Editor Interview: Kelvin Yeung

 

Currently, Professor Yeung serves as a tenured full professor, chief of the research division, and departmental research and postgraduate advisor in the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine (HKUMed), at The University of Hong Kong. His impressive h-index (Scopus) is 77, with over 19,000 citations and 83 (Google Scholar) with 23,000+ citations and an i10-index of 255. He has been recognized as one of the Highly Cited Researchers 2023, ranking among the Top 1% Scholars Worldwide in the field of biomaterials by Clarivate Analytics’ Essential Science Indicators (ESI) and among the World’s Top 2% Scientists in standardized citation indicators (Biomedical Engineering) since 2014. In 2023, he ranked #1926 globally and #486 in China under the category of materials science (Research.com). Beyond his extensive publication record, which includes over 290 peer-reviewed SCI journal papers and 41 filed full patents in various countries, Professor Yeung co-founded OrthoSmart Limited with two senior colleagues to translate their research findings into clinical applications. He also serves as a consultant for several Hong Kong-listed medical andbiomaterials corporations.

Throughout his career, Professor Yeung has participated in numerous local and regional competitions, earning various awards and scholarships such as the Young Scientist Award 2005, Young Engineer Award 2009, and Faculty Research Output Award 2019. As a principal investigator or co-principal investigator, he has securedover HK$87,200,000 in funding. A staunch advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, Professor Yeung has trained 7 postdocs, 30 Ph.D. students, 19 MS students, and 4 FYP undergraduate students for research, with over 50% being female, African, or hailing from Middle-Eastern countries. He has also received 20+ prizes and awards from local and international competitions and conferences and has been invited to deliver more than 80 plenary lectures, keynotes, or invited talks at international and regional conferences.

Active in local and international academic bodies, Professor Yeung has held several executive positions. He is the Associate Editor of Bioactive Materials Journal (Impact factor (2022): 18.9, Ranking: 1/45 in materials science (Biomaterials)), Secretary and founding member of the Chinese Association for Biomaterials (CAB), Chair of Orthopaedic Biomaterials for the Society for Biomaterials (SFB) USA, past Treasurer of CAB, and past Vice-Chair of SFB Orthopaedic Biomaterials. Moreover, he has been appointed as the Associate Dean of Student Affairs for the Centre of Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS) and Warden of HKU Simon K. Y. Lee Hall by the University, where he oversees student education development.

Here is the interview we did with him:

1. Could you briefly introduce your current research field?

My current research field focuses on exogenous responsive nano-antibacterial materials and brain-bone axis-guided bone tissue regeneration research.

2. What obstacles or difficulties have you encountered in your research work? How did you overcome these difficulties?

In research, obstacles and difficulties often occur, such as a significant gap between experimental results and expectations, or some significant and innovative discoveries being published by others first. If it is related to the experimental data, I will carefully check if there are any mistakes. If the data is fine, then I will rethink whether my theory is problematic. I can tell you that one of my papers published in a Nature sub-journal came out this way. If the research is published by others first, then I will go out to buy a "Mao-tai-flavored Latte" to relax, and the next topic will come out.

3. As an associate editor, what type of articles or which direction of research are you interested in?

I myself pay more attention to the quality and quantity of the articles. The quality includes the depth of the article. For example, a hypothesis needs to be repeatedly demonstrated to be tenable. Relying solely on gene transcriptome data is not enough; it needs to be supported by knockout gene models to be convincing. If this can be achieved, the quantity will naturally come.

4. What are your expectations for the future development of Bioactive Materials and its promotion of related fields?

I have noticed that the quality of submissions recently is getting higher and higher. I hope everyone can focus on theoretical innovation in biomaterials, be original, take root in basic theories, and deepen the roots. I believe that one day, Bioactive Materials will be able to stand at the same level as a series of journals like CNS and have a significant international influence.

5. What is your greatest hobby outside of scientific work?

I remember when I was doing my Ph.D., my supervisor asked me one day how many hours I slept every day, and I said about 6 hours. Maybe my progress was not very ideal. My supervisor said to sleep for 4 hours instead, haha. Over the years, I feel that doing scientific research is a bit like making soup. It requires time to simmer to have a delicious soup. But now I have my own team, and they are all better than me. Everyone is very capable, so I now have some time to spare to do some administrative work in the school.

6. In August, the Beijing Daily had a report about you becoming one of the 3,200 auxiliary police officers in Hong Kong at the end of March last year. Since you are already a professor, why do you still want to be an auxiliary police officer?

Haha, many people have asked me this question. In fact, By chance coincidence, I became a police officer. After becoming one, I found that the work of a police officer has some similarities to the work of a university professor. For example, when handling cases, a multi-dimensional thinking approach is needed to solve them. In fact, the work of a police officer allows me to switch to another working environment. In addition to having the opportunity to serve the society, I don't have to think about scientific research issues every day.

7. What do you think is the most important quality for researchers?

Integrity is very important. Don't do things that put yourself in deep danger for the sake of temporary convenience.

8. What advice do you have for young scholars who are determined to engage in scientific research?

Actually, I dare not to give others much advice because I think I have done a relatively average job. But if I had the chance to go back to my 20s and do my Ph.D. again, I would choose my favorite topic, and the topic must be a major topic that is of global concern.