PolyU announced two senior appointments recently. Prof. Man Hau-chung will be appointed Chair Professor of Materials Engineering and Dean of Faculty of Engineering while Prof. Shi Dingxu will be appointed Chair Professor of Chinese Linguistics and Head of Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies, both effective 1 August 2012. 

Prof. Man received his Bachelor of Science degree in Polymer Science and Engineering from Queen Mary College, University of London, UK, in 1979.  He obtained a Master of Science degree in Plant Engineering in the Process Industries in 1980 from Loughborough University of Technology, UK, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree and a Diploma of Imperial College in 1984, both in Metallurgy, from Imperial College, University of London, UK.

Prof. Man has a proven track record in academic and research leadership and has published over 300 journal and conference papers. Prof. Man has obtained two US patents and two Chinese patents. He has earned wide recognitions with numerous awards.

Prof. Shi received his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from East China Normal University, China, in 1982. He obtained a Master of Arts degree in Applied Linguistics and TESOL in University of Pittsburgh, USA, in 1984. He also obtained a Master of Arts degree in 1988 and a Doctor of Philosophy degree, both in Linguistics and from University of Southern California, USA, respectively in 1988 and 1992.

Prof. Shi has previously worked in East China Normal University, China, and University of California at Irvine, USA. He is an active and renowned researcher in the field of Chinese Linguistics, particularly in the area of Chinese syntax. He has published eight books and around 110 papers in major international journals.