The human brain has 100 billion interconnected neurons that mediate every thought and action of our everyday lives-like reading this sentence. How does the brain work? I am interested in the neural basis of animal behavior, particularly how visual information is computed by neural networks. Using Drosophila as a model system, which has ~500,000 times fewer neurons than humans, I study the molecular, genetic, and functional mechanisms by which observable behaviors are orchestrated through specific neural circuits. Under laboratory settings, normal Drosophila exhibit robust and stereotypic behaviors that can be readily observed, such as visually guided locomotion, intraspecific communication, and long range odor localization. Integrating molecular neurogenetics and quantitative behavioral analysis, I study the behavioral deficits of animals that have specific neural circuits genetically inactivated. Furthermore, I apply physio-behavioral assays on genetic mutants to rapidly evaluate the roles of underlying genes in the organization and modulation of the animal behaviors.

My research covers a broad array of seemingly diverse topics. All of my projects were born from a long-standing interest in understanding how the brain control our behaviors. Recently, my research focuses on social approach behaviors, because social motivation deficits are common phenomena of mental disorders, such as autism, depression, and anxiety disorder.

I am interested in combining imaging with Drosophila genetics to understand neural basics and molecular mechanisms of behaviors. My current work focuses on studying collective behavior and homeostasis of water and ion in Drosophila. I like yoga, belly dance, swimming and cooking.

Fields of interest: Neural basis of behavior, "emotions" in flies, Image processing of complex insect behavior Hobbies: Swimming, Classical Chinese

Hu Shaowei is a 2010 graduate of College of Sciences, Anhui Normal University, where he received a BA in life science. He rotated in the lab of Jinhui Wang, working with Zhao Jun on whisker stimulated activation of barrel cortical neurons via Two-Photo Microscope in 2012 in Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and went on to earn a PhD in neuroscience in our lab in 2017. His graduate works focus on neural and molecular mechanisms of aggressive behavior and courtship behavior in Drosophila. Currently, Shaowei is studying the mechanisms that mediate sex desire of males of Drosophila.

I am a data miner. I tried to reveal and to visualize the biological meanings underlying big data of different modalities.

My name is Haiying Ye. Now, I’m study for my master's degree in Institute of biophysics, Chinese academy of sciences. My supervisor is professor-Yan Zhu and my research direction is to explore feeding behaviors and the energy metabolism of molecules and neural mechanism in the Drosophila melanogaster.

My interest is to understand how our brain works in behaviors. Currently, my research focuses on aggressive behavior, an innate and conserved behavior in animal kingdom.

Joined Zhu lab and started my study for doctor’s degree in 2015. Interested in the motor coordination in Drosophila, like how different body parts in flies coordinate with the others and how external stimuli are represented in nerve system then affect behavior. Neuroscience is a mysterious and fascinating ocean, join our voyage and sail into the deep space of neurons!

I come from Wuhan and I like playing badminton and basketball.I'm interested in programming and neural basis of behavior.I want to combine program and neural science to make our study easier and funny.

Hi~I’m LI Xiaoyu, from Shanxi province.I was graduated from China Agricultural University .I am a postgraduate freshman, and will explore the mystery of the brain in Drosophila in zhulab.