Dr Ronald Mo

Bio

Ron is an experienced academic whose work brings together education, research, and industry in equal measure. He collaborates closely with academic and professional services teams and industry partners to deliver high-quality learning experiences and support student success, with involvement in curriculum design and student recruitment.

He holds a PhD in Computer Science and Engineering from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (2017), where his doctoral research explored the relationship between music and emotion. This work was presented at the International Computer Music Conference and published in the Journal of the Audio Engineering Society. Before joining UCA, he held senior research roles at Tencent Music Entertainment and Huawei Hong Kong, as well as served as a Lecturer in Computer Science and Programme Leader for the BSc (Hons) Game Development at the University of Sunderland. He has accumulated around 20 peer-reviewed publications across his career.

His research sits at the intersection of computing and music, a field he approaches not only as a scientist but also as a professional musician and music producer. His recent work centers on developing intelligent systems that can analyze and interpret human voice and singing performance to better understand vocal characteristics, support music education, and advance human-computer interaction. He has also contributed to several Innovate UK-funded projects and other collaborations that bring scientific ideas into real-world use.

For Ron, education is about helping students develop not just the skills to use technology, but the analytical thinking to question it and the confidence to apply it in ways that matter. Whether working with undergraduate or postgraduate students, he places equal emphasis on rigorous learning and personal development, preparing students to navigate a rapidly evolving AI-driven world while ensuring that every student, regardless of background or experience, feels genuinely supported and challenged to reach their potential.