Dr Hyung Rae Cho is an Assistant Professor and Experienced Supervisor in Urban Planning and Design at Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University. He holds a PhD in Urban Planning and Design from Seoul National University, an MSc with Distinction and a BSc from the Bartlett School of Planning, University College London. His professional experience spans research, urban practice and public administration, including Seoul National University, Savills Korea, and the Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Korea, the Blue House 韩国总统府（青瓦台）总务行政秘书室. 

His research examines how cities adapt to demographic decline, spatial transformation and environmental change. Working across urban shrinkage, urban morphology, urban psychology and climate-responsive design, he investigates how changing urban elements shape human experience, health and resilience. His work combines urban theory with empirical and computational methods, ranging from EEG-based studies of shrinking neighbourhoods and spatial analysis to environmental simulation, AI-supported urban design education, urban health, morphological resilience and thermal comfort. His work has appeared in Sustainable Cities and Society, Journal of Urban Health, Journal of Urban Planning and Development, International Laboratory of Architecture & Urban Design, Hyohyung Books, and Liverpool University Press.  

His academic work integrates research, education and international collaboration. His teaching and supervision have been recognised with the XJTLU Teaching Excellence Award (First Prize), the Design School Teaching Excellence Award (First Prize), and the Gold Award for Supervision.

[Current PhD Opportunities]

Seeking future urban scholars
PhD degree awarded by the University of Liverpool

Target intake: June 2027
Full research proposal due: January 2027
Places: Up to 2 candidates

Essential qualities

• A clear ambition to develop as a scholar in urban planning, urban design and urban studies
• High-level academic English, critical thinking and intellectual maturity
• Persistence and resilience through uncertainty, setbacks and repeated revision
• Strong responsibility and commitment to agreed work and timelines

Preferred background

• Professional experience in urban planning, urban design, architecture, public administration or related fields
• Experience in conducting independent research
• Competence in quantitative research and statistics
• Competence in urban design and spatial analysis
• Experience with, or willingness to undertake, fieldwork, interviews, and observation for empirical data collection 

Doctoral training opportunities:

• Develop and submit first-authored papers to SCI(E)/SSCI indexed international journals
• Contribute as a lead or contributing author to international books and book chapters with ISBNs
• Present research at international urban planning and design conferences
• TA: Gain teaching experience through urban design studios and tutorials 
• RA: Support and participate in international conferences, seminars and workshops

Commitment

• A PhD requires sustained commitment to research, supervision and long-term academic development. Applicants should carefully consider their academic goals, personal circumstances and financial readiness, and ensure a sustainable funding plan for the full duration of the programme.

Application and selection

• Initial application by email: Research proposal, CV, Academic writing sample
• Shortlisted candidates: research presentation and interview

• Urban Shrinkage and Smart Decline
• Urban Morphology, Resilience and Regeneration
• Urban Psychology, Perception and Health
• Climate Responsive Urban Design and Thermal Comfort
• Computational Urban Analysis and AI-supported Design

[Selected Research Publications] 

• Jang, G., Jeon, Y., You, Y., & Cho, H. R.* (2026). What health risks arise in shrinking cities? A systematic review. Sustainable Cities and Society, 146, 107502.
• Cho, H. R.* (2026). Vulnerabilities and opportunities for public spaces in global crisis. In Y. Xu & S. Kao (Eds.), Global crises, resilient responses and future cities. Liverpool University Press.
• Cho, H. R.*, Hong, N., Kim, K., Yonto, D., & Brossa, M. (2026). Urban dualities: Rethinking growth and shrinkage in Seoul. Hana Design Publishing.
• Cho, H. R.*, Kim, D., & Kang, S. (2025). The lights of cities. Hyohyung Books.
• Benedetti, J., Wang, Y., Cho, H. R., Verdini, G.*, & Zhu, Y. (Eds.). (2025). What matters & what’s missing: Competences, skills, and tools for urban conservation: A case study in Qingdao. ILAUD.
• Cho, H. R.*, & Zhu, Y. (2025). Sustainable tourism. In What matters & what’s missing: Competences, skills, and tools for urban conservation: A case study in Qingdao. ILAUD.
• Cho, H. R., & Kim, S.* (2023). Attributes of the positive side of urban shrinkage: Evidence from Seoul. Journal of Urban Planning and Development, 149(2), 05023008.
• Cho, H. R., Kim, S.*, & Lee, J. S. (2022). Spaces eliciting negative and positive emotions in shrinking neighbourhoods: A study in Seoul, South Korea, using EEG. Journal of Urban Health, 99(2), 245–259. 
• Current Research Pipeline: Four journal manuscripts are currently submitted for publication, addressing morphological resilience, spatial restructuring and spatiotemporal dynamics of urban shrinkage, and urban thermal comfort.

