Doctor of Philosophy in Biological and Environmental Sciences
University of Rhode Island (Kingston, USA)
Advisor: Dr. Hollie Putnam
Thesis: Mechanisms and consequences of cross-generational acclimatization in reef-building corals.
Graduation Date: August 2022
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, Minor in Biology
Carleton University (Ottawa, Canada)
Advisors: Dr. Nigel Waltho and Dr. Gretchen Goodbody-Gringley
Thesis: Evidence of reproductive plasticity of Porites astreoides across a depth gradient in Bermuda.
Graduation Date: May 2016
PEER-REVIEWED
10. Huffmyer, A.S., Strand, E.L., Hackerott, S., Wong, K.H., Becker, D.M., Conetta, D., Terpis, K.X., Pfab, F., Wong, J.M., Dellaert, Z., Oliaro, F.J., Cunning, R., Eirin-Lopez, J.M., Roberts, S.B., Nisbet, R.M., & Putnam, H.M. (2026). Seasonal plasticity of symbiotic strategies clarifies coral holobiont resistance and resilience. Ecology and Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.74044
9. DeMerlis, A., Foord, C., Hesley, D., Karp, R.F., Isma, L.M., Andrade Rodriguez, N., Wong, K.H., Studivan, M.S., Jankulak, M., Baker, A.C., Lirman, D., Traylor-Knowles, N., & Enochs, I.C. (2026). Transcriptomic response of Acropora cervicornis following transplantation to a marginal, nearshore environment. Frontiers in Marine Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2026.1796814
8. DeMerlis, A., Studivan, M., Wong, K.H., Soderberg, N., Ehrens, D., Isma, L.M., Rosing, K., Cocson, K.S., Thomas, R., Dvorkin, D., Kiel, P.M., Unsworth, J.D., D'Alessandro, M., Palacio‐Castro, A.M., Lirman, D., Baker, A.C., Muller, E.M., Traylor‐Knowles, N., Enochs, I.C. (2025). Differences in Molecular Responses to a Thermally Variable Preconditioning Treatment for Two Caribbean Coral Species. Ecology and Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.72108
7. Huffmyer, A.S., Wong, K.H., Becker, D., Strand, E.L., Mass, T., & Putnam, H.M. (2025). Shifts and critical periods in coral metabolism reveal energetic vulnerability during development. Current Biology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2025.05.013
6. Wong, K.H., Andrade Rodriguez, N., Traylor-Knowles, N. (2024). Exploring the unknown: how can we improve single-cell RNAseq cell type annotations in non-model organisms? Integrative and Comparative Biology. https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/icae112
5. Strand, E.L., Wong, K.H., Farraj, A., Gray, S., McMenamin, A., Putnam, H.M. (2024). Coral species-specific los and physiological legacy effects are elicited by an extended marine heatwave. Journal of Experimental Biology. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.246812
4. Scucchia, F., Wong, K.H., Zaslansky, P., Putnam, H.M., Goodbody-Gringley, G., Mass, T. (2023) Genetic and morphological similarities between shallow and mesophotic Porites astreoides corals support the Deep Reef Refugia Hypothesis for this species in Bermuda. Journal of Structural Biology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsb.2023.108036
3. Wong, K.H., & Putnam, H.M. (2022). The genome of the mustard hill coral, Porites astreoides. Gigabyte. https://doi.org/10.46471/gigabyte.65
2. Wong, K.H., Goodbody-Gringley, G., de Putron, S.J., Becker, D., Chequer, A. & Putnam, H.M. (2021). Brooded coral offspring depends on the combined effects of parental press and pulse thermal history. Global Change Biology. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15629
1. Goodbody-Gringley, G., Wong, K.H., Becker, D., Glennon, K. & de Putron, S.J. (2018). Reproductive ecology and early life history traits of the brooding coral, Porites astreoides, from shallow to mesophotic zones. Coral Reefs. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-018-1673-2
Postdoctoral Associate, University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Atmospheric, Marine, and Earth Sciences (2022-Present)
Research Aims: (1) To determine “dark gene” candidates responsible for polygenic traits in corals through multi-omic approaches. (2) To functionally characterize putative immune cells in Mnemiopsis leidyi through scRNAseq.
Skills: scRNAseq, RNA-seq, flow cytometry, immune cell isolation, coral husbandry, transmission electron microscopy, R, GitHub, Linux, HPC
Funding source: National Science Foundation EDGE CMT Grant #2128071
Advisor: Dr. Nikki Traylor-Knowles
Graduate Research Assistant, University of Rhode Island (2017-2022)
Research Aims: To use multi-omic approaches to understand the capacity and mechanisms of within- and cross-generational acclimatization in corals.
