Prior to joining EdUHK in 2018, Professor Michelle Gu Ming-yue was Assistant Professor at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) from 2012 to 2017. As a researcher in sociolinguistics, Professor Gu explores the individual-context interplay mediated by languages and semiotics. Her research integrates theories and methods from sociolinguistics, critical inquiry, and discourse studies. She has developed theoretical frameworks to advance the areas of multilingualism, language identity and ethical-self formation, second-language-learning motivation, and the interaction between language, culture and ethnicity. 

Professor Gu is a prolific scholar with many publications in top academic journals of the fields of linguistics and education. She is an active researcher with a strong record in securing external research grants such the General Research Grant, the PICO-Funded Public Policy Research, and the Standing Committee on Language Education and Research (research and development) projects. She has joined two World University Network projects and collaborated extensively with scholars across the world. 

Professor Gu received the President’s Award in Individual Research Excellence in 2022 at EdUHK, the Research Excellence Award in 2017 and the Young Researcher Award in 2015 at CUHK. She was also listed among the world’s top 2% most-cited scientists by Stanford University in 2022.