Message- Lab
14. Juli 2025
In summer 2025, Prof. Sai Kishore Ravi coordinated the SEE–CityUHK Summer Research Program, welcoming nine outstanding students from leading Indian institutions — IISc Bengaluru, IIT Bombay, IIT Kanpur, IIT Gandhinagar, IISER Bhopal, and NIT Calicut.
Designed to foster academic exchange and collaboration, the summer program offered these talented students a valuable opportunity to engage with SEE’s vibrant research community and explore its interdisciplinary research.
The students also networked with SEE faculty and current research students, gaining further insight into life at CityUHK and postgraduate opportunities.
As part of SEE’s broader internationalization and talent-nurturing efforts to engage emerging researchers from top institutions worldwide, the program offered a glimpse into the dynamic research culture at CityUHK. Several visiting students expressed interest in returning for their doctoral studies, drawn by the academic environment and mentorship they experienced during the program.
Many shared reflections on their lab experiences, interactions with faculty and peers, and memorable moments exploring Hong Kong:
“Diving into the working of LEDs, photovoltaics, and AI-driven solutions to it with Prof. Angus Yip and his group was both challenging and inspiring—every discussion sparked new questions. The CityUHK research ecosystem pushed me to think beyond the obvious. At the same time, the vibrant campus life and glimpses of Hong Kong’s culture made the journey unforgettable.” — Jayash Sahu, a Visiting Student from NIT Calicut
“My time at SEE, CityUHK was both inspiring and transformative. I had the privilege of working with Prof. Fatwa Abdi, whose group focuses on developing advanced materials and devices for solar-to-chemical energy conversion. From investigating the properties of complex metal oxides using spectroscopy techniques to exploring innovative strategies for improving their performance, the experience gave me a deeper understanding of sustainable energy research. Outside the lab, I explored the vibrant city of Hong Kong, from its local food spots to scenic hiking trails. This made the summer truly unforgettable,” — Bhumika Bhangale, a Visiting Student from IIT Bombay
The research environment at SEE was truly inspiring. Interacting with CityU students helped expand my research interests, and engaging with Prof. Jason Lam and his group was a valuable experience. The campus itself was peaceful and beautiful. And now I finally understand why everyone insisted I try the egg tarts in Hong Kong—they were absolutely delicious!” — Jaydeep Kanungo, a Visiting Student from IIT Gandhinagar
Their reflections were echoed by several other participants, who found the program both engaging and insightful. Many appreciated the opportunity to work closely with research groups, explore unfamiliar scientific areas, and enjoy life on a welcoming campus set against the backdrop of one of Asia’s most vibrant cities.
Central to the summer program was a Research Hackathon, during which students were embedded within host research groups to explore current scientific challenges. Through interactive discussions, short training, and literature reviews, each student identified a specific research problem aligned with their group’s focus and proposed a conceptual approach to address it. Students had the opportunity to explore topics in water quality management, advanced energy materials, green fuels, waste-to-value, CO2 capture, and other critical areas aligned with SEE’s mission to tackle grand challenges at the energy-environment nexus.
The program concluded with a Student Symposium, where each participant gave a short presentation outlining their proposed research ideas, key learnings, and reflections from the program. Faculty members, fellow students, and research group members engaged in lively Q&A sessions, further enriching the academic exchange.
The program spotlighted SEE’s proactive efforts to nurture global research talent and expand its PhD recruitment pipeline through its impactful international academic exchange.
