Current Research Group Members
*Kenny as the primary supervisor
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Current Postdoctoral Researchers
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Dr. Chong Chen* {NEW}
Position: Hong Kong Scholar and Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Research area: Environmental chemistry; UN Global Estuaries Monitoring Program
Duration: Feb 2023 - Jul 2025 (SKLMP, CityU)
Dr. Jay Joan Minuti*
Position: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Research area: Marine ecosystem restoration
Duration: Sep 2022 - Jun 2025 (SKLMP, CityU)
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​Dr. Mengyan Liu (co-supervised with Dr. Meng Yan)
Position: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Research area: Environmental chemistry; Microplastics
Duration: Sep 2022 - Jul 2025 (SKLMP, CityU)
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Dr. Qi Wang (co-supervised with Dr. Phoebe Ruan)
Position: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Research area: Environmental chemistry; PFAS
Duration: Sep 2022 - Aug 2026 (SKLMP, CityU)
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Dr. Huiju Lin (co-supervised with Dr. Henry He)
Position: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Research area: Environmental chemistry; Ecotoxicology
Duration: Oct 2021 - Jul 2025 (SKLMP, CityU)
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Dr. Xuemei Mao (co-supervised with Prof. Tong Zhang at HKU)
Position: Research Assistant Professor
Research area: Antibiotic resistome
Duration: June 2021 - Dec 2025 (SKLMP, CityU; HKU)
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Current PhD Students
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SKLMP (CityU) - *under my primary supervision; ^ transferred from Prof. Paul Lam since April 2021
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​Ms. Thea Bradford*
Research area: Eco-engineering of seawalls and ecosystem restoration
Duration: Sep 2021 - Aug 2025 (submitted thesis)
Co-supervisors: Dr. Rebecca Morris and Prof. Stephen Hawkins
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Ms. Yali Huang*
Research area: Environmental policy in relation to ecosystem services
Duration: Sep 2021 - Aug 2025 (submitted thesis)
Co-Supervisor: Prof. Xiaoling Zhang
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Mr. Shaopeng Xu*
Research area: Nano- and micro-plastic pollutants in estuaries
Duration: Sep 2021 - Aug 2025
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Ms. Demilade Adedipe*
Research area: Chemicals of emerging concern in estuaries
Duration: Sep 2021 - Aug 2025
Co-supervisor: Dr. Chong Chen
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Ms. Qiong Luo*
Research area: Chemicals of emerging concern in estuaries
Duration: Sep 2021 - Aug 2025
Co-supervisor: Dr. Wing Lao
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​Ms. Yingyu Bao
Research area: Environmental microbiomes
Duration: Sep 2021 - Aug 2025
Primary Supervisor: Dr. Patrick Lee
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Ms. Yan Jiang*
Research areas: Organotin pollution; Fisheries research
Duration: Sep 2022 - Aug 2026
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Ms. Yao Xie*
Research area: Eco-engineering of seawalls and ecosystem restoration
Duration: Jan 2023 - Dec 2026
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Mr. Liu Zhengqi
Research area: Novel materials for environmental applications
Duration: Sep 2023 - Aug 2027
Co-supervisors: Prof. Alex Wong and Prof. Ziyuan Zeng
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Ms. Evonne Tan*
Research area: Ecological risks of chemicals of emerging concern
Duration: Jan 2024 - Dec 2027
Co-supervisor: Dr. Phoebe Ruan and Dr. Qi Wang
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Mr. Yutong Zhang* {NEW}
Research area: Novel technologies for monitoring and control of PFAS
Duration: Sep 2024 - Aug 2028
Co-supervisor: Dr. Phoebe Ruan and Dr. Qi Wang
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Ms. ​Ruolan Jia* {NEW}
Research area: Global estuaries monitoring of new pollutants
Duration: Jan 2024 - Aug 2028
Co-supervisor: Dr. Chong Chen
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Other PhD Students from University of Science and Technology of China:
