Members

Current members


Ocean Rauszen ABBAS (MPhil, Feb 2025~)


  • Bachelor (2023, HKUST, Hong Kong)
  • Research interest: Environmental DNA, ecology, conservation
  • Research project: Use of sedimentary eDNA to reconstruct past marine communities in Hong Kong

Suixuan HUANG (PhD, Sep 2025~)


  • MPhil (2025, HKUST, Hong Kong)
  • Bachelor (2023, Sun Yat-sen University, China)
  • Research interest: Red tide monitoring, Satellite data analysis, Time series analysis
  • Research project: Forecasting harmful algal bloom events

Xiaoqi LIN (PhD, Sep 2024~)



  • MPhil (2024, Shantou University, China)
  • Bachelor (2021, Ocean University of China, China)
  • Research interest: Environmental DNA
  • Research project: Cetacean eDNA monitoring project


Chengbin LIU (MPhil, Sep 2024~)


  • Bachelor (2024, Zhejiang University, China)
  • Research interest: Environmental DNA
  • Research project: Cetacean DNA methylation project

Shuting QIU (Nova) (PhD, Feb 2025~)


  • Mphil (2024, Marine Science in Universiti Malaya, Malaysia) (Joint program with the third institute of oceanography, ministry of natural resources, PRC)
  • Bachelor (2020, Environmental Science in Xiamen University TKK college)
  • Contact: sqiuau (at) connect.ust.hk
  • Research interest: Environmental DNA, Environmental RNA, Fish ecology, Fish monitoring

Masayuki USHIO (Principal Investigator, Sep 2022~)


  • Ph.D. (Science) (2010, Kyoto University, Japan)
  • Contact: ushio (at) ust.hk
  • Research interests: Ecosystem dynamics, Environmental DNA, Microbial community, Statistical analysis, Machine learning
  • Teaching:
    • 2023/24-2024/25: OCES3601 (Ecology), OCES1001 (omnibus), OCES4103 (Fisheries and Aquaculture), DASC3240 (Data Visualization in Science), SCIE1500 (omnibus)
    • 2025/26: OCES1001 (The Earth as a Blue Planet), DASC3240 (Data Visualization in Science), OCES6770
  • Personal website, Google Scholar Profile, Github

Co-supervising students

Lucia HU (MPhil, Sep 2024~)


Alex Wyatt Lab
- Bachelor of Science (Hon) (Marine Science) (2024, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand)
- Bachelor of Science (Marine Ecology and Zoology) (2018, Massey University, New Zealand)
- Research interest: Habitat connectivity (coastal darkening), Marine genomics, Deep-sea ecology, Taxonomy
- Research project: I want to explore the idea of habitat connectivity – looking at how terrestrial modifications can physically and biologically alter adjacent marine ecosystems. I want to learn and utilise eDNA as a biomonitoring tool to assess how species composition changes within rapidly evolving coasts and deep water coral systems. I am also a massive fan of museums, which have an abundance of archival species. Therefore, as part of my research, it would be exciting to reconstruct historical communities and compare them to current coral communities under higher human-induced and natural impacts.

Ming Wai LI (Taylor) (MPhil, Sep 2024~)


Charmaine Yung Lab
- Bachelor (2024, HKUST, Hong Kong SAR)
- Research interest: My research focuses on applying environmental DNA (eDNA) technology to marine community and ecosystem management, with a particular emphasis on fish populations. I am passionate about exploring the potential of eDNA in fisheries management and conservation, aiming to contribute to more sustainable practices in marine ecosystems.
- Research project: HK grouper project