Kit Yu Karen CHAN

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Office: Singer 404

Lab: Singer 416-417

Email: kchan1"at"swarthmore.edu

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Education

2012  PhD in Oceanography, University of Washington. 

2009  MSc in Oceanography, University of Washington.

2006  BSc (Hons) in Environmental Life Science, University of Hong Kong. 

 

Current appointment

Assistant Professor

Biology Department

Swarthmore College

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Previous Academic Positions (2006 - beyond)

Summer 2023                   Visiting Assistant Professor, School of Fisheries and Aquatic Science, University of

Washington.

2018-2022                       Adjunct Assistant Professor, Division of Life Science, Hong Kong University of Science and

Technology.

2014-2018                       Assistant Professor, Division of Life Science, Hong Kong University of Science and

Technology.

2017-2018                       Visiting Associate, Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of

Technology.

2016                                Visiting Fellow, South African Institute of Aquatic Biodiversity, South Africa.

2014-2016                       Guest Investigator, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, MA.

2012-2014                       Postdoctoral Scholar of the Coastal Ocean Institute and Croucher Foundation Fellow,

WHOI, MA.

Summer 2011 & 2013      Visiting Scientist, Sven Lovén Center of Marine Sciences and Research, 

University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

2006-2012                       Research Assistant for Dr. Daniel Grünbaum, University of Washington.

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Research Grants

2022-2025       National Science Foundation, Integrative Organismal Systems, PI

Hydrodynamic consequences of spines on zooplankton: Functional morphology of horns and tails on barnacle nauplii

2022-2024       National Science Foundation, Ocean Science, PI

Exploring mechanism of plasticity and tolerance in early stage marine invertebrates in response to marine heatwaves

2022-2023       National Science Foundation, Integrative Organismal Systems, PI

SICB 2023 Symposium: Large-scale phenomena arising from small-scale biophysical processes

2022-2023       Company of Biologists, Scientific Meeting Grant

SICB 2023 Symposium: Large-scale phenomena arising from small-scale biophysical processes

2018-2019       Chau Hoi Shuen Foundation Women in Science Program, co-PI

How Body Form Affects the Hydrodynamics of Swimming and Feeding by Zooplankton

2018-2019       COTS Research Grant, Australian Museum Lizard Island Research Station

Swimming behaviors of larval Crown-of-Thorns-Seastars: implications for distribution and dispersal modeling

2017-2019       Hong Kong Research Grant Council, General Research Fund

From physiology to predictions in a changing world: an application of dynamic energy budget model to bivalve veligers

2016-2018       Environmental Conservation Grant, Hong Kong

Marine invertebrate larvae in Hong Kong waters: Development of sampling and photo identification guides for larval decapods and stomatopods

2016-2020       Hong Kong Research Grant Council, Early Career Scheme

Effect of warming, acidification & hyposalinity on marine invertebrates larvae

2015-2018       Environmental Conservation Grant, Hong Kong, co-PI

Assessing the marine biodiversity and ecology of Tolo Harbour and Channel, with particular reference to coastal marine environments of Ting Kok and Shuen Wan Hoi – phase I

2014-2017       National Science Foundation, Biological Oceanography, co-PI

Functional Diversity and Performance of Ciliated Marine Invertebrate Larvae: Measuring and Modeling Larval Swimming, Feeding and Hydrodynamic Signaling

2014-2016       HKUST, Initiation Grant

Effects of climate change stressors on performance of larval marine invertebrates

2014-2015       HKUST, Research Equipment Competition

Carbonate Chemistry analysis for coastal waters

2014-2016       Smithsonian Institution Competitive Grant Program for Science, co-PI

Effects of hypoxia on planktonic larval distribution in tropical Caribbean

2014                 ASSEMBLE On-Site Assess Call

Impact of ocean acidification on egg and sperm physiology

2012-2013       Royal Swedish Academy of Science 

Impacts of changing ocean conditions on planktonic larval stage of marine invertebrates

