Biography

Prior to assuming his current assignments, Prof. Kwan served as the founding Director of Health, Safety and Environment at HKUST. Before returning to Hong Kong, he was the Hazards Control Team Manager at the University of California, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the USA. He also worked as an Occupational Hygienist and a Senior Environmental Health Specialist at Northrop Corporation, Aircraft Division and Rockwell International, Rocketdyne Division respectively. Before joining the safety, health and environmental management profession, he was a research microbiologist at the University of California, San Francisco.

He is certified by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene in comprehensive practice, licensed by the State of California as a Clinical Microbiological Scientist, and is registered in California as an Environmental Health Specialist. He is a fellow of the American Industrial Hygiene Association, and of the Hong Kong Institute of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene.

His areas of research interest include environmental and occupational health risk assessment, Environmental infection control, and the transport and fate of infectious microbes in the indoor environment.

Highlighted Publications

• Kenneth K. W. Li; Antonia M. Joussen; Joseph K. C. Kwan; David H. W. Steel “FFP3, FFP2, N95, surgical masks and respirators: what should we be wearing for ophthalmic surgery in the COVID-19 pandemic?” Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology (2020), 258:1587–1589, May 2020

• Li, Li Ping; Kwan, Joseph Kai Cho; Yeung, King Lun “An investigation of the transformation, kenetics and bioactivity of ozone treatment of DEET in water” Chemical Engineering Journal, v. 368, p. 10-17, July 2019

• Leung, Hong Hang; Lai C.K.; Yeung King Lun; Kwan, Joseph Kai Cho; Tsang D.N. “Multilevel antimicrobial disinfectant coating in reducing the viability of multidrug-resistant organisms in hospital environment” Hong Kong Medical Journal, v. 24, (5), p. 37-39, October 2018

• Fu, Sau Chung; Cheung, Yung Shan; Lee, Hau Him; Kwan, Joseph K.C.; Chao, Christopher Y.H. “Studies on detachment behavior of micron sized droplets: A comparison between pure fluid and nanofluid” Aerosol Science and Technology, v. 52, (1), p. 69-77, 2 January 2018

• Zhan, Ning; Dy, Trixie Ruth Nunez; Kwan, Joseph Kai Cho; Yeung, King Lun “Bactericidal activity and design of low voltage Pulsed-Electric Field (PEF) device for water disinfection” 254th ACS National Meeting, Washington DC, U.S.A., 20-24 August 2017

• Lee, Jong Hong; Zhan, Ning; Kwan, Joseph K.C.; Yeung, King Lun “Design air purification filters with formulated antimicrobial agents” 254th ACS National Meeting, Washington DC, U.S.A., 20-24 August 2017

• Li, Jinquan; Li, Li; Chen, Hanqing; Chang, Qing; Liu, Xudong; Wu, Yang; Li, Rui; Wei, Chenxi; Kwan, Joseph K.C.; Yeung, King Lun; XI, Zhuge; Lu, Zhisong; Yang, Xu, “A strategy for the safe use of nanomaterials: Application of vitamin E to antagonize SWCNT-induced exacerbation of allergic asthma" Scientific Reports 4: 4275 March 2014

• Gin Nam Sze-To, Yang Yang, Joseph K. C. Kwan, Samuel C. T. Yu, Christopher Y. H. Chao, “Effects of Surface Material, Ventilation, and Human Behavior on Indirect Contact Transmission Risk of Respiratory Infection” Risk Analysis, 34:5 pp. 818–830, May 2014

• W. T. Yuen, S. C. Fu, Joseph K. C. Kwan, Christopher Y. H. Chao, “The use of Nonlinear Acoustics as an Energy Efficient Technique for Aerosol Removal” Aerosol Science and Technology, 48:9 pp. 907-915, July 2014