Current Research Group Members
*Kenny as the primary supervisor
Current Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr. Chong Chen* {NEW}
Position: Hong Kong Scholar and Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Research area: Environmental chemistry; UN Global Estuaries Monitoring Program
Duration: Feb 2023 - Feb 2025 (SKLMP, CityU)
Dr. Jay Joan Minuti*
Position: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Research area: Marine ecosystem restoration
Duration: Sep 2022 - Jun 2023 (SKLMP, CityU)
Dr. Diana Xiaoyu Xu*
Position: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Research area: Microplastics pollution
Duration: July 2022 - Jun 2023 (SKLMP, CityU)
Dr. Mengyan Liu (co-supervised with Dr. Meng Yan)
Position: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Research area: Environmental chemistry; Microplastics
Duration: Sep 2022 - Aug 2024 (SKLMP, CityU)
Dr. Qi Wang (co-supervised with Dr. Phoebe Ruan)
Position: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Research area: Environmental chemistry; PFAS
Duration: Sep 2022 - Aug 2024 (SKLMP, CityU)
Dr. Huiju Lin (co-supervised with Dr. Henry He)
Position: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Research area: Environmental chemistry; Ecotoxicology
Duration: Oct 2021 - Sep 2024 (SKLMP, CityU)
Dr. Xuemei Mao (co-supervised with Prof. Tong Zhang at HKU)
Position: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Research area: Antibiotic resistome
Duration: June 2021 - June 2024 (SKLMP, CityU; HKU)
Current PhD Students
HKU
Mr. Chi Chiu Lo*
Research area: Eco-engineered shorelines
Duration: Sep 2018 - Mar 2023 (Submitted Thesis for Exam)
Co-supervisor and Mentor: Dr. Moriaki Yasuhara and Dr. Janet K. Y. Chan
SKLMP (CityU) - ^ transferred from Prof. Paul Lam since April 2021
Ms. Yaru Cao, Kathy*^
Research area: Phthalate esters in the marine environment of the Pearl River Delta region
Duration: Sep 2019 - Aug 2023 (Passed Oral Defense on 23 March 2023)
Co-supervisors: Prof. Paul K. S. Lam and Dr. Kai Zhang
Ms. Jiayong Lao, Wing*^
Research area: Characteristics of organophosphate esters in a heavily human-impacted estuary
Duration: Sep 2019 - Aug 2023
Co-supervisors: Prof. Paul K. S. Lam and Dr. Yuefei Ruan
Ms. Nim Tung Calista Yuen*^
Research area: Oxidizable precursors of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances in marine environments
Duration: Sep 2020 - Aug 2024
Co-supervisors: Prof. Paul K. S. lam and Dr. Yuefei Ruan
Ms. Sunny Dan-yang Tao*^
Research area: Occurrence of liquid crystal monomers in marine environments
Duration: Sep 2020 - Aug 2024
Co-supervisor: Prof. Paul K. S. Lam and Dr. Henry He
Ms. Thea Braford*
Research area: Eco-engineering of seawalls and ecosystem restoration
Duration: Sep 2021 - Aug 2025
Co-supervisor: Dr. Rebecca Morris
Ms. Demilade Adedipe*
Research area: Chemicals of emerging concern in estuaries
Duration: Sep 2021 - Aug 2025
Ms. Qiong Luo*
Research area: Chemicals of emerging concern in estuaries
Duration: Sep 2021 - Aug 2025
Mr. Shaopeng Xu*
Research area: Nano- and micro-plastic pollutants in estuaries
Duration: Sep 2021 - Aug 2025
Ms. Yali Huang*
Research area: Environmental policy in relation to ecosystem services
Duration: Sep 2021 - Aug 2025
Co-Supervisor: Prof. Xiaoling Zhang
Ms. Yingyu Bao
Research area: Environmental microbiomes
Duration: Sep 2021 - Aug 2025
Primary Supervisor: Dr. Patrick Lee
Ms. Yan Jiang* {NEW}
Research areas: Organotin pollution; Fisheries research
Duration: Sep 2022 - Aug 2026
Ms. Yao Xie* {NEW}
Research area: Eco-engineering of seawalls and ecosystem restoration
Duration: Jan 2023 - Dec 2026
Other PhD Students from University of Science and Technology of China:
Qianhe Liu (since 2020)^
Chengge Hu (since 2020)^
Mengchen Shen (since 2019)^
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
Current Research Assistant (at SKLMP, CityU)
Ms. Grace H. Y. Chau (Project: Oysters Save Our Seas) (till Aug 2022)
Ms. Hiu Laam Tsoi (till Dec 2023)
Ms. Wing Sum Leung (till Aug 2024)
Former Research Group Members
PhD Graduates
CityU (Co-supervised with Prof. Paul Lam^; Joint degree with USTC**):
CityU-8: Dr. Qi Wang (August 2022)^
PhD Thesis Title: 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
CityU-7: Dr. Li Zhou (July 2022)^**
CityU-6: Dr. Jing Jin (June 2022)^**
CityU-5: Dr. Li Wang (June 2022)^**
CityU-4: Dr. Huiju Lin (September 2021)^
CityU-3: Dr. Jiarui Gu (July 2021)^
CityU-2: Dr. Rongben Wu (June 2021)^
CityU-1: Dr. Jing Li (June 2021)^
HKU (*Kenny as the primary supervisor)
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, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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
HKU-19. Dr. Qi Huang*
PhD Thesis: Microbiomes of Marine fish Gut and Sediments: Biodiversity and ARGs
Year of Graduation: 2021
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
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: Manager, Oceans Pollution, WWF-HK, Hong Kong, China
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, Hong Kong, China
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
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
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
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, Agriculture Fisheries and Conservation Department, Hong Kong, China
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
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
Immediate Position after Graduation: Environmental Consultant, Mott McDonald Ltd., 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, Environmental Protection Department, 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: Assistant Professor, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
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
MPhil Graduates
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
Immediate Position after Graduation: Environmental Protection Inspector, Environmental Protection Department, 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: Research Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist 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: ESG Solutions & Product Strategist, APAC, Global Markets, 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: Fisheries Officer, Agriculture Fisheries and Conservation Department, 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: Health Inspector, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Hong Kong
Former Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr. Astudillo Placencia Juan Carlos*
Research area: Eco-shoreline trials
Service duration: Jan 2018 - Sep 2020 (HKU); Oct 2020 - Sep 2022 (SKLMP, CityU)
Dr. Racliffe W. S. Lai*
Research area: Marine ecotoxicology; Global Estuaries Monitoring Programme
Service duration: Oct 2021 - Aug 2022 (SKLMP, CityU)
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)
Dr. Peng Liu*
Research area: Marine ecology; Eco-engineered shorelines; Ecosystem services
Service duration: Dec 2019 - Dec 2021 (HKU)
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
Dr. Kevin K. Y. Ho
Research area: Marine ecotoxicology and ecology; Ting Kok+ conservation project
Service duration: May 2014 - Mar 2018
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
Dr. Wai Chuen Ng*
Postdoctoral project: Ecological risks of organotins on marine neogastropods in Hong Kong
Service duration: Jul 2005 - Dec 2005
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
Dr. Alan S. L. Leung*
Postdoctoral project: Biological indicators for monitoring marine pollution
Service duration: Jul 2002 - Dec 2003
