The Baker Lab
The Baker Lab Team
Postdocs
Dr. Haoya Tong Contact: tonghy@hku.hk
Ph.D. (HKUST)
B.Sc. (Nanjing University)
I specialize in coral reef ecology, with a keen focus on the molecular ecology of corals. My research primarily explores coral resilience, acclimation and adaptation, alongside conservation efforts in the context of human activities and ongoing climate change. Employing an integrative approach that encompasses physiology, genomics, metabolomics, and modeling, my goal is to unravel the response mechanisms of the coral holobiont to diverse stressors. Through this, I aim to identify and develop effective strategies for coral conservation.
Dr. Isis Guibert Contact: iguibert@hku.hk
Ph.D. (Sorbonne)
M.Sc., B.Sc. (Aix Marseille)
My research is broadly centred on investigating the biodiversity and how anthropogenic stressors influence the biodiversity, as well as understanding how changes in the abiotic environment impact symbiotic organism’s physiology. I have taken an integrative approach combining cytology, chemistry (LC/MS, GC/MS, SIA) and genetics (metabarcoding, metagenomics) to investigate these questions.
Dr. Maria E. A. Santos (a.k.a. Duda) Contact: santosme@hku.hk
Ph.D. Marine and Environmental Sciences (University of Ryukyus)
M.Sc. Coastal and Oceanic Systems (Federal University of Paraná
B.S. Oceanography (Federal University of Santa Catarina)
My work focuses on ecology, evolution, and conservation. Although my main expertise is corals, my interests are broad, including projects on microbes, elephants, and mammoths. My research combines fieldwork with molecular and stable isotope analyses to clarify the processes that shape the distribution of species in space and time, especially in the face of ongoing environmental changes.
I am passionate about Brazilian music, good beer, and summertime (even better when combined).
Graduate Students
Jimena Paredes-De la Vega Contact: u3011562@connect.hku.hk
Ph.D. Student (HKU-SWIMS)
BSc: Biology, UNAM
My Ph.D. research is focused on studying the viruses in the ocean sediments, particularly the RNA viruses, and how different stressors such as eutrophication and temperature may affect their abundance and diversity. My general goal is to study the RNA virosphere of the ocean and how these pathogens may have an impact on the health of corals and other organisms.
Mengjin Tim Zhang Contact: mjzhang@connect.hku.hk
Ph.D. Student: Ecology & Biodiversity (HKU)
B.S. Evolution & Ecology;
B.S. Applied Mathematics (The Ohio State University)
After receiving Bachelor’s Degrees from The Ohio State University and working as a research intern at the Smithsonian NMNH, I joined the lab in Fall 2023 as a new Ph.D. student. My research interest lies within marine invertebrate diversity and coral reef ecology. Specifically, I am interested in how urbanized environments and anthropogenic stresses affect biodiversity and the implications for future conservation. Throughout my Ph.D. journey, I will investigate these topics utilizing a combination of ecological, molecular, and genomic approaches.
Zhongyue Wilson Wan Contact: zhongyue@connect.hku.hk
Ph.D. Student: Ecology & Biodiversity (HKU-SWIMS)
M.Sc. Environmental Management (HKU)
My work focuses on coral restoration. In particular, I look at how different restoration methodologies impact coral survival rate, health, and ecological function. I aim to identify optimal restoration methodology in sub-tropical Hong Kong areas to increase coral community resilience amidst a warming ocean.
Joe Brennan Contact: jbrennan@connect.hku.hk
Ph.D. Candidate: Ecology & Biodiversity (HKU-SWIMS)
B.A. Marine Biology (Florida International University)
Throughout my PhD, I will focus on how coral-algal symbiosis is effected by the combined influence of environmental and anthropogenic stressors. My research looks into these effects by observing changes in coral and algal physiology in order to assess the overall health of the coral holobiont. This focus may benefit humankind in our ability to predict how different symbiotic organisms manipulate physiological function in order to handle reoccurring events of stress that may become more common in the near future.
Emily Chei Contact: echei@connect.hku.hk
Ph.D. Candidate: Ecology & Biodiversity (HKU-SWIMS)
B.S. Env. & Sustainability Science (Cornell University)
My research is focused on anthropogenic effects on reef resilience and bleaching tolerance. I am particularly interested in how symbiosis is affected by nutrient pollution from wastewater effluent and land use in coastal cities. Using stable isotope analysis, I will examine coral trophic strategies to better understand their symbiotic relationships in changing environmental conditions through both time and space.
Róisín Hayden contact: rhayden@connect.hku.hk
Ph.D. Candidate: Ecology & Biodiversity (HKU-SWIMS)
B.Sc. Environmental Biology (University College Dublin)
Over the course of my PhD, my research will focus on the ecological interactions that structure the coral microbiome. I am motivated to understand how these processes contribute to natural coral resilience, and how they can be used to inform and improve our conservation efforts in the face of increasing global change.
Vriko Yu
PhD Student, Ecology & Biodiversity (HKU-SWIMS)
B.Sc. Natural Sciences (CUHK)
In the face of rapid climate change, reefs are being threatened and deteriorating unprecedentedly on a global scale. Coral restoration has emerged in recent decades to mitigate net loss and consequences. My research aims to form a scientific foundation for coral restoration to foster resilience-based reef management in the South China Sea. Specifically, I will investigate 1) the population structure and connectivity of zebra corals (Oulastrea crispata) in the South China Sea; 2) the physiological trade-offs of micro-fragmentation, 3) the effectiveness of 3D-printed artificial reefs in biodiversity enhancement and ecosystem functioning, and 4) the application of adaptive management in the restoration practices in the region. Outside of the research world, I have been actively engaged in promoting coral reef conservation in the region – serving as the Assistant Director and Eco Diver Instructor for Reef Check Hong Kong to promote citizen science in Hong Kong, Mainland China and Taiwan. I also serve as the Education Committee for World Wide Fund (WWF-HK) to set year plans to integrate conservation into the education systems.
Research Assistants
Horace Lau Contact: horace01@hku.hk
B.Sc. Biology (CUHK)
After my undergraduate study in biology at CUHK, I have continued to work as an assistant education officer at Archireef, aiming to pass the knowledge of coral and marine ecosystems to the general public. As a part of the Baker Lab, I primarily focus on monitoring the restored coral transplants on 3D-printed artificial reef tiles and the surrounding biodiversity in Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park.
Sam Webster contact: sjwebster.hk@gmail.com
B.Sc. Marine Biology (University of Essex)
MRes Biodiversity, Evolution and Conservation (UCL)
As an RA in the Baker Lab one of my main duties involves assisting in a project that is evaluating the blue carbon capacity of Hong Kong’s coastal environments. In addition to this, I offer my diving experience to various other ongoing field projects. My proven research interests and experiences are broad but cover topics including animal behaviour, mesophotic coral ecosystems, and patterns in species’ biogeography. I am hoping this RA position will continue to inspire my motivations for research and streamline my ideas for a marine science based PhD in the foreseeable future.
I am also the author of a detailed hiking guide for Hong Kong (https://www.venture-on.com), which aims to take people off the beaten-track and along the city’s more adventurous hiking trails. Feel free to give the website a visit and share amongst like-minded adventurers.