Skills: ITS2 & 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, whole genome bisulfite sequencing, genome annotation, metabolomics, tag-seq, coral husbandry, coral physiology, R, GitHub, Linux, HPC
Funding source: Heising-Simons Foundation, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Post Graduate Scholar Doctoral Scholarship
Advisor: Dr. Hollie Putnam
BIOS Research Intern, Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (2016)
Research Aims: To investigate the reproductive ecology of mesophotic Bermudian reef corals to test the ‘Deep Reef Refugia Hypothesis’.
Skills: Experimental design, coral husbandry, coral reproduction and physiology assays, R
Funding source: BIOS Grant-in-Aid, PADI Foundation
Advisor: Dr. Gretchen Goodbody-Gringley
BIOS Research Intern, Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (2015)
Research Aims: To understand the differential settlement and survival rates of coral larvae across a depth gradient.
Skills: Experimental design, coral husbandry, coral reproduction and physiology assays, R
Funding source: BIOS Grant-in-Aid
Advisor: Dr. Gretchen Goodbody-Gringley
Canadian Associates of BIOS Research Intern, Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (2014)
Research Aims: To understand the effects of light and temperature on juvenile coral growth rates.
Skills: Experimental design, coral husbandry, coral reproduction and physiology assays, R
Funding source: Canadian Associates of BIOS.
Advisor: Dr. Samantha de Putron
Teaching Assistant
Marine Environmental Physiology, Department of Biology, University of Rhode Island (Spring 2020, 2021, & 2022)
Coral Reef Ecology, Bermuda Insitute of Ocean Sciences (Summer 2016, Fall 2016, & Summer 2017)
Marine Biology and Oceanographic Research, Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (Fall 2016)
Oceans and Human Health, Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (Summer 2016)
Earth Resources and Natural Hazards, Carleton University (Spring 2015 & Fall 2015)
Guest Lecturer
Coral Reefs, Carleton University (Spring 2022, 2023)
Salt Water Semester, University of Miami (Fall 2022)
Undergraduate Seminar in Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island (Spring 2021 & 2022)
Invertebrate Zoology, University of Rhode Island (Spring 2020 & 2021)
Global Journeys, Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (Summer 2017, 2018, & 2019)
Howard Community College, Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (Summer 2017 & 2018)
SPCA Day Camp, Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (8x, Summer 2016)
* indicates oral presentation and § indicates poster presentation
2026 *Wong, K.H. Single-cell transcriptomic perspective of thermal stress in the model coral Galaxea fascicularis. University of Miami Research Symposium, Miami, FL, USA.
2025 *Wong, K.H. Identification of candidate stem cells in cnidarians using single-cell RNA sequencing. Gordon and Betty Moore Aquatic Symbiosis & Cell Atlases Grantees Meeting, Barcelona, Spain.
2025 *Wong, K.H. Functional characterization of stem cells in cnidarians using single-cell RNA sequencing. University of Miami Research Symposium, Miami, FL, USA.
2024 §Wong, K.H. Polygenic Traits of Heat Stress Phenome in Coral "Dark Genes" From Genome to Functional Applications. National Science Foundation EDGE Grantees Meeting, Arlington, VA, USA.
2024 *Wong, K.H. Characterizing dark gene functions in corals through microscopy and scRNA-seq approaches. University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA. Invited Talk.
2024 *Wong, K.H. Characterizing dark gene functions in corals through microscopy and scRNA-seq approaches. Society of Integrative Biology Meeting Symposium, Seattle, WA, USA. Symposium Panelist.
2023 §Wong, K.H. Polygenic Traits of Heat Stress Phenome in Coral "Dark Genes" From Genome to Functional Applications. National Science Foundation EDGE Grantees Meeting, Arlington, VA, USA.
2023 *Wong, K.H. History Matters: Cross-generational impacts of thermal. stress on reef-building corals. Carleton University Coral Reef Ecology Course, Ottawa, ON, Canada. Invited Guest Lecture.
2022 §Wong, K.H. The role of DNA methylation in environmental memory within and across generations in Porites astreoides. Epigenetics in Marine Biology Congress, Woods Hole, MA, USA.
2022 *Wong, K.H. Utilizing metabolomic approaches to understand coral stress responses. University of Miami Saltwater Semester Course, Miami, FL, USA. Invited Guest Lecture.
2022 *Wong, K.H. History Matters: Coral Physiology in a Changing Ocean. Carleton University Coral Reef Ecology Course, Ottawa, ON, Canada. Invited Guest Lecture.
2021 *Wong, K.H. Coral Physiology and Reproduction. University of Rhode Island Marine Invertebrate Zoology Course, Kingston, RI, USA. Invited Guest Lecture.
