PhD and Postdoc Opportunities

Land-use change and climate mitigation are central challenges for sustainable development. The APLUS Lab conducts interdisciplinary research on the interactions between forestry and agricultural systems, carbon accounting, ecosystem modeling, and climate policy to support sustainable land management and carbon-neutrality pathways. We are currently seeking both motivated postdoc researchers and PhD candidates interested in one or more research areas.

Research areas

1. Land use carbon budget. This track examines carbon accounting from the land use sector, including land-use transitions, livestock methane, and climate impacts on agroecosystems. Applicants with strong skills in bookkeeping modeling, vegetation or ecological modeling, GIS/remote sensing, machine learning are encouraged.

2. Wood product life cycle assessment. This track focuses on wood product life-cycle assessment, integrating forest carbon dynamics, trade-related emissions, and material substitution effects. Applicants with backgrounds in forestry, wood science, LCA, industrial ecology, environmental economics, or trade analysis, and strong quantitative skills are encouraged.

3. Forest carbon dynamics. This track focuses on forest growth and carbon stock changes under different management and disturbance regimes, integrating forest inventories, satellite data, and machine learning approaches. Applicants with backgrounds in ecology, physical geography, remote sensing, GIS, or quantitative environmental analysis are encouraged.

Your profile

  • Degree in geography, forestry & wood science, agriculture, ecology, environmental science/engineering, GIS/remote sensing, economics, data science, or related fields
  • Research experience; publication record is an advantage
  • Experience with programming, AI, and quantitative analysis (e.g., Python, R)
  • For PhD candidates, strong English communication skills (IELTS ≥6.5 with ≥6 per band; TOEFL iBT ≥85, per HKU requirements)

Our offer

  • Development of scientific writing, programming, and analytical skills
  • Training across natural sciences, engineering, and policy domains
  • Opportunities for collaboration with partners at Peking University, Tsinghua University, Lanzhou University, Princeton, Cambridge, UMD, OSU, and others
  • Fieldwork, conference participation, and engagement with policy and research networks
  • Supportive research environment within HKU’s Department of Geography and Institute for Climate & Carbon Neutrality

How to apply

Please email lqpeng@hku.hk with the subject line: “Postdoc/PhD – Your Name – University” with at least the following documents:

  • CV
  • Transcripts
  • One page research proposal (for postdoc position)
  • Contact information for at least two referees