Education: 

1991- B.S., Biology, Northeast Normal University, China 

2004- M.S., Biology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL

2007-Ph. D., Neuroscience, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL

2008-2014 Postdoctoral Fellow, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

Research/Teaching Interests: 

• Neurogenesis and smell function in acute and chronic olfactory inflammation.
• Astrocytic signaling in Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
• The role of Amygdala CNTF/Ucn3 in fear extinction learning.

Active Research Funding:

NIH R01 DC020528
Role: Principle Investigator
7/1/22 - 6/30/27
Title: Improving olfactory neuroplasticity through FAK/CNTF signaling
The goal is to target FAK signaling in horizontal basal cells and olfactory ensheathing cells to upregulate CNTF expression, which promotes olfactory neurogenesis and repair following injury.