Juntong grew up in a Chinese fishing town, and she was obsessed with the ocean since childhood, which eventually led her to be a marine biologist. She completed her B.S in Marine Science and M.Phil. in Biology in China. She has spent the last three years studying the effects of climate change on hard corals and the unique coral-algae endosymbiosis relationship. She will continue her study in Australia on coral reef ecology and conservation later this year. Juntong will use this grant to help apply her research skills to solving real-world problems, especially coral bleaching.

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