Hiring PhD

If you’re interested in pursuing a PhD in computational biology with CompBioClub, please read the information below carefully and follow the instructions.

General Requirement

  • GPA 3.6+/4.0, average grade 85+ (Compulsory)
  • IELTS 6.5+ or TOEFL 79+ (Compulsory)
  • Has at least one first or co-first JCR top 10% journals (Preferred)
  • Having background from programming/algorithm side (Computer Science, Data Science, Artifical Intelligence, Software Engineering, etc.) or domain side (Biology, Bioinformatics, etc.)
  • Passion for Learning: We are looking for individuals with a strong desire to expand their knowledge in both computer science and biomedical science.
  • Desire for Lifelong Research: Our ideal candidates aspire to make a significant impact in research and view a PhD as the beginning of a lifelong research career.

Available PhD Programme

  • Self-financed or industry-sponsored students are welcome!
  • UGC-funded Scholarship. PhD Programme in Biomedical Sciences at CityU. (Quota currently filled for 2026Fall)
    • Monthly stipend of around 19,000 HKD (4 years).
  • CityU–Cornell Joint PhD Programme. Three years at CityU and a one‑year exchange at Cornell University; the degree is awarded by CityU.
  • CityU-Mainland Joint PhD Programme. Open to applicants currently are PhD student from a C9 or UCAS institution.
    • Monthly stipend of around 19,000 HKD at CityU (1 years).
  • TUSS Scheme. Open to applicants with a bachelor’s degree from a C9 or UCAS institution, a GPA of 85+ (or equivalent), relevant awards, and publications. Highly competitive candidates are encouraged to apply.
    • Monthly stipend of around 19,000 HKD at CityU (4 years).
  • Local Talent Scheme. Open to Hong Kong permanent residents.
    • Monthly stipend of around 25,000 HKD (4 years).
  • Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS). Highly competitive candidates are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

Step 1: Email to lingxi.chen@cityu.edu.hk
  • Submit a Cover Letter that clearly outlines your education experience, research experience, and future research interests. Attach your CV and transcripts (Bachelor’s and, if applicable, Master’s).
  • For applicants with a primary background in computer science: describe your active coding contributions to open‑source projects in your Cover Letter.
  • For applicants with a biomedical background: explain how your domain expertise can contribute to the development of our algorithms in your Cover Letter.
  • Explicitly include your GPA, IELTS score, and (co)-1st publications in the email.
  • Incomplete inquiries (missing any of the above materials) will not be considered.
  • Please use Gmail or institutional (education) email, not QQ, 126, 163, etc., to avoid spam/trash filtering and sign‑in barriers when downloading attachments.
  • If you do not receive a response within one week, please feel free to pursue other opportunities.
Step 2: Interview

We will screen candidates and issue interview invitations. The interview has three phases; at each stage, we will identify the top candidates with strong research potential and those whose research expectations best fit our lab.

Stage I: Informal conversation to align PhD mentorship expectations

Informal meeting to introduce the student’s current research outcomes, outline future goals, and discuss alignment of expectations using the PhD mentorship expectations document.

Stage II: Journal club

Please feel free to prepare in whatever formats works best for you. Tips for Preparation:

  • Select a computational biology paper from Nature Biotechnology, Nature Methods, or Nature Genetics that provides the public codes, and send email to inform us your choice and schedule the online interview time.
  • Read it closely and be ready to discuss during the interview, we will asked questions related to:
    • The background problem and motivation,
    • The research gap the paper addresses,
    • The algorithm’s design,
    • How the code is implemented,
    • The benchmarking strategy,
    • How the authors present real‑world case studies.
  • It’s fine to consult AI tools or colleagues if you encounter unfamiliar concepts, just as you would in day‑to‑day research.
  • In the interview, we will focus on your critical thinking, debugging/problem‑solving skills, code comprehension, and ability to communicate and discuss research effectively.
  • Please treat it like a typical research group meeting, similar to what you’d experience in our lab during PhD training.

Stage III: Formal admission interview with BMS committee

A formal 15–20 minute slide presentation introducing yourself and your current research outcomes to the interview committee, followed by Q&A related to your work.