Dr. HUANG Shi is an assistant professor in the Faculty of Dentistry, the University of Hong Kong. He has been engaged in microbiome research for over 10 years. 

Firstly, he established a number of microbiome-based indices for diagnosis and prediction of chronic diseases (such as dental caries, periodontal disease, gut health, skin health, aging, etc.). He first demonstrated that the onset of chronic diseases (e.g., dental caries) can be predicted by human microbiome before the emergence of clinical symptoms. 

Secondly, he’s been focused on the basic metagenomics method development for years and also an expert in benchmarking bioinformatic tools for metagenomics. To address the challenging low-biomass issue, he pioneered in developing a novel metagenomic sequencing strategy (i.e., 2bRAD-M), enabling the species-resolved, cost-effective microbiota profiling of challenging clinical samples (such as, FFPE tumor tissue, etc.). 

Overall, he published >35 research papers in peer-reviewed journals, including 18 first- or corresponding-authored papers published in Nature Methods, Cell Host Microbe, Microbiome, Genome Biology, ISMEJ, Gut Microbes, mBio and mSystems. His H-index has reached 28. He also completed one NSFC-funded Project as a PI. He has five authorized microbiome-related patents (two international patents).

• applying human microbiome, and metabolome data to predict chronic diseases and healthy aging；

• advanced bioinformatic tool development for metagenomic and multi-omics analysis；

• developing novel metagenomics/methylome methods for analyzing microbiomes in the high-host clinical samples；

• adaptive evolutionary strategies of probiotics in the host gut.

• International students (Students from mainland of China or Hong Kong/Macau are NOT eligible).

• GPA (3.6 or above)/average mark (85 or above) in top universities according to the QS ranking or other university ranking system.

• Other demonstrations in the academic excellence, leadership, communication skills, etc..

• To pursue PhD degree in Microbiome bioinformatics under the supervision of Dr. HUANG Shi (https://facdent.hku.hk/about/staff-profile.php?shortname=shihuang).

HKPFS(https://cerg1.ugc.edu.hk/hkpfs/index.html) provides an annual stipend of HK$325,200 (approximately US$41,690) and a conference and research-related travel allowance of HK$13,600 (approximately US$1,740) per year for each awardee for a period up to three years.

300 PhD Fellowships will be awarded in the 2023/24 academic year*. For awardees who need more than three years to complete the PhD degree, additional support may be provided by the chosen universities. 

For details, please contact the universities concerned directly.

Website：https://gradsch.hku.hk/prospective_students/fees_scholarships_and_financial_support/hku_presidential_phd_scholar_programme

Each HKU Presidential PhD Scholar will receive a package of up to around HK$420,900 (US$53,960) in the first year, and up to around HK$400,900 (US$51,390) in each of the subsequent years during the normative study period. 

The package includes:

• Cash Award to support research and living expenses: HK$40,000 in Year 1; HK$20,000 per year in the remaining normative study period.

• Waiver of composition fees for the whole normative study period (i.e. HK$42,100 per year)

• Postgraduate Scholarship of HK$27,100 per month.

• Conference and Research-related Travel Allowance of HK$13,600 per year.

• Financial support to selected outstanding students for an additional year of study beyond the normative study period to reward their outstanding research output and progress.

• A guaranteed hall place in Year 1, with possibility of renewal.