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​Education Research Grants

2015-2017       HKUST Teaching Development Grant

Enhancing Students' Self-efficacy through Inquiry-based assessment techniques

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Publications: (+ Indicates co-first authors, ^ Indicates students)

^Maboloc, E.A., Chan, K.Y.K. Parental whole life cycle exposure modulates progeny responses to ocean acidification

in slipper limpets. Global Change Biol. 27: 3272. doi: 10.1111/gcb.15647

^Branam, E.N., Wong, J.Y., Chan, B.K.K., Chan, K.Y.K. A tail’s tale: Biomechanical roles of dorsal thoracic spine of

barnacle nauplii. Integr. Comp. Biol. 61, 1095. doi: 10.1093/icb/icab036

Bednaršek, N., Calosi, P., Feely, R.A., Ambrose, R., Byrne, M., Chan, K.Y.K., ... Weisberg, S.B. Synthesis of thresholds

of ocean acidification impacts on echinoderms. Front. Mar. Sci. 8(261). doi:10.3389/fmars.2021.602601

^Akkipeddi, S.M.K.,^ Xu, M., Chan, K.Y.K. Halogenated compound secreted by marine bacteria halts larval urchin

development. J. Exp. Mar. Ecol. Biol. 538, 151540. doi: 10.1016/j.jembe.2021.151540

^Wong, J.Y., Chan, B.K.K., Chan K.Y.K. Swimming kinematics and hydrodynamics of barnacle larvae throughout

development. Proc Biol Sci. 14; 287. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2020.1360

^Liu, T.X., ^Kinn-Gurzo, S., Chan, K.Y.K. Resilience of invasive tubeworm (Hydroides dirampha) to warming and

salinity stress and its implications for biofouling community dynamics. Mar. Biol. 167:145. doi: 10.1007/s00227-020-03758-y

^Wong, J.Y., Chan, B.K.K., Chan, K.Y.K. 2020. Evolution of feeding shapes swimming kinematics of barnacle naupliar

larvae: a comparison between trophic modes. Integr. Org. Biol. 2. doi: 10.1093/iob/obaa011

^Maboloc, E.A., Batzel, G., Grünbaum, D., Chan K.Y.K. 2020. Vertical distribution of echinoid larvae in pH stratified

water columns. Mar. Biol. 167:13. doi: 10.1007/s00227-019-3629-7

Chan, K.Y.K., ^Tong, D. 2020. Temporal variability modulates pH impact on larval sea urchin development. Cons

Phys. 8, doi: 10.1093/conphys/coaa008

Collin, R., Venera‐Pontón, D.E., Driskell, A.C., Macdonald, K.S., Chan, K.Y.K., Boyle, M.J. 2019. Documenting neotropical diversity of phoronids with DNA barcoding of planktonic larvae. Invert. Biol. 128:e12242.

^Wong, J.Y., Chan, K.Y.K., Chan, B.K.K. 2018. Phylogenetic, ecological and biomechanical constraints on larval form:

A comparative morphological analysis of barnacle nauplii. PLOS One 13:e0206973. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206973

Dorey, N, ^Mabaloc, E.A., and Chan, K.Y.K. 2018. Development of the sea urchin Heliocidaris crassispina from Hong

Kong is robust to ocean acidification and copper contamination. Aquat. Toxicol. 2015:1-10

Chan, K.Y.K., Swelle, M., Bryne M. 2018. Revisiting the larval dispersal black box in the Anthropoecene. ICES.

