Dr. Alvin Chan obtained extensive industrial experience before joining the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 1998, where he is currently an associate professor. After graduating from the University of Leeds, he joined Chartered Industrial of Singapore as a software engineer responsible for the development of software for military radio systems used in combat and hostile environments. Having completed his PhD study at the University of New South Wales in 1995, he was employed as a research scientist by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO). He returned to Singapore in 1997 and was employed as a Program Manager by the Center for Wireless Communications, at the National University of Singapore (now under A*STAR). Dr. Chan’s current research interests focus on several key areas including (but not limited to): adaptive middleware, mobile computing, context-aware computing and service-oriented computing, among others.

Dr. Chan has been providing consultancy services to both local and overseas companies. In 2003, he was awarded the Most Active New Consultant and Highest Overseas Consultancy awards by the university. In addition, he was the recipient of the 2005 Faculty of Engineering's Teaching award.