Address

(Office): Rm 507B, Mong Man Wai Building, CUHK
(Lab): Rm 507E and 508, Mong Man Wai Building, CUHK

 People Benoit T 

Phone

(Office): (852) 3943 6390
(Lab): (852) 3943 0316
Fax  
Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web http://thibodeau-biogeochemistry.rf.gd/
 

 

Education

2011 Ph.D Environmental Sciences, University of Quebec at Montreal, Canada (GEOTOP)
2006 M.Sc Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Quebec at Montreal, Canada (GEOTOP)
2003 B.Sc. Geology (spec. environment), University of Quebec at Montreal, Canada

Positions

  • 2021-present     Assistant Professor, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
  • 2015-2021         Research Assistant Professor, The University of Hong Kong
  • 2013-2015         Researcher, Academy of Sciences, Humanities and Literature, Mainz, Germany c/o Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research (GEOMAR), Kiel, Germany
  • 2010-2013         Postdoctoral Fellow, Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Japan

Research Interests

  • Ocean Biogeochemical Dynamics
  • Stable Isotope Geochemistry
  • Anthropogenic impacts
  • Paleoceanography & paleoclimate

Representative Publications

  1. Thibodeau, B., Allais, L*., Agusto, L. E*., So, M. W. K*., & Cannicci, S. (2023). Isotopes of amino acids give novel insights on nitrogen sources partitioning and trophic position of invertebrates in a subtropical mangrove. Ecological Indicators, 150, 110261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2023.110261
  2. Yau, Y. Y*., Geeraert, N., Baker, D. M., & Thibodeau, B. (2022). Elucidating seasonal changes in the source of atmospheric nitrogen pollution in a heavily urbanised environment using multiple stable isotopes. Science of the total Environment, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154781
  3. Doherty, J.M.*, Ling, Y.F.#, Not, C., Erler, D., Bauch, H.A., Paytan, A., & Thibodeau, B. (2021). Freshening, stratification and deep-water formation in the Nordic Seas during marine isotope stage 11. Quaternary Science Reviews, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2021.107231
  4. Doherty, J.M*., Williams, B., Kline, E., Adey, W., & Thibodeau, B. (2021). Climate-modulated nutrient conditions along the Labrador Shelf: Evidence from nitrogen isotopes in a six-hundred-year-old crustose coralline alga. Paleoceanography & Paleoclimatology, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020PA004149
  5. Geeraert, N., Archana, A., Xu, M. N., Kao, S. J., Baker, D. M & Thibodeau, B. (2021) Investigating the link between Pearl River-induced eutrophication and hypoxia in Hong Kong shallow coastal waters. Science of the Total Environment, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145007
  6. Yau, Y. Y., Baker, D. M., & Thibodeau, B (2020). Quantifying the impact of anthropogenic atmospheric nitrogen deposition on the generation of hypoxia under future emission scenarios in Chinese coastal waters. Environmental Science & Technology, https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.est.0c00706
  7. Thibodeau, B Not, C., Zhu, J., Schmittner, A., Noone, D., Tabor, C., et al. (2018). Last Century Warming Over the Canadian Atlantic Shelves Linked to Weak Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. Geophysical Research Letters, 45(22), 12,376-12,385. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GL080083
  8. Yau, Y. Y., Thibodeau, B., & Not, C. (2018). Impact of cutting meat intake on hidden greenhouse gas emissions in an import-reliant city. Environmental Research Letters, 13(6). https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aabd45
  9. Thibodeau, B., Bauch, D., & Voss, M. (2017). Nitrogen dynamic in Eurasian coastal Arctic ecosystem: Insight from nitrogen isotope. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 31(5), 836–849. https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GB005593
  10. Thibodeau, B., Bauch, H. A., & Pedersen, T. F. (2017). Stratification-induced variations in nutrient utilization in the Polar North Atlantic during past interglacials. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 457, 127–135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2016.09.060

Research Grants

  • 2024-2029, RGC AoE, Study of the Regional Earth System for Sustainable Development under Climate Change in the Greater Bay Area, 87,147,000 HKD
  • 2022-2024, ECF, Establishing ecological redundancy baseline for Hong Kong mangroves, 1,302,050 HKD 
  • 2021-2024, RGC GRF, Reconstruction of the western North Atlantic intermediate water temperature over the last 7,000 years, 666,512 HKD
  • 2019-2022, RGC CRF, SIRMS 2.0: Establishing Asia's premier stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry laboratory in Hong Kong, 7,604,007 HKD
  • 2019-2022, RGC GRF, Developing a high-resolution record of nitrogen isotopes in the sub-polar and polar North Atlantic during two key interglacial periods, 505,298 HKD
  • 2018-2019, Airport Authority Marine Ecology & Fisheries Enhancement Fund, Unravelling the strength behind the ecosystem resilience of Tung Chung mangrove: A high-resolution mapping of its food web, 615,620 HKD
  • 2014-2016, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Individual Research Grant, Unravelling the importance of the Laptev Sea system in the Arctic biogeochemical cycling of nitrogen, 45,600 €

