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         Watcharapong Hongjamrassilp (WiN)  is a biologist and an assistant professor at the Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand. Born and raised in Thailand, a global biodiversity hotspot, WiN developed a lifelong fascination with the natural world that led him to a career in biology. As a "biologist without borders," he has explored ecosystems across multiple disciplines and continents to study extraordinary creatures and their unique behaviors.

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          WiN’s journey in science began with a fully funded scholarship from the Royal Thai Government, supporting his studies from his undergraduate degree through to his Ph.D. As an undergraduate at Chulalongkorn University, he contributed to research across diverse fields including medical genetics, marine ecology, and entomology, honing a wide-ranging scientific skillset. His early research culminated in a publication in the Journal of Hymenoptera Research, on the "Nesting Biology of a Carpenter Bee in Thailand," which was awarded the Grand Champion Trophy by Hitachi Company, Japan.

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         In 2014, WiN pursued a master’s degree at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, where he investigated the evolution of fish behavior and morphology. His work, blending geometric morphometrics, behavioral ecology, and molecular biology, provided insights into how behavioral diversity drives morphological adaptation. This work led to his role as an academic assistant for NHK (Japan’s national public broadcasting organization), supporting the production of an underwater documentary on fish behavior that aired nationwide in Japan on April 16, 2017.

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          WiN began his Ph.D. in Biology at the University of California, Los Angeles in 2017, where he applied his passion for biology to address conservation challenges. His research uncovered the secrets of the semiaquatic mass migration of freshwater shrimp, known as “Parading Behavior,” and examined the impact of ecotourism on shrimp migration in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand. This work contributes to our understanding of species behavior, habitat conservation, and the broader effects of human activity on wildlife.