Senior Research Assistant/Research Assistant I/II in Urban Form and SDG Impact Modelling

Senior Research Assistant/Research Assistant I/II in Urban Form and SDG Impact Modelling

We are seeking a motivated and creative researcher to join our team in Department of Urban Planning and Design at The University of Hong Kong, focusing on urban form analytics and the relationship between the built environment and sustainability performance (i.e. SDG) in Chinese cities (Ref.: 532556).

This position is ideal for candidates interested in urban morphology, AI-powered spatial analysis, and global urban comparative studies. The successful candidate will support the team to standardise and document urban form classification methods, and, more importantly, lead or contribute to innovative research connecting urban form with sustainability outcomes (e.g. socio-economic vitality and urban heat island), including the use of advanced image-based generative models such as Pix2Pix.

Duties and Responsibilities

(1) Urban form analytics (completed/documentation focus)

• Support the documentation, standardisation, and publication of the team’s existing urban form classification standards and methods, developed for Chinese cities based on height, density, and intensity.
• Assist in preparing technical standards, case studies, and summarising methodologies for academic and policy outputs.
• Contribute to comparative studies using global datasets (e.g. open street view imagery, international urban morphology cases) to benchmark Chinese urban form typologies.

(2) Urban form–SDG performance modelling (primary focus)

• Lead or contribute to research on the relationship between urban morphological types and SDG-related urban performance (e.g. urban vitality, urban heat island effect, and environmental/social indicators).
• Develop and apply image-based generative models (Pix2Pix and other GANs) to simulate and evaluate the impact of urban form on SDG indicators, utilising both spatial data and street-level imagery.
• Collaborate on international comparative analyses to contextualise Chinese urban form and performance in a global setting.
• Prepare findings for publication in high-impact academic journals and for dissemination to international research and policy communities.

Requirements

• Master’s degree or above in Urban Planning, Geography, Architecture, Data Science, AI, or related fields.
• Experience in urban form analytics, spatial data science, or remote sensing.
• Strong programming and data analysis skills (e.g. Python, GIS, deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow).
• Excellent command of both written and spoken English and Chinese.
• Familiarity with image-based generative models (e.g. Pix2Pix) is highly desirable.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview. Enquires about the post can be sent to Prof Tianren Yang (e-mail: tianren@hku.hk).

What We Offer

The position is available immediately and is initially for a term of six months to one year, with the possibility of extension based on performance and funding availability. A highly competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience will be offered, in addition to annual leave and medical benefits.

How to Apply

The University accepts only online application for this position. Interested candidates should apply online, uploading an up-to-date CV and a cover letter/statement of interest (specifying which area(s) they are applying for). Application review will begin immediately and continue until August 30, 2025, or until the position is filled, whichever comes first.