People

🧑🏻‍💻👩🏼‍💻👨‍💻👩🏾‍💻🧑🏼‍💻👩🏻‍💻👨🏽‍💻

 

Lab Director

Professor KONG, Anthony P. H. 

Prof. Anthony Kong, Unit Head of the Academic Unit of Human Communication, Learning, and Development (HCLD) at The University of Hong Kong, holds a PhD in speech and hearing sciences and is specialized in aphasiology. He is a Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and Academy of Aphasia. In 2013, he also received the ASHA Recognition for Outstanding Contribution in International Achievement. Trained as a speech-language pathologist, Prof. Kong’s research interests include stroke-induced aphasia, discourse analyses, and neurogenic communication disorders in multilingual speakers. His research has received continuous funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Hong Kong Government, National Natural Science Foundation of China, and multiple (inter)national universities and private foundations. Over the years, he has developed several clinically-oriented language and cognitive assessment tools/batteries of Chinese speakers with aphasia. Prof. Kong was appointed Vice Chairperson of the Hong Kong Association of Speech Therapists (HKAST) from 2004 to 2007, and currently holds the position of Honorary Advisor for HKAST. As a world-renowned scholar in communication sciences and disorders, he also serves and served as Consultant/Advisor to provide research, clinical, and/or professional consultations to many (inter)national agencies, such as Aphasia United, Project BRIDGE (Building Research Initiatives by Developing Group Effort, USA), the Hong Kong Hospital Authority, and the Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation. Prof. Kong currently serves as the Editor-in-Chief of Languages (MDPI) and previously held the position of Founding Editor-in-Chief of Cogent Gerontology (Taylor & Francis) before stepping down.

 

Lab Members:

Professor BAKHTIAR, Mehdi

Prof. Mehdi Bakhtiar is an Assistant Professor in the Academic Unit of Human Communication, Learning, and Development (HCLD) at The University of Hong Kong Faculty of Education. He received an MSc degree in Speech Therapy from Tehran University of Medical Sciences and worked as a clinician for a few years before pursuing his PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience of Language at The University of Hong Kong. He is the Director of the Speech and Neuromudulation Laboratory. His main research interests are related to the underlying nature of speech disorders in people with stuttering and other neurogenic communication disorders. Prof Bakhtiar studies the neurocognitive, linguistic and sensory-motor aspects of stuttering and other motor speech disorders. He is also interested in the application of non-invasive brain stimulation methods (e.g., tDCS, TMS) as an add-on treatment for people with neurogenic communication disorders.

Ms CHU, Ada Wai-Sze

Ms. Chu Wai Sze Ada  is a full-time Lecturer of the Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong (HKU).  She acquired the qualification of speech therapist in 1995 from HKU, and a Master degree in health professions education from HKU in 2021. She has more than 20 years of experience working with people with aphasia.

 

 

 

Dr CARTHERY, Maria Teresa 

Dr. Carthery is a speech and language pathologist graduated from the University of Sao Paulo (USP). She completed MSc in Psychology in the area of Neuroscience and Behavior in the Institute of Psychology at USP (2005), and PhD in Sciences in the area of Neurology from the School of Medicine, USP (2005). Dr. Carthery was visiting researcher at the Medical Research Council- Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit (MRC-CBU), University of Cambridge -UK (2006-2008) and Associate Professor at the Center of Mathematics, Computing and Cognition, Federal University of the ABC region, Brazil (UFABC) (2011-2023). She is also Associate Researcher Group of Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology, Hospital das Clínicas, School of Medicine, USP, and Member of the Brazilian Association of Speech and Language Pathologists (SBFa) and of the Brazilian Association of Neuropsychology (SBNp). Dr. Carthery’s research interests include: Language and Cognitive Lifespan Development, Acquired Language Disorders (Aphasia, Dyslexia, Agraphia, Primary Progressive Aphasia), Psycholinguistics, Neurolinguistics and Neuropsychology, Neuroscience of Language, and Educational Neuroscience.