Qianhe Liu (since Sep 2020)^
Tong Gao (since Sep 2023)* {NEW}
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Co-supervised PhD Students from Dept. of Public & International Affairs at CityU:
Yujia Xiao (since 2022) - Primary supervisor: Prof. Xiaoling Zhang
Wen Sun (since 2022) - Primary supervisor: Prof. Xiaoling Zhang - Graduated in 2023
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Former Research Group Members
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PhD Graduates
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CityU (Co-supervised with Prof. Paul Lam^; Joint degree with USTC**):
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CityU-15: Dr Wenyuan Fang (July 2025)^
PhD Thesis: Efficacy and mechanism of adsorption coupled with chemical conversion for enhanced removal of organic
micropollutants
Co-supervisor: Prof. Guo-Ping Sheng (USTC)
Current Position: Scientist, a private innovation company on new materials
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CityU-15: Dr Danyang Tao, Sunny (September 2024)^
PhD Thesis: Investigation of occurrence, sources, transport, and preliminary environment risk of liquid crystal
monomers in the South China Sea area
Co-supervisors: Prof. Paul K. S. Lam and Dr. Henry He
Current Position: Postdoctoral Researcher, Hong Kong Polytechnic University
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CityU-14: Dr Nim Tung Calista Yuen (September 2024)^
PhD Thesis: Comprehensive analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in complex environmental matrices: Target analysis, precursor oxidative conversion and extractable organofluorine mass balance
Co-supervisors: Prof. Paul K. S. lam, Prof. Leo Yeung, and Dr. Yuefei Ruan
Current Position: Chemist, SGS
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CityU-13: Dr Chengge Hu (June 2024)**
PhD Thesis: Study on the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics and key influencing factors of typical organic components in marine aerosols of the northern hemisphere
Co-supervisor: Prof. Zhouqing Xie
Current Position: Lecturer, School of Carbon Neutrality Science and Engineering, Anhui University of Science and Technology
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CityU-12: Dr. Jiayong Lao, Wing (September 2023)^
PhD Thesis: Characteristics of Organophosphate Esters in the Greater Bay Area and the Pearl River Estuary: Occurrence in Multi-Environmental Media, Sources, Transport and Transformation Behaviors and Environmental Risks
Co-supervisors: Prof. Paul K. S. Lam and Dr. Yuefei Ruan
Current Position: Postdoctoral Researcher, SKLMP (CityUHK)
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CityU-11: Dr. Mengchen Shen (June 2023)^**
PhD Thesis: Environmental Behavior and Health Risk Evaluation of Typical Organic Pollutants in Indoor and Outdoor Particulates
Co-supervisors: Prof. Gui-jian Liu and Prof. Paul K. S. Lam
Current Position: Postdoctoral Researcher, USTC
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CityU-10: Dr. Bei Jiang (June 2023)**
PhD Thesis: Ship-Based Study on Spatiotemporal Distributions and Key Influencing Processes of Sea Salt and Methanesulfonic Acid Aerosols from the Arctic Ocean to the Southern Ocean
Co-supervisor: Prof. Zhou-qing Xie
Current Position: Lecturer, School of Ecology and Environment, Xinjiang University
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CityU-9: Dr. Yaru Cao, Kathy (May 2023)^
PhD Thesis: Phthalate Esters: Leachability from Microplastics and Their Occurrence and Distribution in the Samples from the Pearl River Delta Region, China
Co-supervisors: Prof. Paul K. S. Lam and Dr. Kai Zhang
Current Position: Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Environmental Health, Peking University
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CityU-8: Dr. Qi Wang (August 2022)^
PhD Thesis: Discovering Novel Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in the Pearl River Estuary and the Adjacent South China Sea: Nontarget Screening, Bioaccumulation Characteristics, and Toxicokinetic-Toxicodynamic Studies
Co-supervisors: Prof. Paul K. S. Lam and Dr. Yuefei Ruan
Current Position: Postdoctoral Researcher, SKLMP (CityUHK)
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CityU-7: Dr. Li Zhou (July 2022)^**
