Rebecca A. Chong

Rebecca A. Chong is an Assistant Professor in the School of Life Sciences at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. Her research focuses on symbiotic interactions, genomics, and evolutionary processes in microbial-endosymbiont-host systems. She leads the Chong Lab, which investigates symbiosis-driven genomic evolution, particularly in Hawaiian lava tube biodiversity and cave-adapted arthropods. Her work integrates field studies, molecular genomics, and bioinformatics to explore co-evolutionary dynamics and genome degradation.

Research Interests: Her research spans symbiosis evolution, microbial ecology, and biodiversity in extreme environments. Key areas include understanding how endosymbionts impact host fitness, mechanisms of genome degradation in obligate symbionts, and the role of symbiosis in cave ecosystems.

Awards:

• NSF DEB-2204670 Grant ($1.29M) for lava tube biodiversity studies
• NSF REPS Supplement for post-bacc research on planthopper symbionts
• UH Impact Innovation Showcase recognition for high-impact teaching in SEA-PHAGES bioinformatics

Lab & Teaching: Advises PhD and MS students (e.g., Jordan Gossett, Aimr Pono Van Gieson), mentors undergraduates (Cielo, Joe), and leads NSF-funded HawaiiBIO internships. Teaches bioinformatics through the SEA-PHAGES program.

Lab Activities: Collaborates on NSF-funded projects studying lava tube ecosystems and cixiid planthoppers. Recent work includes publishing in Genome Biology and Evolution and presenting at Evolution 2022.