Meet the President
Professor Nancy Y. IP, SBS, BBS, MH, JP
Professor Ip is the President of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and the Morningside Professor of Life Science. Taking office in October 2022, she is the first female president of a publicly funded university in Hong Kong.
Professor Ip received her PhD degree in Pharmacology from Harvard University, after which she held the position of Senior Staff Scientist at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. in New York. Since joining HKUST in 1993, she has served as the Vice-President for Research and Development, the Dean of Science, and the Head of Biochemistry.
Professor Ip is world-renowned for her significant contributions to the field of neuroscience, for example, in understanding the complex mechanisms that underlie proper brain functions, as well as drug discovery for neurodegenerative diseases. Her outstanding research has resulted in over 330 scientific papers, that have garnered more than 45,200 SCI citations, as well as over 70 patents.
As a distinguished neuroscientist, Professor Ip has been elected to various academies, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the US National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the World Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, and the Hong Kong Academy of Sciences. She is a recipient of numerous awards and honors including the National Natural Science Awards, the L’OREAL-UNESCO for Women in Science Award, and the 10 Science Stars of China by Nature.
In addition to conducting pioneering neuroscience research, Professor Ip helps shape research policy on a global level. She is a member of various strategic initiatives such as the Leadership Group of the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative. She also actively serves on local committees, such as the Chief Executive’s Council of Advisers, to help steer the strategic development of Hong Kong. Moreover, as the Council Chair and founding member of the Greater Bay Area Association of Academicians, she fosters cooperation among academics in Hong Kong and the Mainland, to help advance science and technology in the Greater Bay Area.