Professor GREEN, Clarence

Prof. Clarence Green is an Assistant Professor, Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong. His research focusses on vocabulary, reading, first and second language acquisition, psycholinguistics and data science. He holds a PhD (University of Melbourne), and was formerly a k-12 teacher (Victorian Institute of Teachers, Ontario College of Teachers). He co-chairs the Australian Linguistics Society’s ‘Linguistics in the Schools’ Special Interest Group, is Associate Editor of the Asia Pacific Journal of Education, and editorial board member of the Journal of English for Academic Purposes and Australian Journal of Linguistics. He is the 2025 recipient of the UKLA/Wiley Research in Literacy Education Award.

 

Research Collaborators (in alphabetic order):

 

Visiting Scholars:

Prof WANG, Hong

Professor Wang Hong works in Shandong First Medical University, concurrently serves as Head of the Young Teachers Training Group at the Center for Teaching and Learning Development. She has won 33 teaching awards at various levels, including the Second Prize in the 2nd National University Teachers’ Teaching Innovation Competition. She holds the following academic and professional titles: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK), Fellow of the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER Fellow), Expert of the Disciplinary Group under the International Medical Education Branch of the China Education Association for International Exchange, and has been appointed as a teaching trainer by 5 institutions. Professor Wang ‘s research interests focus on innovative teaching models and AI-empowered curriculum development. She is a visiting scholar at the HKU ART Laboratory for one year beginning in December 2025, supported by the 2025 Annual Funding for Publicly-Sponsored Faculty Members’ Overseas Visiting Scholar Program from The Shandong First Medical University (Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences).

 

Dr CHEN, Wenjun

Dr. Wenjun Chen obtained her PhD from the Institute of Language Sciences, Shanghai International Studies University. Currently, she works as an Assistant Professor at Ningbo University of Technology, with a specialization in speech-language disorders. She formerly acted as an Outreach Specialist for the Asia Pacific Society of Speech, Language and Hearing (APSSLH), facilitating regional collaboration in speech and language research. At present, she has an editorial role at Cogent Arts & Humanities. Dr. Chen’s research interests lie in aphasia, apraxia, and innovative rehabilitation strategies for individuals with language impairments. Dr. Chen was a visiting scholar at the HKU ART Laboratory from March to August 2025, supported by the Yu-shi Scholarship of Ningbo University of Technology 宁波工程学院郁氏奖学金 awarded to her in 2025.

 

 

PhD Students:

Mr CHEUNG, Chester Y.-N.

Chester is a PhD student in the Unit of Human Communication, Learning, and Development (HCLD) at The University of Hong Kong. He is also a registered speech-and-language therapist in Hong Kong who possesses a master’s degree in speech language pathology and a bachelor’s degree in psychology. As a speech-and-language therapist, Chester worked in local NGO, hospital, and elderly homes while he focused his clinical expertise in adult’s communication and swallowing disorders. As a researcher, Chester endeavours in the fields of aphasiology and neurotherapeutics. Currently, he is pioneering in the development of EEG-guided individualized Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) for people with aphasia.

Ms WONG, Cherie W.-Y. 

Cherie is a PhD student in the Unit of Human Communication, Learning, and Development (HCLD) at The University of Hong Kong. She is also a qualified speech-and-language therapist in Hong Kong. She has a wide research interests in speech-and-language assessments as well as treatments for adults with communication disorders and children with special education needs. Her current research focuses on Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program (ICAP).

 

 

Ms YANG, Songting

Songting Yang is currently a PhD student in the Unit of Human Communication, Learning, and Development (HCLD) at The University of Hong Kong. She received her Master’s degree in linguistics from Yunnan University. Her research interest is early language development in bilingual children, particularly those from ethnic minorities. Songting’s current research project focuses on School-Based Book Reading Interventions for preschool Dai-Mandarin bilingual children in Mainland China.

