My long-term interest is to develop a comprehensive understanding of genetic, molecular, and cellular mechanisms underlying psychiatric and mood disorders, and to apply that knowledge for the development of new diagnosis and treatment for these disorders. During my thesis work at University of Minnesota, I investigated the mechanisms and therapeutic potential of inhibitory G protein signaling in anxiety disorders using mouse models and various techniques in electrophysiology, intracranial manipulations, and behavioral analysis. In my postdoc work in the Nedivi lab, I will focus on the candidate plasticity gene 2 (CPG2), a brain-specific protein that localizes to excitatory postsynaptic sites and regulates glutamate receptor internalization. My project seeks to understand the link between the genetic susceptibility to bipolar disorder and CPG2 expression and function by combining human genetic variation mapping in bipolar patients with in vitro reporter testing.

I like to teach and have had various teaching experience since undergrad. Outside of work, I enjoy playing badminton, ping-pong, piano, practicing yoga, and doing outdoor activities such as hiking and biking.