People

Principal Investigator

Assistant Professor | Department of Psychology | The University of Hong Kong
HKU webpage

Dr. Wai Sze Chan received her PhD in Clinical Psychological Science from the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Indiana University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship specializing in behavioral sleep medicine at the University of Missouri. Prior to joining HKU, she was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College and a licensed practicing clinical psychologist in the state of New Hampshire, USA.

Dr. Chan is broadly interested in the effects of sleep on self-regulation and the subsequent impact on health behavior and emotional regulation. Her clinical line of research focuses on evaluating how a therapy work and how to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of a therapy. Specifically, she evaluates how one can optimize the efficacy of sleep interventions for individuals with medical and psychiatric comorbidities. Her mechanistic research focuses on unraveling the behavioral and psychological mechanisms by which parameters of sleep (duration, quality, variability) and circadian rhythms affect the regulation of eating and weight management.

Research Assistant


Cheng, Wing Yee (Sandy) Image

Hi, I am Sandy. I completed my bachelor's degree at The Education University of Hong Kong with Health Psychology as my area of concentration. My undergraduate thesis examined the effect of napping on negative attentional bias among people with depression. I joined SLASH Lab in 2022 and currently working on sleep and eating research study with Dr. Chan. I am interested in the effects of sleep on self-regulation.








Li, Lok Yan (Christy)









Postgraduate Students


Ng, Sin Ying (Albe) Image

I am Albe, a PhD student under the supervision of Dr. Wai Sze Chan. I received my bachelor’s degree in the Department of Psychology at HKU. I am interested in the psychopathology of complex trauma and the resilience factors facilitating posttraumatic growth. My research project focuses on the role of sleep disturbance in the relationship between child abuse and emotional and behavioural adjustment. I aspire to equip and empower caregivers with skills to take care of emotionally disturbed children so that healing can take place in everyday life, beyond the therapy room.








Zhang Qi, (Kate) Image

Hi, I am Kate. I received my master’s degree at University College London three years ago. I am currently a second year PhD student under the supervision of Dr. Wai Sze Chan. My research interests lie primarily in the area of mental disorders, sleep and women’s health. The central aim of my dissertation is to advance our understanding about the relationship between disturbed sleep and depression among perinatal women. Studying the shared mechanisms underlying these two disorders could be the key to develop more effective interventions and prevention strategies for women who need help. I sincerely hope that my study may provide some help for future researchers and my ultimate goal is to improve quality of life and mental health outcomes for women in need.








Tsui Tsz Ching, (Helen) Image

I am Helen and I’m doing my Mphil degree under Dr. Chan’s supervision. I received my bachelor’s degree in psychology at HKU. I am interested in studying sleep disorders, emotion regulation and mood disorders. My research project investigates the role of emotion regulation in the association between insomnia and depression. I enjoy doing research to investigate the mechanisms of sleep and mood disorders to improve the interventions to help those who are emotionally disturbed.









MSocSc CP Student


2020-2022
Cheah, Amanda
Cheng, Gabriel
Liu, Grace Vivian
Lok, Samson
2019-2021
Li, Hazel
Wong, Charlie
2018-2020
Chan, Sally
Lam, Stephanie
 
 


Undergraduate Thesis Student



2022-2023
Po Shuk Kwan, Bonnie
2020-2021
Cheng Suet Ying, Vanessa
Lai Tsun Tak, Alvah
Tsui Tsz Ching, Helen
2019-2020
Cheng Kwan Ho, Kristopher
 
 

Undergraduate and Postgraduate Research Interns


Summer 2023
Gloria
Kwok Shin Yu, Dorothy
Ma Cheuk Yung, Abby
Sinn Cheuk Yiu, Belle
Sonia
Wen Fangdi, Anna
Winnie
 
Spring 2023
Chan, Aidan
Chan Yin Kan, Megan
Cheung Chit, Ellen
Choi Man Hei, Eunice
Herman Wong
Leung Tsz Yan, Minnie
Li Pui Tsung, Windsor
Sinn Cheuk Yiu, Belle
Sun Pui Kwan, Kristin
Po Shuk Kwan, Bonnie
Yu Cheuk Yin, Cherrie
 
   
Fall 2022
Chan, Aidan
Chan Ching Fong, Fonny
Chan Yin Kan, Megan
Cheung Chit, Ellen
Li Pui Tsung, Windsor
Po Shuk Kwan, Bonnie
Yu Cheuk Yin, Cherrie
 
Spring 2022
Cheung Fung Chit, Jack
Wen Fangdi, Anna
 
   
Fall 2021
Chan Yue Hin, Dominic
Lau Sum Yu, Cheryl
Hui Chui Shan, Dani
Tsang Yan Cheuk, Iva
Wong Chun Lam, Chris
Wong Yuen Ting, Eva
Woo Tse Lyn, Rachael
Ying Shut Chi, Justin
 
Summer 2021
Fung Kei
Lam Ngo Chit, Owen
Lau Wing Tung, Koni
So Si Hang, Alvin
Wong Hei Tung, Patrina
 
Spring 2021
Lui Hiu Lam, Bubble
Ng Yeuk Yu, Luna
Tam Wing Sum, Chloe
 
   
Fall 2020
Jin Ya Qi, Yvonne
Li Cheuk Yin, Ryan
Lobo, Sophia
Mui Siu Sing, Frederick
Yip Yau, Sophie
 
Summer 2020
Chung Wing Tung, Phebe
Sukhani, Ritika
Wong Hei Ting, Asteria
Wu Bethany
Yeung Sum Yu, Livia
 
Spring 2020
Chan Sin Ying, Ruby
Tsui Tsz Ching, Helen
Vaswani, Vritti
 
Fall 2019
Hiepler, Joshua Travis
Lee Cheung Shing, Lorence
Lee Wing Sum, Hannah
Louie Hui Wah, Krisya
Vaswani, Prerita
 
Summer 2019
Chan Kwan Ho, Teddy
Chan Ying Chung, Terence
Cheung Chak Heng, Brian
Cheng Suet Ying, Vanessa
Lai Tsun Tak, Alvah
Tam Cheuk Yan, Jasmee
Tao Jun Chen, Tiffany
Wong Ka Yan, Kristie