Chongqing University
Dr. WANG Tiao
Research Assistant (2013)
Research Assistant Professor, University of Tokyo
Ms. ZHANG Yuan
Research Assistant (2014)
The Institute of Urban Planning Design & Research, Shenzhen University
Dr. YU Kequan
PhD Student (2014)
Post-doctoral Fellow, University of Michigan
Mr. AN Xiaopeng
PhD Student (2014)
China Academy of Building Materials
Mr. YANG Xu
Research Assistant (2015)
Post-doctoral Fellow, Shenzhen University
Dr. WANG Yan-Shuai
PhD Student (2015)
Assistant Professor, Shenzhen University
Dr. Ji Jing
Visiting Scholar (2015)
Professor, Northeast Petroleum University, China
Dr. HUANG Junqi
PhD Student (2015)
Assistant Professor, Hefei University of Technology
Mr. WU Jiangchuan
Visiting Scholar (2015)
Lecturer, Jiangsu Ocean University
Dr. Guo Siyao
Post Doctoral HK Scholar (2016)
Professor, Qingdao University of Technology
Dr. LI Xiaofeng
Research Assistant (2016)
Lecturer, Beijing Institute of Technology, China
Dr. XU Weiting
Research Associate (2016)
Lecturer, South China University of Technology
Dr. XUE Xiao
Research Fellow (2016)
Dr. WANG Huaping
Research Associate (2016)
Associate Professor, Lanzhou University
Dr. LIU Yunlin
Visiting Scholar (2017)
Professor, Anhui Institute of Architecture, China
Dr. WANG Hailong
Research Fellow (2017)
Professor, Anhui Institute of Architecture, China
Dr. XU Yuye
Visiting Scholar (2017)
Professor, Huaqiao University, China
Dr. PENG Kaidi
PhD Student (2017)
Engineer, CCCG Real Estate Group Ltd
Dr. TANG Ning
Post Doctoral HK Scholar (2017)
Assistant Professor, Shenyang Jianzhu University
Dr. QIU Qiwen
Post Doctoral Fellow (2018)
Huizhou University
Mr. LIANG Zilong
Research Assistant (2018)
VANKE Co. Ltd
Dr. Bo-Tao HUANG
Research Associate (2018)
Zhejiang University
Mr. YANG Zhuo
Research Assistant (2018)
Guangdong Architectural Design & Research Institute Co. Ltd.
Dr. LIU Yang
Research Assistant (2018)
Post Doctoral Fellow, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Mr. DONG Peng
Research Assistant (2018)
PhD student, Southern University of Science and Technology
Mr. MOHAMMADI Mohsen
Post-doctoral Fellow (2018)
Mr. WANG Xiao - hua
Research Assistant (2019)
Assistant Professor, Tianjin University
Ms. WANG Li-Yi
Visiting Scholar (2019)
Associate Professor, Fujian University of Technology
Dr. JIN Yin-Fu
Research Associate (2020)
Dr. ZHANG Dong-Dong
Post Doctoral HK Scholar (2020)
Dr. Fang Yi
Research Assistant (2021)
Assistant Professor, Hohai University