J. Mar. Sci. 75:1841. doi: 10.1093/icesjms/fsy097

^Mak, K. K.Y. and Chan, K.Y.K. 2018. Interactive effects of warming and hyposalinity stress on early life stages of

the sea urchin Heliocidaris crassispnia. Mar. Biol. 165:57

^Leung, J. and Chan, K.Y.K. 2018. Microplastics reduce posterior regeneration rate of the polycheate Perinereis

aibuhitensis. Mar. Poll. Bull. 129:782

^Lo, H. K. and Chan, K.Y.K. 2017. Negative and concentration-dependent effects of microplastic exposure on growth

and development of Crepidula onyx amid selective feeding. Env. Poll. 233:588

^Maboloc, E.A. and Chan, K.Y.K. 2017. Resilience of the larval slipper limpet Crepidula onyx to direct and indirect-diet

effects of ocean acidification. Sci. Rep. 7:12062

^Pecquet, A., Dorey, N. and Chan, K.Y.K. 2017. Ocean acidification impact swimming and development of Bugula

neritina. Mar. Poll. Bull. 124:903. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.02.057.

^Zhang, SW., Chan, K.Y.K., Shen. Z., Cheung, S.Y., Landry, M.R. and Liu, H.B. 2017. Feeding behavior of a cryptic

marine ciliate on progametes of Noctiluca scintillans. Protist. 168:1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.protis.2016.08.005.

Collin, R. and Chan, K.Y.K. 2016. Negligible safety factors for early development of the sea urchin Lytechinus

variegatus in a tropical lagoon. Ecol. Evol. 6: 5623–5634.

+Wheeler, J.D, Chan, K.Y.K. (co-first authors), Anderson, E., Mullineux, L. 2016. Ontogenetic changes in larval

swimming and orientation of pre-competent sea urchin Arbacia punctulata in turbulence. J. Exp. Biol. (Inside JEB Featured Article) 219:1303-1310

Chan, K.Y.K., Gracis, E., Dupont, S.T. 2015. Swimming of urchin larvae unaffected by acidification-induced developmental delay. Sci. Rep. 5:9764

Chan, K.Y.K., Grünbaum, D., Arnsberg, M., Dupont, S.T. 2015.  Impacts of ocean acidification on survival, growth,

and swimming behaviors differ between larval urchins and brittlestars. ICES. Mar. Sci. (Invited contribution), doi: 10.1093/icesjms/fsv073

Chan, K.Y.K., Jiang, H.S., Padillia, D.K.. 2013. Swimming speed of larval snail does not correlated with size and ciliary

beat frequency. PLOS One. 8:e82764

Chan, K.Y.K., Grünbaum, D., Arnsberg, M., Thorndyke, M., Dupont, S.T. 2013. Ocean acidification induces budding

in larval sea urchins. Mar. Biol. 160:2129-2135

Durkin, C. A., Bender, S.J., Chan, K.Y.K., Gaessner, K., Grünbaum, D, Armbrust, V. 2013. Silicic acid supplied to coastal

diatom communities influences cellular silicification and the potential export of carbon. Limnol. Oceanogr. 58:1707-1726

Chan, K.Y.K. 2012. Biomechanics of larval morphology affect swimming: insights from the sand dollars Dendraster

eccentrics. Integr. Comp. Biol. 52:458-469

Chan, K.Y.K., Yang, S., Maliska, M.E., Grünbaum, D. 2012. Interdisciplinary, guided inquiry on estuarine transport

using a computer model in high school classrooms. Am. Biol. Teach. 74:26-33

Chan, K.Y.K., Grünbaum, D., O Donnell, M.J. 2011. Effects of ocean acidification-induced morphological changes

on larval swimming and feeding. J. Exp. Biol. 214:3857-3867

Chan, K.Y.K., Grünbaum, D. 2010. Temperature and diet modified swimming behaviors of larval sand dollar. Mar.

Ecol. Prog Ser. 415:49-59

 

Selected Awards

2012-2014        Croucher Foundation Fellowship for Post-doctoral Research

2012                  Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Postdoctoral Scholarship

2011-2012        University of Washington College of Environment Travel Fund

2011-2012        Boeing International Fellowship

2010-2011        Huckabay Teaching Fellowship

2009-2010        Clarence H. Campbell Endowed Lauren Donaldson Scholarship

2008-2009        Stephen and Ruth Wainwright Endowed Fellowship

2006-2009        Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fellowship for Overseas Studies