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CityU-6: Dr. Jing Jin (June 2022)^**
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CityU-5: Dr. Li Wang (June 2022)^**
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CityU-4: Dr. Huiju Lin (September 2021)^
Current Position: Research Associate, SKLMP (CityUHK)
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CityU-3: Dr. Jiarui Gu (July 2021)^
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CityU-2: Dr. Rongben Wu (June 2021)^
Current Position: Chemist, The Government Laboratory, HKSAR
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CityU-1: Dr. Jing Li (June 2021)^
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HKU (*Kenny as the primary supervisor)
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HKU-22. Dr. Chi Chiu Lo*
PhD Thesis: Ecological restoration of artificial seawalls via ecological engineering approaches and the potential impact of global warming on a desirable ecosystem function
Year of Graduation: 2023
Current Position: Research Assistant/Postdoc, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong, China
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HKU-21. Dr. Katie Yeung*
PhD Thesis: Environmental Fate, Distribution, Toxicity and Ecological Risk of Retinoic Acids in Coastal Marine Environments
Year of Graduation: 2022
Current Position: Environmental Protection Officer, Environmental Protection Department (EPD), Hong Kong, China
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HKU-20. Dr. Wa Tat Yan*
PhD Thesis: A Feasibility Study on Pearl Oyster Cultivation in Mariculture Zones in Hong Kong
Year of Graduation: 2021
Current Position: Director, Hong Kong Marine Ecological Association, Hong Kong, China
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HKU-19. Dr. Qi Huang*
PhD Thesis: Microbiomes of Marine fish Gut and Sediments: Biodiversity and ARGs
Year of Graduation: 2021
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HKU-18. Dr. Racliffe W. S. Lai*
PhD Thesis: Quantitative hazard assessment of engineered zinc oxide nanoparticles: insights into their regulation
Year of Graduation: 2020
Current Position: Research Assistant Professor, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
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HKU-17. Dr. Ronia Sham*
Ph.D. Thesis: Occurrence and distribution of phenyltin compounds (PTs) in marine organisms in Hong Kong water
Year of Graduation: 2019
Current Position: Senior Specialist, Business Environment Council, Hong Kong, China
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HKU-16. Dr. Shiru Tao*
Ph.D. Thesis: Effects of trawling ban on the diversity of demersal crustaceans (orders: Decapoda and
Stomatopoda) in the marine environment of Hong Kong
Year of Graduation: 2018
Current Position: Fisheries Officer, Agriculture Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), Hong Kong, China
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HKU-15. Dr. Yanny Mak*
Ph.D. Thesis: Effects of the trawl ban on demersal fish communities in the marine environment of Hong Kong, South China
Year of Graduation: 2018
Current Position: Environmental Consultant, AECOM Ltd., Hong Kong, China
HKU-14. Dr. Mana Yung*
Ph.D. Thesis: Influences of temperature and salinity on the physicochemical properties and toxicities of zinc oxide nanoparticles and toxicities to microalgae
Year of Graduation: 2016
Current Position: Research Officer (Health Promotion), Department of Health, Hong Kong SAR, China
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HKU-13. Dr. Astudillo Placencia Juan Carlos*
Ph.D. Thesis: Assessment of nonnative marine invertebrates in fouling communities in Hong Kong
Year of Graduation: 2015
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong, China​
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HKU-12. Dr. Zhen Wang*
Ph.D. Thesis: Comparison of the acute sensitivity to chemicals between tropical and temperate aquatic species through laboratory experiments and metadata analyses
Year of Graduation: 2015
Current Position: Professor, College of Science, Shantou University, China
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HKU-11. Dr. Ryan Ho Leung Ip
Ph.D. Thesis: On some topics in spatio-temporal modelling
Year of Graduation: 2015
Current Position: Senior Lecturer, School of Computing and Mathematics, Charles Sturt University, Australia
