Professor CHEN, Si-Chong 陳思翀
Associate Professor, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, HKU
BSc (Wuhan University, China); MPhil (University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China); PhD (University of New South Wales, Australia)
Research Paper
Please view here for full list.
Teaching Areas
- Plant structure and evolution
- Ecology and biodiversity
- Biogeography and macroecology
- Ecological statistics
Research Interests
I investigate the macroecological patterns of seed dispersal, seed predation, seed storage behaviors, and broader plant reproduction and regeneration strategies. My work aims to advance our understanding of ecological systems in three key ways:
- Bridging gaps between empirical data, intuitive ideas, and ecological theories.
- Enhancing the integration of replicated studies at taxonomically, geographically and temporally-broad scales.
- Extending insights from local, species-specific observations to global patterns spanning multi-biomes and diverse taxonomic groups.
Current Research
- How do tiny seeds shape vast ecosystems?
We explore large-scale seed ecology and plant reproductive strategies to understand how plants regenerate and sustain themselves across global landscapes.
- How and why do species coexist?
By looking through the lens of macroecology and biogeography, we investigate the complex interactions that allow diverse species to live together across different regions.
- What drives plant diversity and evolution over space and time?
We uncover the historical and environmental forces that shape plant life strategies and their adaptive evolution.
- How is a changing world reshaping plant communities?
We examine how global changes impact seed-based regeneration and alter critical plant traits.
Fellowships, Awards and Honors
- NSFC Excellent Young Scientists Fund (Overseas Program; 2022–2024)
- “100 Telants” Program, Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Self-Financed Outstanding Scholarship Awardee, China Scholarship Council (2021)
- Future Leaders Fellowship in Plant and Fungal Science (Royal Botanic Gardens Kew)
- Jacob Blaustein Centre for Scientific Cooperation Postdoctoral Fellowship (Ben-Gurion University)
- University International Postgraduate Award Scholarship (UNSW Sydney)
- Editorial board members for Methods in Ecology and Evolution, Ecography, Oikos, Seed Science Research, Integrative Zoology, etc.
Academic Leadership
- President-Elect, International Society for Seed Science (2025–2029)
- Deputy Director, State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Chinese Academy of Sciences (2023–2026)
- Deputy Director, Seed Ecology Section, Ecological Society of China (2024–present)
- Committee Member, Plant Ecology Section, Botanical Society of China (2023–2028)
Research Team
We welcome applications for MPhil, PhD, and Postdoctoral positions on an ongoing basis. Please visit our lab website (https://si-chong.github.io) for details and contact us before applying.
