Openings

Welcome to the Social Spatial Intelligence Lab! We are offering multiple research positions in Geographic Information Science, Data Science, and their applications in spatio-temporal domains. Candidates with backgrounds in data mining, artificial intelligence, or related fields are warmly encouraged to apply.

All admitted postgraduate students receive full scholarships (¥15K/month for PhD, ¥10K/month for MPhil).

PhD Applications

We are currently recruiting PhD students for Spring/Fall 2027. Outstanding candidates are encouraged to apply if they are interested in the following research areas:

  • Key technologies of emerging mobility systems (AV/UAM/MaaS) and their implications for spatial planning
  • Behavioral modeling, rail transit systems, and urban economic development

We are also seeking PhD candidates with the following qualifications:

  • Background in Geographic Information Science, Transportation, Data Science, Computer Science, or related disciplines;
  • Strong training in statistical methods and data analysis;
  • Ability to manage and analyze large-scale datasets;
  • Proficiency in Python, R, Stata, SQL, or related tools;
  • Good English writing skills are required, meeting the English admissions requirements of HKUST(GZ);
  • Strong curiosity, self-motivation, and commitment to rigorous academic research;
  • Prior publications in high-quality journals or conferences are preferred.

Mphil Applications

We encourage current RBM students whose interests align with key technologies of emerging mobility systems (AV/UAM/MaaS) and social spatial intelligence to join our team. Students in SI Lab will benefit from a supportive research environment, hands-on project experience, and close mentorship, with opportunities to strengthen their research skills and further develop their academic careers. 

Undergraduate X Program

iRobot Campus Project

This project uses a university campus as a real-world experimental setting to investigate route planning, charging and maintenance facility siting, and task scheduling for four-wheeled mobile robots. It considers battery range, charging duration, road conditions, task demand, and facility locations to develop efficient and reliable operating, charging, and maintenance strategies.

Students will combine field surveys and map data to analyze campus roads, buildings, task locations, and potential facility sites. They will also participate in robot assembly, sensor configuration, control, and testing, validating and refining route plans, facility layouts, and schedules in real or simulated campus environments. The project develops interdisciplinary practical skills in robotics, spatial analysis, and optimization-based decision-making.

Contact Info

If you are interested in the research of Prof. Si Qiao, please send your application materials to siqiao@hkust-gz.edu.cn with the subject line formatted as:

PhD / Mphil / X Program Application – Your Name – Research Area / Research Interest

Your application package should include:

  1. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  2. Official transcripts from undergraduate studies and above (Phd Applicant Only)
  3. A half-page research statement describing your research experience and research interests, preferably in English (Phd Applicant Only)
  4. One to three representative publications or writing samples, if available, in either Chinese or English (Phd Applicant Only)

We welcome your application and look forward to future collaboration. We will evaluate all applications promptly. Due to high email volume, we may not respond to every inquiry. If you pass the resume screening, you will receive an email for an interview. If you do not receive any reply within one week, you will not enter the next round. If you remain strongly interested, you may email us again after one week. Thank you for your patience.