Prior to joining the lab, Phyllis completed her M.S. at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and then worked at BGI-Hong Kong, with the main duty of Exon-sequencing and cancer genotyping. Her current research goals include deciphering the role of histone modifications in neocentromere formation and analyze the dynamic changes of histone modifications during neocentromere formation in holocentric Caenorhabditis elegans. To address these questions, she is using C. elegans artificial chromosomes as a robust system to study new centromere formation especially tracing the histone modification changes in the course of new centromere establishment.
Phyllis Jing ZHU
Post-doctoral fellow
Jenny is now a Post-doctoral fellow in the lab. Before joining the lab, she received her M.S. from Biomedical Engineering in The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. She joined the lab as a PhD student.
She is currently working on the effects of anoxia on cellular mechanisms.
She loves literature (especially French literature), piano music and sports (swimming, aerobics and taekwondo).
Jenny ZHU
Post-doctoral fellow
Jiang Ling is currently a Post-doctoral Fellow in the lab. She previously earned her M.S. in Biological Sciences through a joint program between HIT and SUSTech. She also completed her Ph.D. as a joint student at HKU in collaboration with SUSTech. Her research focuses on nuclear peripheral chromosomal localization and the functional significance of this specific chromosome positioning under various conditions. Outside of her scientific pursuits, she enjoys exploring new foods, hiking, and cooking.
JIANG Ling
Post-doctoral fellow
Hok Ning Tsui (Emily) is currently working as a Post-doctoral Fellow in the lab. Her work focuses on exploring the NuRD component MBD-2 in C. elegans. Interestingly Cel-MBD-2 exhibit NuRD-independent binding across genome, raising interesting questions in the switch of epigenetic properties in a methylation-free context. As a Christian, she views studying molecular biology as a way of appreciating the creation of God.
Emily Hok Ning TSUI
Post-doctoral fellow
GUO Qiao
HKU-SZBL PhD student
Technician:
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Abby Mak (ascmak@hku.hk)
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Undergraduates:
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Kanwal Anmol, Internship, 2025
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Sajid Reda, Internship, 2025
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Eric Chun Yuen Wong, Internship, 2025
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Yuqi Su, Summer Research Fellowship, 2025
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Kin Ming Tsoi, Final Year Project, 2025-2026
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Soumik Ojha, Final Year Project, 2025-2026
Alumni (feel free to keep me posted on what you are up to!):
Post-graduates & Post-docs: ​
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Charmaine Yan Yu Wong, PhD student, 2013-2018; Postdoctoral Fellow, 2019-2024 [Next position: Post-doctoral position in Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong]
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Eric Yue Wang, PhD student, 2018-2022; Postdoctoral Fellow, 2023 [Next position: Healthcare & Biotech Application Specialist, BioRad Laboratories]
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Wawa Yuk Wa Lee, MPhil student, 2020-2022 [Next position: Research assistant in Canada]
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William Zhongyang Lin, PhD student, 2013-2018; Postdoctoral Fellow, 2019-2021 [Next Position: Associate Professor in Shantou University, China]
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Jason Ka Ho Mak, MPhil student, 2016-2020 [Next position: PhD student in Prof. Andrea Musacchio Lab, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology]
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Yick Hin Ling, PhD student, 2013-2017; Postdoctoral Fellow, 2017-2019 [Next Position: Post-doctoral Fellow in Prof. Carl Wu’s Lab, Johns Hopkins University, USA]
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Wei Zhang, PhD Student, 2012-2016; Postdoctoral Fellow, 2016-2018 [Current position: Associate Professor at the Center for Drug Research and Development, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Pharmaceutical Preparations, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, China]
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Sophia Lam, Postdoctoral Fellow, 2017-2018
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Kevin Cheng, MPhil Student, 2013-2015 [Next position: Research Assistant, Centre for Genomics & Child Health, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London]
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Bernard Lee, Final Year Project Student, 2011-2012; MPhil Student, 2012-2014 [Next position: Croucher PhD student, Department of Pathology, HKU]
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Kyle Law, PDF, 2013-2015
Undergraduates:
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Zahra Lotfifard, Internship, 2025
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Riye Lee, Directed Studies 2025
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Brayden Kwun Ming Lee, Final Year Project Student, 2021-2022
