Wei-Ran (Alex) Li 李蔚然
VRock Laboratory

VRock Laboratory @HKU

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The first petrology-volcanology group in Hong Kong.

PI: Wei-Ran "Alex" LI (Prof.) 李蔚然

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2008-2012   B.S. in Geochemistry, double major in Art History @Peking University

2012-2014   M.S. in Geochronology @Peking University

2014-2019   Ph.D. in Petrology-volcanology @Nanyang Technological University (Singapore)

2020-2021  Postdoc @ Earth Observatory of Singapore

2021-2022  Postdoc @ University of Cambridge

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Postdoc: Yajie GAO (Dr.) 高雅洁

 

PhD - Australian National University (2024)

B.S. - China University of Geosciences (Beijing)

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As a experimental petrologist and geochemist, Yajie has broad interests that encompass magmatic evolution, mineralization, elements (REE, Li, Au-Cu, PGE) partition and distribution, fluid behaviour (F, Cl, H2O), metamorphism process, thermodynamic modelling and global tectonics.

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Postdoc: Houbin CHEN (Dr.) 陈厚彬

 

PhD - Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (2025)

B.S. - Jilin University

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Igneous petrology and geological time scales

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Postdoc: Wenyu WANG (Dr.) 王文宇

 

PhD - University of Science and Technology of China (2025)
B.S. - Chengdu University of Technology (2019)

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Wenyu applies geochemical and petrological approaches to investigate volatile-rich mantle rocks such as kimberlites and eclogites, with the aim of constraining their formation and evolution, with particular emphasis on the behaviour of volatiles during these processes. His current research focuses on kimberlites of varying geological ages from the Siberian Craton.

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Research Assistant: Mradipta Lintang Alifcanta MOKTIKANANA (Dr.) 

 

Ph.D. - Akita University (2025)
M.Eng. - Gadjah Mada University (2022)

B.Eng. - Gadjah Mada University (2019)

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Petrological investigation of volcanism in Sumatra, Indonesia

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PhD candidate: Xiaoyu LIU (Miss) 刘笑雨

PhD candidate: 2025 - present

PhD student: 2023 - 2025

B.S. - Southern University of Science and Technology (2023)

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Xiaoyu’s PhD research focuses on exploring the applications of machine learning in volcanology, petrology and geochemistry.

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M.Phil. student: Mike AUSEJO (Mr.)

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M.Sc. - University of the Philippines Diliman, Philippines (2024)
B.Sc. - Negros Oriental State University, Philippines (2020)

Mike's uses petrology and geochemistry to understand the pre-eruptive conditions of active volcanoes and recent eruptions, such as the 2020 Taal eruption in the Philippines.

PhD student: Shiyi LU (Mr.) 卢世一

 

B.S. - Central South University (2026)

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Shiyi studies oxygen fugacity variability in magmatic systems using in-situ analytical techniques and modelling approaches. His current research focuses on tracing the behaviour of redox-sensitive elements in apatite.

Undergraduate FYP & M.Res.: WONG Shuk Yam "Ella" (Miss) 

 

DEPS, HKU​

Investigation of magmatism in the early solar system using nano-scale geochemical analysis of meteorites