Announcements
19 May 2026
MDPI Open Science Insights: Academic Publishing Workshop at the University of Hong Kong, 12 May 2026
MDPI, together with the leading journals IJMS, Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceuticals and Sci. Pharm., is excited to collaborate with the University of Hong Kong to host an exclusive Academic Publishing Workshop aimed at empowering researchers with the knowledge and tools needed for successful academic publishing. This workshop will explore key topics including open access publishing insights, how to write and structure a journal article, common reasons for pre-check rejection, and the MDPI editorial and peer review processes. The session is designed to equip attendees with practical knowledge and valuable skills to support and enhance their publishing journey.
Date: 12 May 2026
Time: 2:00–4:00 p.m.
Venue: Teams Meeting
| Speaker | Program | Time |
| Prof. Xiang Lin | Opening Speech | 2:00–2:10 p.m. |
| Dr. Kathy Gong | How to Write and Structure a Journal Article | 2:10–2:40 p.m. |
| Q&A Session | 2:40–2:45 p.m. | |
| Mr. Owen Chen | Rejection Reasons for Pre-Check | 2:45–3:15 p.m. |
| Q&A Session | 3:15–3:20 p.m. | |
| Ms. Amber Zhao | MDPI Editorial Process and Peer Review Process | 3:20–3:50 p.m. |
| Q&A Session | 3:50–3:55 p.m. | |
| Closing of Program | 3:55–4:00 p.m. |
Chair:
Prof. Xiang Lin received his BSc degree in Chinese medicines from China Pharmaceutical University in 2007 and his PhD degree in Chinese medicine from the School of Chinese Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, in 2012. He subsequently conducted postdoctoral research at HKU before joining the School of Chinese Medicine as an Assistant Professor in 2019. He currently also serves as the Assistant Director (Knowledge Exchange and Technology Development). His research focuses on immunology, autoimmune diseases, and Chinese medicine-based therapeutic strategies, with particular emphasis on Sjögren’s syndrome and immune regulation. He has led multiple competitive research projects funded by local and international agencies, including the General Research Fund and the Health and Medical Research Fund.
Prof. Lin has received several academic honors, including the Excellence in Leukocyte Biology Award from the Society of Leukocyte Biology and the Early Career Faculty Grant from the American Association of Immunologists. He is also active in academic service, holding editorial roles in several international journals in immunology and pharmacology.
MDPI Speakers:
Dr. Kathy Gong obtained her PhD in crop science from the University of Queensland, Australia, where she also completed her postdoctoral research. She joined MDPI in 2025 as an Assistant Editor for the journal Pharmaceutics and currently serves as a Publishing Specialist. In this role, she focuses on supporting the strategic development of journals, strengthening collaboration with academic editors, and ensuring efficient and high-quality publishing services for the research community.
Mr. Owen Chen graduated from Auburn University and joined MDPI in 2018. He previously served as an Assistant Editor for Microorganisms and Section Managing Editor for IJMS. He currently works as the Journal Development Editor for IJMS and Managing Editor for Stresses. In addition to his role in journal relations, he also served as the Deputy Section Leader for overseas editors, providing guidance and support to ensure high editorial standards and efficient workflow management.
Ms. Amber Zhao graduated from the University of York and joined MDPI in 2020. She is currently working as the Managing Editor for Pharmaceuticals. She is responsible for the management of the journal, overseeing content quality, and fostering effective communication and collaboration with authors and academic editors. She is dedicated to delivering efficient, professional publishing support to researchers.
