Chun Kit KWOK, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Chemistry
City University of Hong Kong
Office: AC1-P5118
Lab: AC1-P2405 & AC1-P2406
Phone: (852) 3442 6858
Fax: (852) 3442 0522
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @kitkwok6
Dr. Kit Kwok obtained his B.Sc. in Chemistry (2009) from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, after completing an exchange program at University of California, Los Angeles in 2007-2008. He completed his PhD in Pennsylvania State University (2014), mentored by Professor Philip C. Bevilacqua and Professor Sarah M. Assmann. In Apr 2014, Dr. Kwok worked as a Croucher Postdoctoral Fellow in University of Cambridge under Professor Sir Shankar Balasubramanian. In Oct 2016, Dr. Kwok's joined the City University of Hong Kong (CityU) as an Assistant professor and has been promoted to Associate professor in July 2021. Over the years, Dr. Kwok have received numerous awards, including CityU President Award (2019), Croucher Innovation Award (2019), Hong Kong Institute for Advanced Study Rising Star in Chemistry (2021), CityU Outstanding Research Award (2022), NSFC Excellent Young Scientist Fund (優青) (2022), RNA Society Early-Career Award (2024), and RGC Research Fellowship (2025). In 2022, he has been recognized as an elected member of Hong Kong Young Academy of Science (YASHK).
Dr. Kwok’s current research focus is to explore the roles of RNA structures and interactions in biology, especially the functions of G-quadruplex structures/interactions in diverse classes of RNAs, as well as characterizing their formation, dynamics, interactions, and functions in different species and their relevance to gene regulation, RNA metabolism and diseases. Two other ongoing research directions in the Kwok lab are to develop aptamer-based and peptide-based targeting tools for detection, imaging, intervention of these important RNA structures and interactions, as well as to invent innovative nucleic acid-based technologies for sensing chemical pollutants and pathogens.
To cultivate a stimulating learning environment for students and to establish the RNA community in Hong Kong, Dr. Kwok, together with Dr. Minh Le, has founded the Hong Kong RNA Club in Aug 2017 and organized RNA seminar and symposium events regularly (http://www.kitkwok.com/hk-rna-club.html). The Hong Kong RNA Club has been recognized and supported by the International RNA Society and various industrial companies. Dr. Kwok is currently one of the RNA Society’s Asia RNA research ambassadors.
Professional History
2021-present Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong
2016-2021 Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong
2014-2016 Croucher Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Chemistry & CRUK, University of Cambridge (Mentor: Prof. Sir Shankar Balasubramanian)
Education
2009-2014 Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University (Mentors: Prof. Philip C. Bevilacqua and Sarah M. Assmann)
2007-2008 Exchange student, University of California, Los Angeles (Mentor: Prof. Juli Feigon)
2005-2009 B.Sc., Chinese University of Hong Kong (Mentor: Prof. Sik Lok Lam)
Awards and Honors
2025 RGC Research Fellowship
2024 Top 2% of the World's Most Highly Cited Scientists by Stanford University
2024 RNA Society Early-Career Research Award
2023 Top 2% of the World's Most Highly Cited Scientists by Stanford University
2022 Outstanding Research Award, City University of Hong Kong
2022 NSFC Excellent Young Scientist (優青 (港澳))
2022 Elected member of Hong Kong Young Academy of Science (YASHK)
2021 Top 2% of the World’s Most Highly Cited Scientists by Stanford University
2021 Hong Kong Institute for Advanced Study Rising Star (Chemistry)
2019 The President Award, City University of Hong Kong
2019 Croucher Innovation Award, Croucher Foundation
2017 Royal Society Kan Tong Po International Exchange Fellowship
2016 RNA Society Travel Award
2015 Selected Young Scientist Participant for the 65th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting
2014 Inventor Incentive Award, PSU
2014-2016 Croucher Postdoctoral Fellowship, Croucher Foundation
2014 Alumni Association Dissertation Award, PSU
2013 Eugene and Jane Apple Science Graduate Fellowship, PSU
