Academic Title(s)

• Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology

Courses

• Neurobiology (M1 Medical Students and Graduate Students)
• Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience (Graduate Students)
• Systems Neuroscience (Graduate Students)

Bio

As a graduate student working with Dr. Philip Jen at the University of Missouri-Columbia (1995-1999), I studied functions of neural inhibition in auditory information processing in the bat auditory midbrain using extracellular single-cell recording techniques and pharmacological agents affecting transmitter receptors that mediate the inhibition. As a postdoctoral fellow under the guidance of Dr. Edwin Rubel at the University of Washington (1999-2005), I initiated studies using patch clamp to determine activity- and development-dependent regulation of ion channels and neurotransmission in auditory brainstem neurons. As an independent PI at NEOMED (2005-present), my research focuses on studying neuromodulatory functions in hearing physiology, under normal hearing and hearing loss conditions, as well as in an animal model of fragile X syndrome.

Area of Expertise/Research Interests

We investigate the cellular mechanisms of auditory processing, with a focus on neuromodulation under normal hearing and hearing-impaired conditions. Electrophysiological and optical imaging approaches, combined with pharmacological and immunohistochemistry tools, are employed. We aim to obtain in-depth understanding of neuromodulation in functionally well-established auditory circuits, which may provide the basis for therapeutic intervention in hearing disorders.

Educational Background

• 1999 Ph.D., Biology, University of Missouri-Columbia, MO
• 1992 M.S., Biology, Beijing Normal University, P.R. China
• 1989 B.S., Biology, Beijing Normal University, P.R. China