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Martin Tsz-Ki Tsui (2021-now)
Associate Professor, School of Life Sciences (SLS) & Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (EES), CUHK
Director, Environmental Science Programme, CUHK (2022-now)
Associate Director, Molecular Biotechnology Programme, CUHK (2025-now)
Member, Institute of Environment, Energy and Sustainability, CUHK
Member, State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong
E-mail: mtktsui@cuhk.edu.hk
Office: SC288; Lab: SC377
BSc(HKUST), MPhil(CUHK), Ph.D.(Univ. Minn.), Postdoc (Univ. Mich.)
Editorial Board: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Panel member: Ocean Park Conservation Fund (Hong Kong), Dumping at Sea Appeal Board (Environmental Protection Department of Hong Kong)
Research interests: Environmental contaminants; biogeochemical cycling; ecotoxicology; stable isotope applications
Google Scholar Profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=z-fwHuQAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate
Tsui's full CV (updated Jan 2025)
Shaoyi Wang (2021-now)
PhD degree in Environmental Science Programme, CUHK (2024-now)
Research Assistant (2023-2024)
MPhil degree in Environmental Science Programme, CUHK (2021-2023)
MPhil thesis: Understanding Biogeochemical Factors Influencing Mercury Methylation in a Subtropical Mangrove Ecosystem
Publications in this lab:
Ulus Y, Wang S, Tsui MTK, Landau N, Lekki O, Bayazıt T, Uzun H, Aslan F, Kavgacı A (2025) Post-fire management effects on soil metal dynamics in Mediterranean forests. Frontiers in Environmental Science 13: 1661652.
Tsui MTK, Wang S, Cheng MLH (2025) Review of mercury pollution research in Southeast Asian marine environments. Marine Pollution Bulletin 212: 117462.
Wang S, Tsui MTK, Li J, Pan K (2024) Biogeochemical controls on methylmercury distribution in a subtropical wetland ecosystem. Marine Pollution Bulletin 207: 116894.
Matthew Long-Hei Cheng (2022-now)
Part-time PhD student in Earth & Environmental Sciences, CUHK (2025-now)
MPhil student in Environmental Science Programme, CUHK (2023-2025)
MPhil thesis: Methylmercury Biomagnification in Subtropical Forested Ecosystems
Research Assistant (2022-2023)
Publications in this lab:
Tsui MTK*, Wang S, Cheng MLH (2025) Review of mercury pollution research in Southeast Asian marine environments. Marine Pollution Bulletin 212: 117462.
Jack Tsun-Hung Cheung (2022-now)
PhD candidate in Environmental Science Programme, CUHK (2023-now)
Research Assistant (2022-2023)
Publications in this lab:
Ken Ming-Yin Yau (2022-now)
PhD candidate in Environmental Science Programme (2022-now)
Publications in this lab:
Norah Muisa (2022-now)
PhD candidate in Environmental Science Programme (2022-now)
Publications in this lab:
Xizi Yang (2023-now)
PhD candidate in Biochemistry Programme (2023-now)
Publications in this lab:
Mengwei Yuan (2023-now)
PhD candidate in Biochemistry Programme (2023-now)
Publications in this lab:
Ganxing Liu (2023-now)
PhD student in Environmental Science Programme (2024-now)
Research Assistant (2023-2024)
Publications in this lab:
Runnan Lyu (2024-now)
PhD candidate in Biochemistry Programme (2023-now)
Publications in this lab:
Kendric Tee (2024-now)
PhD student in Environmental Science Programme (2024-now)
Publications in this lab:
Jimmy Zengchen Yu (2024-now)
PhD student in Environmental Science Programme (2025-now)
Research Assistant (2024-2025)
Publications in this lab:
Leona Hiu-Lam Chan (2024-now)
PhD student in Biochemistry Programme (2025-now)
Final Year Project student, Biochemistry Programme (2024-25)
John Chun-Ting Chung (2025-now)
PhD student in Environmental Science Programme (2025-now)
Recipient of Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme 2025
Marcellus Yu-Him Leung (2025-now)
Part-time MPhil student in Environmental Science Programme (2025-now)
Alex Leung (2023-now)
Research Assistant (2024-now)
Final Year Project student, Biology Programme (2023-2024)
Jason Au Yeung (2025-2026)
Final Year Project student, Biology and Chemistry Double Major Programme
Cyrus Wu (2025-2026)
Final Year Project student, Earth & Environmental Sciences Programme
Thomas Ng (2025-2026)
Student Research Assistant
Lab alumni / previous work (CUHK)
Jennifer Gho (Laboratory technician, 2021)
Nikki Fung (Final Year Group Project student, 2021-22): Variations of total mercury and methylmercury concentrations in water, sediments and aquatic invertebrates in the subtropical stream and wetland of Kuk Po