Professional Activities

  • Scientific advisor, Seneca Impact Advisors
  • Advisory Board, Meo Air Analytic Ltd
  • Associate Editor | Frontiers in Marine Sciences | Marine Biogeochemistry | FEB 2018 – APR 2020
  • Review Editor | Frontiers in Marine Sciences | Marine Biogeochemistry | JUN 2015 - FEB 2018

Address

(Office): Rm 288, Science Centre South Block, CUHK
(Lab): Rm 376, 376A and 377, Science Centre South Block, CUHK

 People Martin Tsui 

Phone

(Office): (852) 3943 6123
(Lab): (852) 3943 1307
Fax (852) 2603 7246
Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web https://sites.google.com/view/cuhk-hg-group/home
 

 


Education

2010 Ph.D., University of Minnesota
2002 M.Phil., Chinese University of  Hong Kong
2000 B.Sc., Hong Kong University of Science and Technology


Positions

  • 2021/6-now    Associate Professor, Chinese University of Hong Kong
  • 2022/8-now    Joint appointment with Earth and Environmental Sciences programme, Chinese University of Hong Kong
  • 2022/8-now    Director of Environmental Science Programme, Chinese University of Hong Kong
  • 2023/1-now    Member, State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong
  • 2022/1-12       Member, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, Chinese University of Hong Kong
  • 2021/11-now   Fellow, Institute of Environment, Energy and Sustainability, Chinese University of Hong Kong
  • 2019-2021      Associate Professor, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
  • 2013-2019      Assistant Professor, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
  • 2011-2013      Turner Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Michigan


Research Interests

  • Environmental pollution
  • Ecosystem biogeochemistry
  • Stable isotope applications
  • Environmental molecular applications
  • Environmental human health


Representative Publications

  1. Stinson I, Li H, Tsui MTK, Ku P, Ulus Y, Cheng Z, Lam HM (2024) Tree foliage as a net accumulator of highly toxic methylmercury. Scientific Reports 14: 1757.
  2. Zhong H, Tang w, Li Z, Sonne C, Lam SS, Zhang X, Kwon SY, Rinklebe J, Nunes LM, Yu RQ, Gu B, Hintelmann H, Tsui MTK, Zhao J, Zhou XQ, Wu M, Liu B, Hao Y, Chen L, Zhang B, Tan W, Zhang X, Ren H, Liu YR (2024) Soil Geobacteraceae predict neurotoxic methylmercury in rice. Nature Food 5: 301-311.
  3. Tsui MTK, Kwon SY, Li M, Bishop K (2023) Revisiting the relationship between mercury emission and bioaccumulation. Eco-Environment & Health 2: 1-2.
  4. Lei P, Yu RQ, Kong Y, Bertilsson S, Tsui MTK, Jiang T, Zhao J, Liu YR, Joerg R, Zhong H (2023) Properly interpret metabolic inhibition results to identify primary mercury methylating microbes. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology
  5. Ullah R, Tsui MTK, Chow A, Chen H, Williams C, Ligaba-Osena A (2023) Micro(nano)plastic pollution in terrestrial ecosystem: Emphasis on impacts of polystyrene on soil biota, plants, animals, and humans. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 195: 252.
  6. Ulus Y, Tsui MTK, Sakar A, Nyarko P, Aitmbarek NB, Ardón M, Chow AT (2022) Declines of methylmercury along a salinity gradient in a low-lying coastal wetland ecosystem at South Carolina, USA. Chemosphere 308: 136310
  7. Li H, Tsui MTK, Ku P, Chen H, Yin Z, Dahlgren RA, Parikh SJ, Wei J, Hoang TC, Chow AT, Cheng Z, Zhu XM (2022) Impacts of forest fire ash on aquatic mercury cycling. Environmental Science & Technology 56: 11835-11844.
  8. Yang YH, Kwon SY, Tsui MTK, Motta LC, Washburn SJ, Park J, Kim M, Shing KH (2022) Ecological traits of fish for mercury biomonitoring: Insights from compound specific nitrogen and stable mercury isotopes. Environmental Science & Technology 56: 10808-10817.
  9. Li M, Kwon SY, Poulin B, Tsui MTK, Motta L, Cho M (2022) Internal dynamics and metabolism of mercury in biota: A review of insights from mercury stable isotopes. Environmental Science & Technology 56: 9182-9195.
  10. Liu J, Li Y, Duan D, Peng G, Li P, Lei P, Zhong H, Tsui MTK, Pan K (2022) Effects and mechanisms of organic matter regulating the methylmercury dynamics in mangrove sediments. Journal of Hazardous Materials 432: 128690.


