Staff Profile

School of Science and Technology People Key Staff Staff Profile
Dr. Tang Chi Hung Charles 鄧志洪博士
BSc CUHK, MPhil CUHK, PhD UT Austin
Senior Lecturer
School of Science and Technology

Biography

Dr. Charles Tang earned his Ph.D. in Marine Science from the University of Texas at Austin (U.S.A) in 2020. He is a marine ecologist with a research interest in microbial ecology and an expertise in marine plankton. 

Currently, Dr. Tang's research focus is to understand the effects of environmental pollutants (e.g., crude oil and chemical dispersant, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and microplasitcs) on the trophic dynamic of marine plankton. He also has a strong interest in red-tide causing micro-algae and understanding the formation of algal blooms in relationship to enviornmental pollutions and other environmental stresses, such as rising seawater temperature and altered concentrations and ratios of nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients. Dr. Tang has been working on mixoplankton, a type of planktonic organisms that can be autotrophic and heteotrophic simultaneously, to understand how environmental stressors affect the shifting between these trohpic modes. His recent research interest includes revealing the potential risk of biological invasion of micro-algae in ballast sediment in the ballast tanks of trans-oceanic ships.     

 

Research Interests
  • Ecology of phytoplankton, zooplankton, and mixoplankton
  • Environmental pollution (crude oil, PAHs, and microplastics)
  • Climate change and anthropogenic influence on marine plankton
  • Biological invasion
 
Funded Projects
  • PI. Effects of altered N:P ratios and elevated temperatures on the abundance, community composition, trophic mode, and trophic transfer of elements of marine mixoplankton. Faculty Development Scheme, RGC. (UGC/FDS16/M11/24). 2025 – 2026. HK$1,075,350.
  • PI. Mechanisms of toxicity and resistance to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons of a heterotrophic dinoflagellate species. Hong Kong Metropolitan University Research & Development Fund. (RD/2024/2.6). 2025. HK$200,000.
  • PI. Effects of microplastic ingestion on the growth of marine microplankton grazers and their grazing control on algal blooms. Faculty Development Scheme, RGC. (UGC/FDS16/M14/23). 2024 – 2025. HK$753,350
  • PI. Metagenomics analysis of the biodiversity and functioning of microbial communities in the western and southern waters of Hong Kong. Marine Conservation Enhancement Fund, CAPCO, HK Electric, and HKLTL. (MCEF22109). 2024 – 2025. HK$ 769,780.
  • PI.The effects of multiple stressors on the eco-physiology of a bloom-forming algal species. Hong Kong Metropolitan University Research & Development Fund. (RD/2023/1.6). 2023 – 2024. HK$ 190,280.
  • PI. Microplastics ingestion on the growth and prey ingestion of a marine protozoan species. Hong Kong Metropolitan University Research & Development Fund. (RD/2022/1.11). 2022 – 2023. HK$ 199,020.

Selected Publications

Journal Articles

  • Tang, C.H., Buskey, E.J. 2024. Compositional change of bacterial communities in oil-polluted seawater amid varying degrees of nanoplankton bacterivory. Environmental Pollution, 359, 124723.
  • Tang, C.H., Chen, J. 2024. Effects of Microplastics Exposure on the Feeding of the Heterotrophic Dinoflagellate Species Noctiluca scintillans. Water Air Soil Pollut, 235, 799.
  • Tang, C.H., Buskey, E.J. 2022. Impaired grazing of marine protozoa in sub-lethal exposure to the water accommodated fraction of crude oil and dispersant. Environmental Pollution 315, 120414.
  • Tang, C.H., Buskey, E.J. 2022. De-coupled phytoplankton growth and microzooplankton grazing in a simulated oil spill event in mesocosms. Marine Pollution Bulletin 178, 113631.
  • Tang, C.H., Wong, C.K. 2016. The size structure and pigment composition of phytoplankton in a semi-enclosed bay, Hong Kong, after a 12-year nutrient reduction. Regional Studies in Marine Science 6, 10-18.
  • Tang, C.H., Wong, C.K., Lie, A.A.Y., Yung, Y.K. 2015. Size structure and pigment composition of phytoplankton communities in different hydrographic zones in Hong Kong's coastal seas. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 95, 885-896.
  • Liu, X., Tang, C.H., Wong, C.K. 2014. Microzooplankton grazing and selective feeding during bloom periods in the Tolo Harbor area as revealed by HPLC pigment analysis. Journal of Sea Research 90, 83−94.