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Minjun Paul Choi, Final Year Project Student, 2021-2022
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Lilian Wu (University College London), Volunteer, 2020-2021
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Ritika Jogani, Final Year Project, 2020-2021
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Audrey Wu, Intern, 2019
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Jasmine Chit Ying Lau, Student Volunteer, 2018
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Keith Yip, Summer Research Fellowship Student, 2018
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Judith Junran Yan, University Research Fellowship Student, Final Year Project Student, 2017-2018 [Next position: PhD student, UBC]
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Crystal Tang, Final Year Project Student, 2017-2018 [Next position: MSc, Osaka University; PhD, Tokyo Institute of Technology]
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Winsum Wing Sum Chan, Final Year Project Student, 2017-2018
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Clarissa Linardi, Part-time Research Assistant, 2017-2018
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Raissa Regina Ng, Internship Student, 2018, Summer Research Fellowship Student, 2017
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Joe Kai Ching Lam, Summer Research Fellowship Student, 2017
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Katie Chin Ching Tsoi (Imperial College London), Summer Volunteer, 2017
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Gami Lok Yee Hiok, Part-time Research Assistant, 2016-2017 [Next posiiton: MBBS student, HKU]
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Scarlet Tsz Hing Cho, Directed Study Student, 2016-2017
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Marvin Yu Cheng, Directed Study Student, 2016-2017
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Trupti Naik, Summer Internship Student, 2016
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Monique Lai, Part-time Research Assistant, 2014-2015; Currently: Research assistant, School of Nursing, Polytechnic University
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Amy Liwen Wu, Summer Research Fellowship Student, 2013; Final Year Project Student, 2014-2015 [Next position: MSc student, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health]
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Clarence Yeung (University of British Columbia), Summer Student Research Assistant, 2014
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Rachel Chan (McGill University), Summer Student Research Assistant
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Ken Cho, Undergraduate Volunteer, 2013-2014; Currently: Research Assistant, Department of Computing Science, HKU
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Yorky Wong, Final Year Project Student, 2012-2013
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Leo Lao, Summer Internship Student, 2012
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Disha Parikh, Summer Helper, 2012; Directed Study Student, 2012-2013;
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Anjana Kulasekara, Summer Research Fellowship Student, 2012
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Horace Chan, Directed Study Student, 2011-2012
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Frank Ye, Undergraduate Volunteer, 2011-2012 [Next position: PhD student at the Genome Science and Technology (GSAT) program, University of British Columbia, Canada]
Research Opportunities:
We are seeking enthusiastic and motivated members to join our team as:
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Post-doctoral fellows (to be commenced before May 2026)
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PhD and MPhil students
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Topics: Gene Regulation and Epigenetics (e.g. histone modifications, small RNA pathways, and environmental influences on transgenerational inheritance) utilizing interdisciplinary approaches, including Developmental and Cell Biology, Genomics, Genetics, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in the models nematode C. elegans, yeast and human cells.
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Strong candidates must have a BSc, MSc, or MPhil in a related field.
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Previous independent research experience is appreciated. Experience in molecular biology, microscopy, cell biology, and genetic analysis would be an asset.
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English requirements can be found in HKU Graduate School website
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Scholarship opportunities include HK PhD fellowship and HKUPS
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Interested applicants should send your CV, transcript with a description of previous research experience and research interests to Dr. Karen Yuen (kwyyuen@hku.hk), before applying to HKU Graduate School by Dec 1.
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HKU undergraduate students for Final Year Projects, Directed Studies, and Summer Research Fellowship (SRF).
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Overseas undergraduate students can apply for Summer Research Programme in HKU.
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