Dr Tanghua LI (李堂华)

Prof. Tanghua Li has joined City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) as an Assistant Professor, with a joint appointment in the Department of Data Science (DS) and the School of Energy and Environment (SEE). He obtained his PhD in Geophysics from the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and then joined Nanyang Technological University (NTU), where he was a Senior Research Fellow before joining CityUHK. Prof. Li has published over 35 peer-reviewed papers and delivered more than 10 invited talks at international conferences and leading academic institutions. He also serves on the Springer Nature Editorial Board and as the Secretary of the Ocean Sciences Section within the Asia Oceania Geosciences Society (AOGS).

Research Interests

Prof. Li’s research focuses on climate and sea-level change across various spatial and temporal scales, such as the interactions among ice sheets, the ocean, and the solid Earth (i.e., Glacial Isostatic Adjustment, GIA) and their lasting impacts on the Earth system. He applies physics-based numerical models and statistical approaches to uncover the mechanisms driving sea-level change. His work integrates geological proxy data, ground-based instrumental measurements, and satellite observations to constrain these models and improve our understanding of vertical land motion, sea-level projections, and associated coastal hazards. Additionally, he is interested in interdisciplinary studies of climate and sea-level change impacts, aiming to understand how coastlines, ecosystems, and coastal communities have responded – and will respond to past, present, and future sea-level change. His key research interests include:

• Dynamic responses of the solid Earth to external loading (e.g., ice sheets, sediments, buildings)

• Mechanisms driving relative sea-level change

• Sea-level change impacts

• 3-dimensional (i.e., 3D) Earth rheological structure

• Ice sheet reconstruction and GIA model development

• Geoscience data, data mining, and AI for climate and sea level

Positions Available

Prof. Li is recruiting talented graduate students, research assistants/associates, and postdoctoral fellows to join his group. Candidates should have good communication skills in English and experience in data analysis, scientific programming (e.g., Python, Fortran, MATLAB), and academic writing.

PhD candidates:
Potential graduate students are welcome to contact Prof. Li at Tanghua.LI@cityu.edu.hk with their CV, transcripts, and publications (if applicable). Candidates with a strong background in physics, math, numerical simulation, or data mining are preferred. Please visit here for information on applying for graduate studies and postgraduate studentship at CityUHK, and refer to the English proficiency requirements of SEE (here) and DS(here). Applicants will have to go through a centralized admission process through CityUHK with Prof. Li’s recommendation. Outstanding candidates are highly recommended to apply for  Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS).

Postdoctoral Fellows:
Candidates should have first-author peer-reviewed scientific publications and be capable of conducting independent research under the supervision of Prof. Li. Candidates are expected to demonstrate strong motivation, high resilience, and productivity, with good oral and written communication skills in English. Competitive salary and benefits will be offered, along with funding to support academic visits and attendance at international conferences.

Interested applicants are invited to submit their CV and a one-page cover letter to Prof. Li at Tanghua.LI@cityu.edu.hk. The review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until all positions are filled.

City University of Hong Kong is an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to the principle of diversity. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates, especially applicants who will enhance the diversity of our staff.