HKUST Professor Vincent Kin-nang Lau Named Croucher Senior Research Fellow

Prof Vincent Kin-nang Lau, Professor of Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) was conferred the prestigious Croucher Senior Research Fellowship by the Croucher Foundation for his excellent scientific research achievements. The presentation ceremony held today (21 March) was officiated by Mrs Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, GBS, JP, Chief Secretary for Administration of the HKSAR Government.

Prof Vincent Kin-nang Lau has contributed to the advances of wireless technologies, including several major developments in the MIMO (Multiple-input and Multiple-output) framework, Cloud Radio Access Networks as well as the mathematical framework for 'cross-layer optimization', which allows wireless transmission to adapt dynamically to the environment with only 'limited feedback' of signaling information. These are the core technologies of the next generation cellular systems such as the Advanced Long-term Evolution (LTE+) and 5G wireless networks. His research allows wireless communication systems to support an ever-increasing data capacity in an energy-efficient and cost-efficient manner.

For his excellence in research contributions, Prof Lau has been awarded a Fellow of IEEE as well as Changjiang Chair Professor. He has been the technology advisor and consultant for ASTRI and Huawei among others. He has published over 220 papers in IEEE Transactions and IEEE conferences. He has also contributed to over 30 US patents on various advanced wireless technologies. He is the recipient of three best IEEE paper awards and the key contributor of four IEEE 802.22 (cognitive radio) specifications.

Prof Lau obtained his BEng (First Class Honors) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Hong Kong, and completed his PhD in the University of Cambridge in two years under the support of Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fellowship and Croucher Foundation Scholarship. He had worked at the Hong Kong Telecom (currently PCCW) and the Lucent Technologies - Bell labs. He joined HKUST's Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering as Associate Professor in 2004 and was promoted to full professor in 2010.

The Croucher Senior Research Fellowships scheme was first introduced in 1997. It is awarded to local academics who have excelled in scientific research work as judged by leading international scientists invited to provide confidential reviews of candidates nominated in a competitive exercise.