 

 

Mr WAGER, Jeffrey

Jeff is a PhD student in the Unit of Human Communication, Learning, and Development (HCLD) at the University of Hong Kong. He has previously worked clinically for several years in the UK as a speech-and-language therapist. He possesses a master’s degree in Acquired Communication Disorders and a Bachelor’s degree in Speech and Language Therapy from universities in the UK.  His main research interests relate to language processing, neuroscience, and aphasia. Jeff’s current research project is examining the use of co-verbal gestures in native English speakers with traumatic brain injury.

 

Ms HU, Annie

Annie is a PhD student in the Unit of Human Communication, Learning, and Development (HCLD) at The University of Hong Kong. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences from HKU. Her research interests include multimodal communication, assessments, and interventions in Chinese speakers with aphasia, with a particular focus on gesture-based treatments. Her current research project aims to investigate the application of Gesture-Verbal Therapy (GVT) in Cantonese speakers with aphasia.

 

 

Mr WANG, Guohui

Guohui is a PhD student in the Unit of Human Communication, Learning, and Development (HCLD) at The University of Hong Kong. He has extensive experience in screening and managing chronic diseases in older adults. His research focuses on discourse processing, cognitive neuroscience, and biomarkers for aphasia. His current project involves developing a linguistic biomarkers stratification model for screening amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) in Mandarin. Guohui is also the founder of NeuroGem Labs, a company developing AI technologies for early Alzheimer’s detection, with The University of Hong Kong as a stakeholder.

 

 

Ms REN, Ji

Ji is a PhD student in the Unit of Human Communication, Learning, and Development (HCLD) at The University of Hong Kong. She obtained her master’s degree in linguistics from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences. She has research experience in multimodal discourse analysis and teacher development, particularly focusing on the role of embodiment in communication. Her current research project investigates the pedagogical functions of teachers’ gesture use and its implications for effective classroom communication.

 

 

Community Partners:

 

 

Student Interns:

Mr CHAN, Jason Chi-Shing

Jason is a third-year medical student at the University of Hong Kong. His research interests combine his technical skills in AI and digital technology with medicine. He focuses on solving problems in stroke rehabilitation, orthopedics, and medical education. He is the co-founder of XonLabs, an AI EdTech and HealthTech company that develops software to help students learn faster with AI and assist patients in improving their diets through AI-powered nutrition tracking.

 

 

Mr ALVES, Alexandre Gaspar Mendes

Alex is a second-year Master of Philosophy (Curriculum & Instruction: English Language Education) student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. He received his BA in Translation and Interpretation of Chinese-Portuguese at the Polytechnic of Leiria, Portugal. Alex’s research interests are in eye-tracking and its use to inform us about how people with aphasia interact with their L1 and L2.

 

Guilherme-2

Mr ROQUE, Guilherme Galhoz Maria

Guilherme is a second-year master’s student in International Chinese Education at Nanjing University. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Translation and Interpreting (Portuguese–Chinese) from the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, Portugal. His research interests are in experimental phonetics and eye-tracking, currently focusing on pupillometry.

 

 

 

 

Alumni:

Undergraduate student intern: Ms YU, Tina Ka-Yee

Tina received the 2024-25 Hong Kong’s Laidlaw Scholarship.

Project title: “Evaluating the effectiveness of transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) combined with speech therapy for Cantonese-speaking individuals with post-stroke aphasia: A randomized controlled trial”

 

 

Undergraduate student intern: Ms SHAM, Bonita Po-Yan

Bonita received the 2023 Innovation and Technology Scholarship.

Project title: “Developing future telepractice games in speech therapy”

 

 

 

Undergraduate student intern: Ms HU, Annie Zhiyao

Annie received the 2023-24 Undergraduate Research Fellowship Programme (URFP) Research Internship Awards (local).

Project title: “Effects of Modified Gesture plus Verbal Treatment (GVT) for word retrieval, gestural production, and functional communication in Cantonese speakers with non-fluent aphasia: A multiple case study”

 

Undergraduate student intern: Ms CHAN, Christie N.-S.

Christie received the 2022-23 Hong Kong’s Laidlaw Scholarship.

Project title: “How do people with aphasia experience communication challenges in times of COVID-19?”