Research Grants

  • 2025-2027, Research Grants Council (RGC) Earmarked Grants, General Research Fund, Ecosystem controls on the production and degradation of highly toxic methylmercury in upland vegetated landscapes, $910,742 (HKD)
  • 2024-2025, Chinese University of Hong Kong, IdeaBooster Fund, A green solution to agriculture: Development of eco-friendly biochar and validation in local crop production, $100,000 (HKD)
  • 2024-2026, Research Grants Council (RGC) Earmarked Grants, General Research Fund, Production of methylmercury and its linkage to biomagnification in food webs at a subtropical mangrove ecosystem, $877,079 (HKD)
  • 2023-2025, Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF), Environmental Research, Technology Demonstration and Conference Projects, Baseline characterization of mercury levels and its potential toxicity in shorebirds in Mai Po Nature Reserve and Deep Bay, $495,200 (HKD)
  • 2023-2025, State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Examination of ecological, microbial, and geochemical factors in determining bioaccumulation of highly toxic methylmercury in natural mangrove ecosystems, $500,000 (HKD)
  • 2019-2025, National Science Foundation (USA) Division of Earth Sciences, Collaborative Proposal: Response of mercury cycling to disturbance and restoration of low-gradient forested watersheds, $164,740 (USD) (formerly as PI)


Awards

  • 2015, Candace Bernard & Robert Glickman Dean’s Professorship, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
  • 2011, Honorable Mention, Dissertation Award, Universities Council on Water Resources
  • 2010, Turner Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Michigan
  • 2009, Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship, University of Minnesota
  • 2009, Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant, U.S. National Science Foundation
  • 2007, Chris Lee Award for Metals Research, Society Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry


Professional Activities

Editoral Services

  • Editorial Board member, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (2021-now)
  • Associate Editor, Journal of Environmental Quality (2017-2022)

Research Proposal Review

  • National Science Foundation (USA)
  • Research Grant Council (Hong Kong)

Manuscript Review (selected journals)

  • PNAS, Nature Geoscience, Environmental Science & Technology, Science of the Total Environment, etc.

 

 

Address

(Office): Rm 608, Mong Man Wai Building, CUHK
(Lab): Rm 610 and 618, Mong Man Wai Building, CUHK

   People LI Cheng
 

Phone

(Office): (852) 3943 7661
(Lab): (852) 3943 5042

    
Fax (852) 2603 7246
  
Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  
     


Education

2015 Ph.D., The University of Queensland
2011 B.Sc., Northwest A & F University


Positions

  • Assistant Professor, School of Life Sciences, CUHK


Research Interests

  • Starch structure-function relationships
  • Carbohydrates and health
  • Cereal chemistry and processing


Representative Publications

  1. Gong, B., Cheng, L., Gilbert, R. G., & Li, C. (2019). Distribution of short to medium amylose chains are major controllers of in vitro digestion of retrograded rice starch. Food Hydrocolloids, 96, 634-643.
  2. Li, C., Luo, J., Zhang, C., & Yu, W. (2020). Causal relations among starch chain-length distributions, short-term retrogradation and cooked rice texture. Food Hydrocolloids, 108, 106064.
  3. Li, C., Yu, W., Wu, P., & Chen, X. (2020). Current in vitro digestion systems for understanding food digestion in human upper gastrointestinal tract. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 96, 114-126.
  4. Li, C., Hu, Y., & Li, E. (2021). Effects of amylose and amylopectin chain-length distribution on the kinetics of long-term rice starch retrogradation. Food Hydrocolloids, 111, 106239.
  5. Li, C., Hu, Y., Gu, F., & Gong, B. (2021). Causal relations among starch fine molecular structure, lamellar/crystalline structure and in vitro digestion kinetics of native rice starch. Food & Function, 12, 682-695.
  6. Li, C., & Hu, Y. (2022). In vitro and animal models to predict the glycemic index value of carbohydrate-containing foods. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 120, 16-24.
  7. Li, C., & Hu, Y. (2022). Modeling of in vitro digestogram by consecutive reaction kinetics model reveals the nature of starch digestive characteristics. Food Hydrocolloids, 124, 107203.
  8. Li, E., Cao, P., Cao, W., & Li, C. (2022). Relations between starch fine molecular structures with gelatinization property under different moisture content. Carbohydrate Polymers, 278, 118955.
  9. Shao, S., Li, E., Yu, S., Yi, X., Zhang, X., Yang, C., Gilbert, R. G., & Li, C. (2023). Subtle differences in starch fine molecular structure are associated with large differences in texture and digestibility of Chinese steamed bread. Food Hydrocolloids, 134, 108090.
  10. Li, E., Lv, J., Huo, D., Jia, B., & Li, C. (2023). Importance of amylose chain-length distribution in determining starch gelatinization and retrogradation property of wheat flour in the presence of different salts. Carbohydrate Polymers, 308, 120648.