2020 *Wong, K.H. Coral Physiology and Reproduction. University of Rhode Island Marine Invertebrate Zoology Course, Kingston, RI, USA. Invited Guest Lecture.
2019 *Wong, K.H. Latent effects of thermal stress on the reproductive ecology and offspring physiology in the tropical brooding coral, Porites astreoides. Benthic Ecology Meeting, St. John’s, NL, Canada.
2017 *Wong, K.H. Trade-offs between acclimatization to thermal disturbances and reproduction in Porites astreoides. European Coral Reef Symposium, Oxford, England.
2016 §Wong, K.H. Evidence of reproductive plasticity of Porites astreoides at different depths in Bermuda. International Coral Reef Symposium, Honolulu, HI, USA.
2016 §Wong, K.H. Comparing planulation patterns and the reproductive fitness of the brooding coral, Porites astreoides, at different depths in Bermuda. Carleton University Undergraduate Poster Day, Ottawa, ON, Canada. Awarded Best Poster.
2016 §Wong, K.H. Comparing planulation patterns and the reproductive fitness of the brooding coral, Porites astreoides, at different depths in Bermuda. Benthic Ecology Meeting, Portland, ME, USA.
Mentoring
Jessica Anthony, University of Miami MS Candidate (2025-Present)
Ryan Schuelke, University of Miami MS Candidate (2025-Present)
Sohyoung Kim, University of Miami PhD Student (2024-Present)
David Ehrens, University of Miami PhD Candidate (2024-Present)
Aliyah True, University of Miami PhD Candidate (2024-2026)
Khrista Nicholas, University of Miami Undergraduate (2025)
Allyson DeMerlis, University of Miami PhD Candidate (2024)
Rianon Wallace-Demby, University of Miami MS Candidate (2024)
Gabriela Hage, University of Miami Undergraduate (2022-2023)
Ellyn Darke, University of Miami Undergraduate (2022-2023)
Anna Mcmenamin, University of Rhode Island Undergraduate (2019)
Alexa Farraj, University of Rhode Island Undergraduate (2019)
Rebecca Ju, Yale University Undergraduate (2019)
Brianna Simmons, Bermuda Program Intern (2019)
Evan Ernst, University of Rhode Island Undergraduate (2019)
Kiran Reed, University of Rhode Island Undergraduate (2019)
Madeleine Sherman, University of Rhode Island Undergraduate (2019)
Erin Chille, University of Rhode Island Undergraduate (2019)
Erin Bowman, University of Rhode Island Undergraduate (2018)
Max Zavell, University of Rhode Island Undergraduate (2018)
Jessica Godfrey, Bermuda Program Intern (2018)
Amy Amataya, Princeton University Undergraduate (2018)
Valeria Schmidt, Princeton University Undergraduate (2017)
Yingqi Zhang, Colgate University Undergraduate (2017)
Jamie Mitrovic, New York University Undergraduate (2017)
Keegan Glennon, University of Rhode Island Undergraduate, REU (2016)
Danielle Becker, Eckerd University Undergraduate (2016)
Member:
The Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (2024-Present)
International Society for Reef Studies (2016-Present)
Benthic Ecology Society (2016-Present)
Reviewer:
Journal of Experimental Biology, Journal of Integrative and Comparative Biology, Global Change Biology, Coral Reefs, Frontiers in Marine Science
Outreach and Sci-Comm:
Non-Model Cell Culture Workshop, University of Miami (2026)
Neon Reef Documentary Panel Discussion (2026)
First Star Academy high school student mentoring (2025)
ABC Brain Cell Atlas Workshop at the Allen Institute (2025)
Rescue a Reef Scientific Diver Lead for Citizen Science Expeditions (2024-Present)
ReeFlorida Symposium Volunteer (2024)
Southridge ASK Mentorship Program (2021-2024)
Collaborative Visualization Grant Installation at the Rhode Island School of Design (2023)
VIS-A-THON (2022)
The Ocean Scientist Is In program at the Roger Williams Park Zoo, RI, USA (2021)
Volvo Ocean Race, Newport, RI, USA (2018)
Graduate School of Oceanography Open House, Narragansett, RI, USA (2017)
Mental Health First Aid (2022)
O2 Administration (2019)
Emergency First Aid (2019)
TDI Nitrox Diver (2018)
PADI Rescue Diver (2016)
Environmental Professional in Training (EPt) (2016)
AAUS (American Academy of Underwater Science) Diver (2014)
PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (2014)
Wilderness First Aid (2014)
PADI Open Water and Dry Suit Certification (2013)
National Lifeguarding Service (NLS) (2010)
Water Safety Instructor Certificate (WSI) (2010)
Standard First Aid (2010)