[Selected Academic & Professional Engagement]

• External PhD Examiner, Interdisciplinary Program in Urban Design, Seoul National University, 3 doctoral theses, 2026 to 2027
• Panel Member, PhD Critical Evaluation, Design School, XJTLU, 2026
• Organiser, 2025 International Design Workshop, XJTLU and University of Seoul, Seoul, 2025
• Organiser, International Planning Symposium: Environmental Planning Responses to Global Crisis, XJTLU, 2025
• Expert Advisor, District Office Redevelopment Strategy, Goyang City, South Korea, 2025
• Chair, Interdisciplinary Design Workshop in Qingdao, XJTLU, University of Westminster and ILAUD, 2024
• Organiser, Smart City Education Symposium: Smart Urban Intervention: Smart City Living Lab, Ho Chi Minh City, 2023

• Assistant Professor, Urban Planning and Design, Design School, Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University - 2023 to present
• Research Fellow, Environmental Planning Institute, Seoul National University - 2022 to 2023
• Teaching and Research Assistant, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Seoul National University - 2017 to 2021
• Administrative Assistant, Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Korea, The Blue House 韩国总统府（青瓦台）总务行政秘书室 - 2008 to 2010

[Teaching & Supervision Awards]

• 1st Prize, XJTLU Teaching Excellence Award, 2025
• 1st Prize, Design School Teaching Excellence Award, XJTLU, 2025
• Gold Award for Supervision, XJTLU Entrepreneur College, 2024

[Student Competition Awards as Supervisor]

• 1st Prize, National Level, Huacan Design Competition, 2025
• 2nd Prize, Hong Kong, Huacan Design Competition, 2025
• 3rd Prize, 16th Yuanye Bei International Urban Design Student Competition, 2025
• Honourable Award, 16th Yuanye Bei International Urban Design Student Competition, 2025
• Honourable Award, 15th Yuanye Bei International Urban Design Student Competition, 2024
• 3rd Prize, 6th Jiangsu University Design Exhibition, 2024

[Module Leadership & Teaching]

• Topics of Urban Design, Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University, 2026
• International Field Class, Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University, 2025
• Urban Design and Theory I, Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University, 2025 to 2026
• Fundamentals of Urban Design, Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University, 2023 to 2024
• Urban Design and Theory II, Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University, 2024 to 2025

[Supervision & Project Mentoring]

• Module Lecturer and Dissertation Supervisor, Urban Planning and Design Dissertation, Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University, 2023 to 2026
• Supervisor, Urban Planning and Design Final Year Project and Dissertation, Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University, 2023 to 2026
• Project Mentor, Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Hub Work Placement, Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University, 2023 to 2026
• Project Mentor, Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Hub Consulting Project, Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University, 2023 to 2026

[Guest Lectures]

• Urban Design Outlook: In Search of New Coordinates, Seoul National University, 2026
• Research on Resource Recycling Urban Design, Seoul National University, 2024
• Introducing Urban Design Planning, Ajou University, 2023
• Smart and Sustainable Urban Regeneration, Seoul National University, 2023
• Green Infrastructure in Smart Cities, Seoul National University, 2022
• Reviewer, GSES Studio Exhibition, Seoul National University, 2022

[Earlier Teaching Experience]

• Environmental Research Design, Seoul National University, 2021
• Quantitative Research Methods in the Urban Environment, Seoul National University, 2020
• Living Lab: Urban Regeneration Project, Technische Universität Darmstadt & Seoul National University, 2018
• Urban Regeneration Studio, Seoul National University, 2017 to 2018