Research Grants

  1. 2021-2023, Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), Investigation of the effects of amylose on the digestibility of rice starch based on the evolution of its supramolecular structures during gelatinization and retrogradation, RMB¥ 300000.
  2. 2019-2022, Jiangsu Natural Science Foundation, The mechanism of amylose fine molecular structure affecting the digestibility of rice starch at the retrograded state, RMB¥ 200000.
  3. 2019-2022, Jiangsu Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program, Development of resistant starch in baked foods, RMB¥ 150000.

 

Patents

  1. Yu, W., Zou, W., Li, C. (2022) A novel method for quickly measuring the glycemic index of carbohydrate, Invention patent, (ZL202110458696.2).
  2. Li, S., Cao, P., Wang, J., Li, E., Li, C. (2022) A novel method to prepare starch nano-fiber based on the electrospinning, Invention patent, (ZL202111253929.1)


Awards

  • World’s Top 2% Most-cited Scientists by Stanford University, 2021
  • Jiangsu Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program, 2019
  • Top Young Scientist Presentation Prize of the International Symposium on Advances in Cereal Science for Asia, 2015
  • 64th Australian Cereal Chemistry Conference travel award, 2014
  • American Association of Cereal Chemists International (AACCI) annual meeting student travel award, 2013


Professional Activities

  • Associate editor, Frontiers in Nutrition
  • Guest editor for Foods, MDPI
  • Guest editor for Gels, MDP
  • Guest editor for Frontiers in Nutrition

 

Address

(Office): Room G05, Science Centre East Block
(Lab): RRSSB G02 and G04

 People Terry Lung 

Phone

(Office): (852) 3943 6286
(Lab): ---
Fax ---
Email ---
Web ---
 

 


Education

Ph.D. University of Waterloo
M.Phil. The University of Hong Kong
B.Sc. The University of Hong Kong


Positions

  • 2024 – present    Assistant Professor, School of Life Sciences, CUHK
  • 2022 – 2024    Research Assistant Professor, School of Biological Sciences, HKU
  • 2013 – 2021    Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Biological Sciences, HKU


Research Interests

  • Plant lipid biochemistry
  • Lipid signaling mechanisms in plants
  • Phytosterol biosynthesis
  • Plant stress tolerance


Representative Publications

  1. Lung SC*, Lai SH, Wang H, Zhang X, Liu A, Guo ZH, Lam HM, Chye ML* (2022) Oxylipin signaling in salt-stressed soybean is modulated by ligand-dependent interaction of Class II acyl-CoA-binding proteins with lipoxygenase. Plant Cell 34: 1117–1143
  2. Azlan NS, Guo ZH, Yung WS, Wang Z, Lam HM, Lung SC*, Chye ML* (2021) In silico analysis of acyl-CoA-binding protein expression in soybean. Frontiers in Plant Science 12: 646938
  3. Liao P#, Lung SC#, Chan WL, Bach TJ, Lo C, Chye ML (2020) Overexpression of HMG-CoA synthase promotes Arabidopsis root growth and adversely affects glucosinolate biosynthesis. Journal of Experimental Botany 71: 272–289
  4. Lung SC, Chye ML (2019) Arabidopsis acyl-CoA-binding proteins regulate the synthesis of lipid signals. New Phytologist 223: 113–117
  5. Lung SC*, Liao P, Yeung EC, Hsiao AS, Xue Y, Chye ML* (2018) Arabidopsis ACYL-COA-BINDING PROTEIN1 interacts with STEROL C4-METHYL OXIDASE1-2 to modulate gene expression of homeodomain-leucine zipper IV transcription factors. New Phytologist 218: 183–200
  6. Lung SC, Liao P, Yeung EC, Hsiao AS, Xue Y, Chye ML (2017) Acyl-CoA-binding protein ACBP1 modulates sterol synthesis during embryogenesis. Plant Physiology 174: 1420–1435
  7. Lung SC, Chye ML (2016) The binding versatility of plant acyl-CoA-binding proteins and their significance in lipid metabolism. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta – Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids 1861: 1409–1421
  8. Lung SC, Smith MD, Weston JK, Gwynne W, Secord N, Chuong SDX (2014) The C-terminus of Bienertia sinuspersici Toc159 contains essential elements for its targeting and anchorage to the chloroplast outer membrane. Frontiers in Plant Science 5: 722
  9. Lung SC, Chuong SDX (2012) A transit peptide-like sorting signal at the C terminus directs the Bienertia sinuspersici preprotein receptor Toc159 to the chloroplast outer membrane. Plant Cell 24: 1560–1578
  10. Lung SC, Yanagisawa M, Chuong SDX (2012) Isolation of dimorphic chloroplasts from the single-cell C4 species Bienertia sinuspersici. Plant Methods 8: 8