HKU-10. Dr. Edward Tak-Chuen Lau*
Ph.D. Thesis: Interacting effects of temperature, an insecticide, and an invasive predator on larval amphibians in tropical Hong Kong
Year of Graduation: 2015
Current Position: Endangered Species Protection Officer, AFCD, Hong Kong, China
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HKU-9. Dr. Elvis Gen-Bo Xu*
Ph.D. Thesis: An integrated environmental risk assessment for marine protected areas in Hong Kong with a special reference to the ecological impacts of endocrine disrupting chemicals
Year of Graduation: 2015 (a Swire's James Henry Scott Scholar)
Current Position: Associate Professor, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
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HKU-8. Dr. Adela Jing Li*
Ph.D. Thesis: Temperature-dependent toxic effects of selected chemicals on marine organisms
Year of Graduation: 2014
Current Position: Professor, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
HKU-7. Dr. Andy Xian-liang Yi*
Ph.D. Thesis: A comprehensive study on the ecological toxicity and risk of triphenylin to aquatic organisms
Year of Graduation: 2014
Current Position: Associate Professor, School of Ocean Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology (Panjin campus), Dalian, China
HKU-6. Dr. Kevin K. Y. Ho*
Ph.D. Thesis: Ecological and human health risks associated with organotin contamination in the marine environment of Hong Kong and Zhenzhen, China
Year of Graduation: 2014
Current Position: Nature Parks Officer, AFCD, Hong Kong, China
HKU-5. Dr. Alice K.Y. Chan
Ph.D. Thesis: Application of fatty acids profiles in field- and laboratory-based investigations of trophic relationships in Hong Kong wetlands
Year of Graduation: 2012
Current Position: Teacher, Po Leung Kuk Tong Nai Kan Junior Secondary College, Hong Kong, China
HKU-4. Dr. Stella W. Y. Wong*
Ph.D. Thesis: Ecotoxicological effects of selected engineered nanomaterials to aquatic organisms in relation to their physicochemical characteristics
Year of Graduation: 2012
Current Position: Environmental Protection Officer, EPD, Hong Kong, China
HKU-3. Dr. Vivien W.W. Bao*
Ph.D. Thesis: Toxicities and ecological risks of selected anti-fouling biocides to marine organisms in Hong Kong.
Year of Graduation: 2009
Current Position: Environmental Protection Officer, EPD, Hong Kong, China
HKU-2. Dr. Kevin W.H. Kwok*
Ph.D. Thesis: On the derivation of water and sediment quality guidelines: some pressing issues and their resolutions
Year of Graduation: 2009
Current Position: Associate Professor, Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
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HKU-1. Dr. Danny C. P. Lau
Ph.D. Thesis: Applications of stoichiometry, stable isotopes, and fatty acids for elucidating the relative importance of allochthonous and autochthonous resources in Hong Kong streams
Year of Graduation: 2008
Current Position: Researcher at the Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment (Section for Ecology and Biodiversity), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden
Other Co-supervised PhD Students (On paper):
Dr Archana Anand; Dr Chiu Yin Chan; Dr Jinlin Liu; Dr Stephen Robert Cartwright
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MPhil Graduates
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Mr. Archer Tik Lung Wong*
M.Phil. Thesis: Ecology and biodiversity of benthic marine molluscs before and after the trawling ban in Hong Kong
Year of Graduation: 2016
Current Position: Lawyer, Paul W. Tse Solicitor, Hong Kong, China
Dr. Jack Chi Ho Ip*
M.Phil. Thesis: Establishing transcriptomic platforms for two common marine molluscan biomonitoring species
Year of Graduation: 2016
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Science Unit, Lingnan University, Hong Kong, China
Ms. Jamius W. Y. Yeung*
M.Phil. Thesis: Evaluation of RNA/DNA ratio in the green-lipped mussel Perna viridis as a potential biomonitoring tool
Year of Graduation: 2010
Immediate Position after Graduation: Environmental Consultant, ERM Ltd., Hong Kong
Ms. Amy Q. Zhang*
M.Phil. Thesis: Ecotoxicities and ecological risks of Irgarol 1051 and its related s-triazine compounds in tropical marine ecosystems
Year of Graduation: 2009
