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
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 loss 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
IN REVIEW
Huffmyer, A.S., Wong, K.H., Becker, D.M. & Putnam, H.M. Metabolic and
symbiotic shifts across early life history development in the reef-building coral
Montipora capitata. In review at PLOS Biology.
IN PREPARATION
Wong, K.H., Goodbody-Gringley, G., de Putron, S.J. & Putnam, H.M. Multi-omic analysis of coral bleaching phenotypes under thermal stress.
Ju, R., Wong, K.H., Putnam, H.M., de Putron, S.J. & Goodbody-Gringley, G. Developmental acclimation of Porites astreoides larvae enhances thermal performance.
Wong, K.H., Goodbody-Gringley, G., de Putron, S.J. & Putnam, H.M. Epigenetic underpinnings of environmental memory within and across generations in a reef-building coral. Planned submission May 2024.
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)
Oral Presentations (*indicates presenter)
Wong, K.H.*, Andrade Rodriguez, N., Hage, G., Darke, E., Ehrens, D., & Traylor-Knowles, N. Characterizing dark gene functions in corals through microscopy and scRNA-seq approaches. University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Sciences Marine Biology and Ecology seminar series, Miami, Florida, USA. (2024)
Wong, K.H.*, Andrade Rodriguez, N., Hage, G., Darke, E., Ehrens, D., & Traylor-Knowles, N. Characterizing dark gene functions in corals through microscopy and scRNA-seq approaches. Society of Integrative Biology Meeting Symposium 2: Immunity in the 'omics age: what can 'omics approaches tell us about immunity in natural systems?, Seattle, Washington, USA. (2024)
Vandepas L.E.*, Wong, K.H., Goetz, F., Traylor-Knowles, N., Lacy-Hulbert, A., & Browne, W.E.. Transcriptomics inform immune cell type evolution in diverse metazoans. Society of Integrative Biology Meeting Symposium 2: Immunity in the 'omics age: what can 'omics approaches tell us about immunity in natural systems?, Seattle, Washington, USA. (2024)
Putnam, H.*, Wong, K.H., Huffmyer, A.S., Jorissen, H., Majerova, E., Puisay, A., Henley, M., Lager, C., Nuñez Lendo, C.I., Dubé, C., & Hedouin, L. Interplay of acclimatization and adaptation modulates resilience to climate change in marine inverts. Society of Integrative Biology Meeting Symposium 6: The scale of resilience: mechanisms of recovery across biological systems, Seattle, Washington, USA. (2024)
Wong, K.H.*, Becker, D.M., de Putron, S.J., Goodbody-Gringley, G., & Putnam, 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, Newfoundland, Canada. (2018)
Wong, K.H.*, Mitrovic, J., Zhang, Y., Goodbody-Gringley, G., de Putron, S., & Putnam, H. Trade-offs between acclimatization to thermal disturbances and reproduction in Porites astreoides. European Coral Reef Symposium, Oxford, England. (2017)
Goodbody-Gringley, G.*, Wong, K.H., Becker, D.M., Glennon, K., & de Putron, S. Reproductive ecology and early life history traits of the brooding coral, Porites astreoides, from shallow to mesophotic zones. European Coral Reef Symposium, Oxford, England. (2017)
Poster Presentations (*indicates presenter)
Wong, K.H.*, Andrade Rodriguez, N.*, Stephens, T.*, Chille, E.*, Bhattacharya, D., Cleves, P., Traylor-Knowles, N. Polygenic Traits of Heat Stress Phenome In Coral "Dark Genes" From Genome To Functional Applications. National Science Foundation EDGE Meeting, Arlington, VA, USA. (2023)
Wong, K.H., Goodbody-Gringley, G., de Putron, S.J., & Putnam, H.M*. 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)
Ju, R.*, Wong, K.H., Putnam, H., & Goodbody-Gringley, G. Effects of parental heat stress on the larval thermal performance of Porites astreoides, a brooding coral. Ocean Sciences Meeting, San Diego, CA, USA. (2020)
Wong, K.H.*, Reich, H.G., Waltho, N., & Goodbody-Gringley, G. Evidence of reproductive plasticity of Porites astreoides at different depths in Bermuda. International Coral Reef Symposium, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. (2016)
de Putron, S.J., Thomas, M.S.*, & Wong, K.H. Differential effects of light and feeding on new recruits of Porites astreoides from two reef sites within Bermuda. International Coral Reef Symposium, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. (2016)
Wong, K.H.*, Reich, H.G., Waltho, N., & Goodbody-Gringley, G. 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. (2016) ^Best Poster
Wong, K.H.*, Reich, H.G., & Goodbody-Gringley, G. Comparing planulation patterns and the reproductive fitness of the brooding coral, Porites astreoides, at different depths in Bermuda. Benthic Ecology Meeting, Portland. (2016)
Mentoring
Allyson DeMerlis, University of Miami PhD Candidate (2024)
David Ehrens, University of Miami PhD Student (2024)
Aliyah True, University of Miami PhD Student (2024)
Rianon Wallace-Demby, University of Miami Masters Student (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:
International Society for Reef Studies (2016-Present)
Benthic Ecology Society (2016-Present)
Reviewer:
Journal of Experimental Biology (2021), Global Change Biology (2021)
Outreach and Sci-Comm:
Rescue a Reef Scientific Diver Lead for Citizen Science Expeditions (2024)
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) https://vis-a-thon.org/the-unseen-stress
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)