Kimberly Tsz Ching Wong
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
I’ve been passionate about biochemistry since high school. The more I learned about biochemical processes, the more fascinated I became with how everything in life is connected at the molecular level. There’s something incredibly exciting about uncovering the mechanisms behind these processes—almost like solving a puzzle where every piece reveals something new about how life works. I remember how excited I was when I first read a research paper, and that curiosity pushed me to keep going. A graduate degree felt like the best way to dive even deeper into this field and contribute to something meaningful.
Why did you decide to study at UBC?
At first, I was drawn to UBC for its beautiful campus and top-notch facilities. But as I explored the programs and research opportunities, I realized it was the right place for me. The biochemistry department has incredible faculty, a strong research community, and an environment that constantly pushes you to grow. What I love most is UBC’s diversity—being surrounded by people from different backgrounds and perspectives makes learning and research even more exciting. Plus, living in Vancouver, with its vibrant and multicultural atmosphere, is an added bonus!
What is it specifically, that your program offers, that attracted you?
One of the things I love about UBC’s biochemistry program is how broad and diverse it is—you get to explore everything from human biology to microbes. For me, protein evolution is the most exciting area because it’s still full of mysteries. It’s incredible to think about how proteins have changed over time and how that shapes life as we know it. Understanding these evolutionary forces could give us insights into everything from medicine to biotechnology, which is why I’m so drawn to this field
What was the best surprise about UBC or life in Vancouver?
Definitely the nature. The landscapes, the seasonal changes, the way the sunsets and sunrises paint the sky—it’s all breathtaking. I expected Vancouver to be beautiful, but actually living here and experiencing it every day is something else. Even just walking around campus or along the seawall can be an instant mood booster.
What aspects of your life or career before now have best prepared you for your UBC graduate program?
UBC’s biochemistry undergrad program gave me a solid foundation to build on. The courses were challenging, but they really helped me develop the critical thinking and lab skills I need for grad school. Plus, being in that environment—surrounded by researchers and learning about cutting-edge discoveries—made me even more excited to continue in the field.
What do you like to do for fun or relaxation?
I mainly play piano and love covering music in my freetime, but also a part-time skateboarder, a marathon enthusiast and a Nintendo (pokemon) gamer.
What advice do you have for new graduate students?
Follow what excites you. Research can be tough, but if you genuinely love what you're studying, it makes the challenges way more rewarding. Also, consistency is key—building good work habits early on makes a huge difference. And don’t be afraid to ask questions or seek help. Everyone is figuring things out along the way!
Learn more about Kimberly Tsz Ching's research
Pesticide contamination threatens global food safety and human health, yet sustainable solutions remain limited. Some soil bacteria naturally degrade pesticides by evolving specialized enzymes, offering a promising bioremediation strategy. However, how enzyme evolution shapes bacterial survival and fitness is still poorly understood. To investigate this, we engineered Escherichia coli to grow on the organophosphate pesticide—paraoxon as its sole phosphorus source, studying 23 laboratory-evolved variants of the paraoxon-degrading enzyme phosphotriesterase (PTE), which exhibit a 100,000-fold difference in catalytic efficiency. Contrary to metabolic control theory (MCT), growth did not follow a simple sigmoidal relationship with enzyme efficiency (Kacser and Burns, 1979). Surprisingly, early intermediates with low catalytic efficiency (10²–10³ M⁻¹s⁻¹) maintained comparable growth rates by upregulating enzyme expression, violating the MCT assumption of constant enzyme concentration over time. Time-course flow cytometry and single-colony microscopy timelapse analysis revealed that these variants increased gene expression through an instantaneous phenotypic selection process, demonstrating an inverse relationship between enzyme expression and catalytic efficiency. Our results further elucidate the nontrivial connection between enzyme evolution and organismal phenotype, showing that observed fitness through phenotypic selection relies on noisy gene expression to optimize fitness. These findings underscore the critical need for in vivo studies in enzyme engineering, as relying solely on in vitro optimization may fail to capture essential physiological adaptations for sustainable bioremediation.