Bonnie Lo (Final Year Group Project student, 2021-22): Variations of total mercury and methylmercury concentrations in water, sediments and aquatic invertebrates in the subtropical stream and wetland of Kuk Po
Kwan Wong (Final Year Project student, 2021-22): Methylmercury Level in Phragmites australis from Mai Po Nature Reserve
English Schools Foundation (ESF) Innofair - ESF student projects: Mercury uptake in parsley (2021-22); Metal sorption by biomaterials (2022-23)
Joseph Chan (Research Assistant, 2023)
Yuki Cheung (Research Assistant, 2023-24)
LEUNG Ngo Tin (Final Year Project student, EESC, 2024-25)
SHARMA Pradumn Chau (Final Year Project student, ENSC, 2024-25)
CHAN Hiu Lam Leona, and CHAN Sze Hei (Final Year Group Project students, BCHE, 2024-25)
IP Wan Ching, PUN Lok Ching, and WU Cho Kwan (Final Year Group Project students, BCHE, 2024-25)
LAM Choi Ha, LAU Tsz Man (EES summer intern, summer 2025)
Victoria Wong. Fiona Wong (Medican student intern, summer 2025)
Notable lab members from UNC-Greensboro
Dr. Peijia Ku (Ph.D. in Environmental Health Science, 2020)
R&D Associate Staff, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
https://www.ornl.gov/staff-profile/peijia-ku
Publications in this lab:
Ku P, Tsui MTK*, Uzun H, Chen H, Dahlgren RA, Hoang TC, Karanfil T, Zhong H, Miao A, Pan K, Coleman JS, Chow AT (2024) Dominance of particulate mercury in stream transport and rapid watershed recovery from preceding summer fires in northern California, USA. Environmental Science and Technology 58: 22159-22169.
Magliozzi LJ, Matiasek SJ, Alpers CN, Korak J, McKnight D, Foster AL, Ryan JN, Roth DA, Ku P, Tsui MTK, Chow AT, Webster JP (2024) Wildland-urban interface wildfire increases metal contributions to stormwater runoff in Paradise, California. Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts 26: 667-685.
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.
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 and Technology 56: 11835-11844.
Chen H, Wang, JJ, Ku P, Tsui MTK, Abney R, Berhe A, Zhang Q, Burton S, Wiley WR, Dahlgren RA, Chow AT (2022) Burn intensity drives the alteration of phenolic lignin to (poly) aromatic hydrocarbons as revealed by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). Environmental Science and Technology 56: 12678-12687.
Ku P, Tsui MTK*, Liu S, Corson KB, Williams AS, Monteverde MR, Woerndle GE, Hershey AE, Rublee PA (2021) Examination of mercury contamination from a recent coal ash spill into the Dan River, North Carolina, United States. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 208: 111469.
Ku P, Tsui MTK*, Nie X, Chen H, Hoang TC, Blum JD, Dahlgren RA, Chow AT (2018) Origin, reactivity, and bioavailability of mercury in wildfire ash. Environmental Science and Technology 52: 14149-14157.
Dr. Yener Ulus (Ph.D. in Environmental Health Science, 2021)
Assistant Professor, Auburn University at Montgomery
Publications in this lab:
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.
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.
Waiker P, Ulus, Y, Tsui MTK, Rueppell O (2022) Mercury accumulation in honey bees trends upward with urbanization in the USA. Agricultural & Environmental Letters 7: e20083.
Tsui MTK*, Uzun H, Ruecker A, Majidzadeh H, Ulus Y, Zhang H, Bao S, Blum JD, Karanfil T, Chow AT (2020) Concentration and isotopic composition of mercury in a blackwater river affected by extreme flooding events. Limnology and Oceanography 65: 2158-2169.
Tsui MTK*, Liu S, Brasso RL, Blum JD, Kwon SY, Ulus Y, Nollet YH, Balogh SJ, Eggert SL, Finlay JC (2019) Controls of methylmercury bioaccumulation in forest floor food webs. Environmental Science and Technology 53: 2434-2440.
Dr. Kristina Morales (Ph.D. in Environmental Health Science, 2022)
Environmental Specialist, North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Publications in this lab:
Lab alumni (UNC-Greensboro) and their publications in the lab
Peter Blum (M.S. student, graduated in Spring 2016, co-advised with Dr. Anne Hershey)
Blum PW, Hershey AE, Tsui MTK, Hammerschmidt CR, Agather AM (2018) Methylmercury and methane production potentials in North Carolina Piedmont stream sediments. Biogeochemistry 137: 181-195.
Dr. Rebecka Brasso (postdoc, 2014-15, now working at Weber State University)
Tsui MTK*, Liu S, Brasso RL, Blum JD, Kwon SY, Ulus Y, Nollet YH, Balogh SJ, Eggert SL, Finlay JC (2019) Controls of methylmercury bioaccumulation in forest floor food webs. Environmental Science and Technology 53: 2434-2440.