Further Information

Link to personal homepage

Link to Google Scholar page

Modified Date: 04 Feb, 2025
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Jonathan Chiu
Marketing Director
3DP Technology Limited

Jonathan handles all external affairs include business development, patents write up and public relations. He is frequently interviewed by media and is considered a pioneer in 3D printing products.

Krutz Cheuk
Biomedical Engineer
Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital

After graduating from OUHK, Krutz obtained an M.Sc. in Engineering Management from CityU. He is now completing his second master degree, M.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering, at CUHK. Krutz has a wide range of working experience. He has been with Siemens, VTech, and PCCW.

Hugo Leung
Software and Hardware Engineer
Innovation Team Company Limited

Hugo Leung Wai-yin, who graduated from his four-year programme in 2015, won the Best Paper Award for his ‘intelligent pill-dispenser’ design at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering’s International Conference on Consumer Electronics – China 2015.

The pill-dispenser alerts patients via sound and LED flashes to pre-set dosage and time intervals. Unlike units currently on the market, Hugo’s design connects to any mobile phone globally. In explaining how it works, he said: ‘There are three layers in the portable pillbox. The lowest level is a controller with various devices which can be connected to mobile phones in remote locations. Patients are alerted by a sound alarm and flashes. Should they fail to follow their prescribed regime, data can be sent via SMS to relatives and friends for follow up.’ The pill-dispenser has four medicine slots, plus a back-up with a LED alert, topped by a 500ml water bottle. It took Hugo three months of research and coding to complete his design, but he feels it was worth all his time and effort.

Hugo’s public examination results were disappointing and he was at a loss about his future before enrolling at the OUHK, which he now realizes was a major turning point in his life. He is grateful for the OUHK’s learning environment, its industry links and the positive guidance and encouragement from his teachers. The University is now exploring the commercial potential of his design with a pharmaceutical company. He hopes that this will benefit the elderly and chronically ill, as well as the society at large.

Soon after completing his studies, Hugo joined an automation technology company as an assistant engineer. He is responsible for the design and development of automation devices. The target is to minimize human labor and increase the quality of products. He is developing products which are used in various sections, including healthcare, manufacturing and consumer electronics.

Course Code Title Credits
  COMP S321F Advanced Database and Data Warehousing 5
  COMP S333F Advanced Programming and AI Algorithms 5
  COMP S351F Software Project Management 5
  COMP S362F Concurrent and Network Programming 5
  COMP S363F Distributed Systems and Parallel Computing 5
  COMP S382F Data Mining and Analytics 5
  COMP S390F Creative Programming for Games 5
  COMP S492F Machine Learning 5
  ELEC S305F Computer Networking 5
  ELEC S348F IOT Security 5
  ELEC S371F Digital Forensics 5
  ELEC S431F Blockchain Technologies 5
  ELEC S425F Computer and Network Security 5
 Course CodeTitleCredits
 ELEC S201FBasic Electronics5
 IT S290FHuman Computer Interaction & User Experience Design5
 STAT S251FStatistical Data Analysis5
 Course CodeTitleCredits
 COMPS333FAdvanced Programming and AI Algorithms5
 COMPS362FConcurrent and Network Programming5
 COMPS363FDistributed Systems and Parallel Computing5
 COMPS380FWeb Applications: Design and Development5
 COMPS381FServer-side Technologies and Cloud Computing5
 COMPS382FData Mining and Analytics5
 COMPS390FCreative Programming for Games5
 COMPS413FApplication Design and Development for Mobile Devices5
 COMPS492FMachine Learning5
 ELECS305FComputer Networking5
 ELECS363FAdvanced Computer Design5
 ELECS425FComputer and Network Security5