2012, 2013 Graduate Student Travel Award, PSU (3 times)
2009 Braddock Graduate Fellowship, PSU
2008 Lau Oi Wah Oversea Exchange Memorial Scholarship, CUHK
2008 Yasumoto International Exchange Scholarships, CUHK
2007, 2009 The Swire Scholarship, John Swire & Sons (Hong Kong) Limited (2 times)
2007 The Highest Class Award (>200 h community service), Hong Kong Community Youth Club
2007 Dr. James C. N. Ma Memorial Scholarship, CUHK
External Fundings
Jan 2025 - Dec 2028 NSFC General Program Grant (500,000 RMB)
Jan 2025 - Dec 2029 Resesarch Fellow Scheme, RGC HK (5,284,350 HKD)
Aug 2023 - Jul 2026 General Research Fund Scheme, RGC HK (1,600,000 HKD)
Jan 2023 - Dec 2025 NSFC Excellent Young Scientists Fund (Hong Kong & Macao) (2,000,000 RMB)
Jan 2023 - Dec 2025 General Research Fund Scheme, RGC HK (1,207,265 HKD)
Jan 2022 - Dec 2024 General Research Fund Scheme, RGC HK (1,125,732 HKD)
Jan 2020 - Dec 2022 General Research Fund Scheme, RGC HK (1,253,010 HKD)
Nov 2019 - Oct 2024 Croucher Innovation Award, Croucher Foundation (5,000,000 HKD)
Apr 2019 - Mar 2022 Shenzhen Basic Research Program Basic Research Discipline Layout Project (2,000,000 RMB)
Jan 2019 - Dec 2021 General Research Fund Scheme, RGC HK (1,214,676 HKD)
Jan 2018 - Dec 2021 NSFC/RGC Joint Research Scheme, RGC HK (1,214,000 HKD)
Jan 2018 - Dec 2020 Early Career Scheme, RGC HK (1,017,961 HKD)
Educational Grant, RGC HK (50,000 HKD)
Nov 2016 - Oct 2021 Croucher Start Up Grant, Croucher Foundation (500,000 HKD)
Scientific Feature, Press Release and Media Coverage
2025 Media Coverage on Angewandte Chemie paper
2025 Media Coverage on Nucleic Acids Research
2025 Media Coverage on Nucleic Acids Research
2025 Media Coverage on Chem. Commun. paper
2024 Media Coverage on NAR paper
2024 Media Coverage on Nat Commun paper
2024 Media Coverage on Angewandte Chemie paper
2024 Media Coverage on NSFC Fund
2024 Media Coverage on RSC Chem Biol Paper
2024 Media Coverage on Top 2% of the World’s Most Highly Cited Scientists (Stanford University) 1 & 2
2024 Press Release on RGC Research Fellowship Award, 1 & 2
2024 Media Coverage on Analytical Chemistry paper
2024 Media Coverage on Angewandte Chemie, 1 & 2
2024 Press Release and Media Coverage on RNA Society Early-Career Research Award, 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 & 7
2023 Media Coverage on Top 2% of the World’s Most Highly Cited Scientists (Stanford University), 1 & 2
2023 Trends Biotechnol. review was featured in journal cover
2023 Press Release and Media Coverage on NAR paper, 1 & 2 & 3 & 4
2023 Media Coverage on JACS paper, 1 & 2
2023 Media Coverage on Chem. Commun. paper
2023 Media Coverage on JACS paper
2022 Press Release on CityU Outstanding Research Awards for Junior Faculty, 1 & 2
2022 Media Coverage on Angewandte Chemie International paper, 1 & 2
2022 Media Coverage on BMC Biology Paper
2022 Press Release and Media Coverage on Nature Communications Paper, 1 & 2
2022 Media Coverage on RTHK31 「香港故事:創科夢工場研路山旮旯: 郭駿傑」
2022 Media Coverage on NSFC Excellent Young Scientists Fund (Hong Kong and Macau), 1 & 2 & 3
2022 Media Coverage on Science China Life Sci. review, 1 & 2 & 3
2022 Media Coverage on RSC Chem. Bio. paper
2022 Press Release and Media Coverage on Nature Protocols paper, 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 & 7 & 8 & 9 & 10 & 11 & 12
2022 Press release and media coverage on Fundamental Research paper, 1 & 2
2021 Press Release and Media Coverage on Hong Kong Institute for Advanced Study (HKIAS) Rising Star Lecture, 1 & 2 & 3 & 4
2021 NAR Review highlighted in Faculty Opinions
2021 Media Coverage on Top 2% of the World’s Most Highly Cited Scientists (Stanford University)
2021 Media Coverage on NAR Paper, 1 & 2 & 3
2021 NAR Review highlighted in Faculty Opinions
2021 Press Release on CityU RESEARCH
2020 Press Release and Media Coverage on Genome Biology Paper, 1 & 2 & 3
2020 Media Coverage and Highlights of Angew. Chem. paper Faculty Opinions, 1 & 2 & 3
2020 Press release and Media coverage on Croucher Innovation Award, 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6
2019 Trends Biochem. Sci. review was featured in journal cover
2018 Press Release and Media Coverage on Nature Methods Paper, 1 & 2 & 3 & 4
2018 Media Coverage on Cold Spring Harb Prospect Biol. Paper