Josh Brigham (M.S. student, graduated in Spring 2018, co-advised by Dr. Anne Hershey)
Chris Hylton (Ph.D. student 2014-16, later advised by Dr. John Tomkiel-Dean, graduated in 2020, now working at UNC-Greensboro)
Hylton CA, Tsui MTK* (2021) Alteration of acute toxicity of inorganic and methyl mercury to Daphnia magna by dietary addition. Scientific Reports 11: 22865.
Hanhan Li (visiting Ph.D. student 2018-2020; Sichuan Agricultural University)
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 and Technology 56: 11835-11844.
Prof. Xiangping Nie (visiting scholar from Jinan University, China, 2016-17)
Ku P, Tsui MTK*, Nie X, Chen H, Hoang TC, Blum JD, Dahlgren RA, Chow AT (2018) Origin, reactivity, and bioavailability of mercury in wildfire ash. Environmental Science and Technology 52: 14149-14157.
Dr. Songnian Liu (postdoc, 2015-16, now working at GenScript)
Ku P, Tsui MTK*, Liu S, Corson KB, Williams AS, Monteverde MR, Woerndle GE, Hershey AE, Rublee PA (2021) Examination of mercury contamination from a recent coal ash spill into the Dan River, North Carolina, United States. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 208: 111469.
Liu S, Tsui MTK*, Flower J, Lee E, Jia Z (2020) Uptake, efflux, and toxicity of inorganic and methyl mercury in the endothelial cells (EA.hy926). Scientific Reports 10: 9023.
Tsui MTK*, Liu S, Brasso RL, Blum JD, Kwon SY, Ulus Y, Nollet YH, Balogh SJ, Eggert SL, Finlay JC (2019) Controls of methylmercury bioaccumulation in forest floor food webs. Environmental Science and Technology 53: 2434-2440.
Matt Monteverde (temp. technician, Summer 2015)
Ku P, Tsui MTK*, Liu S, Corson KB, Williams AS, Monteverde MR, Woerndle GE, Hershey AE, Rublee PA (2021) Examination of mercury contamination from a recent coal ash spill into the Dan River, North Carolina, United States. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 208: 111469.
Glenn Woerndle (M.S. student, graduated in Spring 2016)
Ku P, Tsui MTK*, Liu S, Corson KB, Williams AS, Monteverde MR, Woerndle GE, Hershey AE, Rublee PA (2021) Examination of mercury contamination from a recent coal ash spill into the Dan River, North Carolina, United States. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 208: 111469.
Woerndle GE, Tsui MTK*, Sebestyen SD, Blum JD, Nie X, Kolka RK (2018) New insights on ecosystem mercury cycling revealed by Hg isotopic measurements in water flowing from a headwater peatland catchment. Environmental Science and Technology 52: 1854-1861.
Balogh SJ, Tsui MTK, Blum JD, Matsuyama A, Woerndle GE, Yano S, Tada A (2015) Tracking the fate of mercury in the fish and bottom sediments of Minamata Bay, Japan, using stable mercury isotopes. Environmental Science and Technology 49: 5399-5406.
Joel Alva (Undergraduate 2015)
Mikah Bass (undergraduate student 2020)
Emerson Batzin-Lopez (Draelos Scholar Summer Intern 2019)
Jiangxue Chen (undergraduate research assistant 2018)
Elaine Chow (Postbacc student 2015)
Chow EC, Tsui MTK* (2019) Elucidating microbial pathways of mercury methylation during litter decomposition. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 103: 617-622.
Thomas Cohen (undergraduate student 2018)
Maggie Deigan (undergraduate student 2016)
Ryan Heggie (Draelos Scholar Summer Intern 2019)
Jamie Jacobs (undergraduate student 2019)
Liz Lee (Postbacc student 2015)
Liu S, Tsui MTK*, Flower J, Lee E, Jia Z (2020) Uptake, efflux, and toxicity of inorganic and methyl mercury in the endothelial cells (EA.hy926). Scientific Reports 10: 9023.
Tali Naibryf (Student intern 2015, American Hebrew Academy)
Lativia Nash (undergraduate student 2019)
Ariel Nissan (Student intern 2017, American Hebrew Academy)
Daniel Park (undergraduate student 2020)
Isabela Rollin (Student intern 2019, American Hebrew Academy)
Danit Silberman (Student intern 2018, American Hebrew Academy)
Devin Olden (undergraduate student 2015)
Idus Stinson (undergraduate student 2017-2018)
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.
Paul Nyarko (undergraduate student)
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.
Yajayra Orozco (undergraduate student)
Saige Boris (undergraduate student)
Ajay Muthukkumar (undergraduate student)
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