Meet Our Academicians

Professor Xiao Lin Zhao is Chair Professor of Civil Infrastructure at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and a distinguished academic who has made a significant impact in the field of Civil Engineering.

At the age of 37, Professor Zhao was appointed as Chair of Civil Engineering at Monash University, Australia, making him the youngest chair professor in the country at the time. Professor Zhao is internationally renowned for his work on improving the resilience and safety of engineered structures and has established himself as a leader in rehabilitating steel structures using advanced composite materials. His expertise and sustained international leadership in the development and construction of steel and hybrid tubular structures have earned him the prestigious Thomas Medal from The International Institute of Welding.

In addition, Professor Zhao received the Humboldt Research Award from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, which is awarded to internationally renowned academics whose fundamental discoveries, new theories, or insights have had a significant impact in their own discipline and beyond, and who are expected to continue producing cutting-edge academic achievements in the future.

Professor Zhao’s influence is evidenced by him being listed among the World’s Top 2% most-cited Scientists in the field of Civil Engineering in an index compiled by Stanford University. He has furthermore published 9 books and 400 refereed journal papers with an H-index over 80. Last but not least, he was elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and a Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, among other notable positions, in recognition of his expertise.

After joining PolyU in April 2022 as a Global STEM Scholar, Professor Zhao has been driving initiatives to develop Floating Structure Solution for innovative land creation and enhanced liveability in Hong Kong, and Floating Farms for food security and food sustainability. These endeavours showcase his ongoing commitment to solving pressing societal challenges.