Washington University in St. Louis (WU)
My research program focuses on understanding brain processes that interpret sensory cues to drive complex behaviors and the alterations of these processes in disorders such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Leveraging my background in protein engineering and systems neuroscience, I develop advanced optical molecular tools to explore questions related to ASD’s complex functions. I have created innovative multi-color calcium sensors and optogenetic actuators that allow the interrogation of distinct neural communications. These tools are used to dissect social circuits involving excitatory and inhibitory interactions in the prefrontal cortex—a key area implicated in ASD—across multi-scales in both healthy and autistic states. My research aims to expand our knowledge of how social information is processed in the brain, both in health and disease at multi-scale. This work will enhance our understanding of neural circuit underlying social behavior and could lead to circuit-inspired diagnostic markers and treatments for neurological disorders.