* co-corresponding / # co-first authors


Research Grants

  • 2022-2023, Seed Fund for Basic Research for New Staff, University Research Committee, HKU, Mechanistic studies on lipid-mediated signaling in salt-stressed soybean, HKD$150,000, PI
  • 2022-2023, Seed Fund for Basic Research, University Research Committee, HKU, Investigations on the regulatory mechanisms of stress-responsive acyl-CoA-binding proteins in soybean, HKD$143,500, Co-I (PI: Prof. Mee-Len Chye)
  • 2020-2023, General Research Fund, Research Grants Council of Hong Kong SAR, Elucidating the roles of Arabidopsis STEROL C4-METHYL OXIDASE1-3 in plant development, HKD$1,175,616, Co-I (PI: Prof. Mee-Len Chye)
  • 2018-2019, Seed Fund for Basic Research, University Research Committee, HKU, Functional characterization of STEROL C4-METHYL OXIDASE1-3 in Arabidopsis, HKD$96,190, Co-I (PI: Prof. Mee-Len Chye)
  • 2014-2015, Small Project Funding, University Research Committee, HKU, The role of Arabidopsis acyl-CoA-binding protein 2 in sterol biosynthesis during embryogenesis, HKD$57,600, (PI: Prof. Mee-Len Chye)


Awards

  • 2013, W.B. Pearson Medal, University of Waterloo
  • 2013, Ragai Ibrahim Prize Honorable Mention, Canadian Society of Plant Biologists
  • 2012, Graduate Student Research Prize, Canadian Council of University Biology Chairs
  • 2010, Best Oral Presentation, Canadian Society of Plant Physiologists Eastern Regional Meeting
  • 2006, Award for Outstanding Research Postgraduate Student, HKU


Professional Activities

  • Review Editor, Frontiers in Plant Science

 

Half of the human population carries Helicobacter pylori, the only known bacterium that survives in the extreme acidic environment inside the stomach. This bacterium damages the mucous coating of the gut after which the stomach acid eats away the sensitive organ lining resulting in peptic ulcers. The infection by this bacterium is also well documented to be a high risk factor of stomach cancer. Despite the effective mean with high efficacy of using antibiotics to battle with this bacterium, claims of antibiotic-resistance over the years have urged the development for new therapies.

'The key to the survival of Helicobacter pylori in the acidic bath in the human stomach is its use of an enzyme called urease to neutralize gastric acid', said Professor Wong Kam-Bo of the Centre for Protein Science and Crystallography, School of Life Sciences. Urease requires two nickel ions to be functional. Professor Wong and his research team discovered that, using X-ray crystallography to visualize proteins with atomic resolution, the assembly of the urease with the nickel ions involves four helper proteins: UreE, UreF, UreG and UreH. They further revealed that disrupting the formation of the helper protein complex forbids the channeling of the two nickel ions in place and thus inhibits the synthesis of the active urease that is essential to survival.

These conspicuous results have been released lately as 'Paper of the Week' in Journal of Biological Chemistry. Professor Wong said, 'With a better understanding on how the molecular machine is assembled, we can now proceed to study ways that dissemble it. As active urease is the key to the survival of Helicobacter pylori, new drugs designed to target this complex may well be a novel and viable strategy to eradicate the pathogen.' The team is now designing drugs to inhibit assembly of this molecular machine that keeps Helicobacter pylori alive in human stomach.

KBW 1    KBW 2