Current Position: Head of Sustainable Solutions and Products for Asia Pacific, Global Markets at Societe Generale Corporate and Investment Banking - SGCIB, Hong Kong, China
Ms. Karen K.Y. Lui*
M.Phil. Thesis: Ecology of commercially important stomatopods in Hong Kong
Year of Graduation: 2006
Current Position: Senior Manager - Environment, Group HSE at CLP Power Hong Kong Limited, Hong Kong
Ms. Valerie C.M. Ho
M.Phil. Thesis: Biology and fishery of the bartail flathead Platycephalus indicus
Year of Graduation: 2006
Current Position: Senior Fisheries Officer, AFCD, Hong Kong
Mr. Wolfie C.H. Lai*
M.Phil. Thesis: Heat shock protein expression in tropical limpets
Year of Graduation: 2006
Immediate Position after Graduation: Technician, National University of Singapore, Singapore
Ms. Justine C.Y. Tsui*
M.Phil. Thesis: Evaluation of telomere length as an age-marker in marine teleosts
Year of Graduation: 2005
Current Position: Senior Health Inspector, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Hong Kong
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Former Postdoctoral Researchers
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Dr. Astudillo Placencia Juan Carlos*
Research area: Eco-shoreline trials
Service duration: Jan 2018 - Sep 2020 (HKU); Oct 2020 - Sep 2022 (SKLMP, CityU)
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Dr. Racliffe W. S. Lai*
Research area: Marine ecotoxicology; Global Estuaries Monitoring Programme
Service duration: Oct 2021 - Aug 2022 (SKLMP, CityU)
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Dr. Guang-Jie Zhou*
Research area: Aquatic toxicology; Advanced wastewater treatment on micro-pollutants' removal
Service duration: Feb 2013 - Jul 2020 (HKU); Aug 2020 - Mar 2022 (SKLMP, CityU)
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Dr. Peng Liu*
Research area: Marine ecology; Eco-engineered shorelines; Ecosystem services
Service duration: Dec 2019 - Dec 2021 (HKU)
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Dr. Shiru Tao*
Research area: Marine biodiversity and ecology; Fisheries management
Service duration: Mar 2018 - Jul 2020 (HKU); Aug 2020 - Jun 2021 (SKLMP, CityU)
Dr. Ronia Sham*
Research area: Marine ecotoxicology
Service duration: Sep 2019 - Dec 2019
Dr. Edward Lau*
Research area: Eco-shoreline designs for sustainable coastal development
Service duration: Oct 2016 - Oct 2018
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Dr. Kevin K. Y. Ho
Research area: Marine ecotoxicology and ecology; Ting Kok+ conservation project
Service duration: May 2014 - Mar 2018
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Dr. Mana Yung*
Research area: Aquatic ecotoxicology of engineered nanomaterials; Eco-shoreline designs
Service duration: Sep 2015 - Nov 2017
Dr. Matthew Perkins*
Postdoctoral projects: Stable isotope analysis; Effect of trawl-ban on ecosystem recovery
Service duration: July 2014 - July 2017
Dr. Stella W. Y. Wong*
Postdoctoral projects: Aquatic ecotoxicology of engineered nanomaterials; Demersal fisheries
Service duration: Nov 2011 - Mar 2013
Dr. Vivien W. W. Bao*
Postdoctoral projects: Marine ecotoxicology of antifouling biocides; Mixture toxicity; Antibiotics in fish farms' sediment
Service duration: Feb 2009 - Jul 2012
Dr. Apostolos Koutsaftis*
Postdoctoral project: Marine ecotoxicology of antifoulant mixtures
Service duration: Jan 2008 - Dec 2008
Dr. Cheung Ma Shan*
Postdoctoral project: Characterization of metallothioneins in marine invertebrates
Service duration: Sep 2007 - Sep 2008
Dr. Tak Cheung Wai*
Postdoctoral project: Using stable isotope and fatty acids to reveal aquatic food webs and energy flows
Service duration: Oct 2004 - Aug 2007 and Nov 2010 - Apr 2012
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Dr. Wai Chuen Ng*
Postdoctoral project: Ecological risks of organotins on marine neogastropods in Hong Kong
Service duration: Jul 2005 - Dec 2005
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Dr. Priscilla T. Y. Leung*
Postdoctoral projects: Molecular ecotoxicology; Marine fish ecology
Service duration: May 2004 - Jul 2004, Dec 2008 - Nov 2009 and Jan 2010 - Nov 2014
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Dr. Alan S. L. Leung*
Postdoctoral project: Biological indicators for monitoring marine pollution
Service duration: Jul 2002 - Dec 2003
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