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Current Lab

MEI ZHEN, PhD

CV | Profile

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Professor, University of Toronto
Department of Molecular Genetics
Department of Physiology
Department of Cell & Systems Biology

Senior Scientist
Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute

Wesley Hung, PhD

Research Associate & Lab Manager

1990, BSc, Simon Fraser University
1997, PhD, University of British Columbia

Investigating the molecular mechanisms and neuronal circuit requirements for C. elegans locomotion

Ying Wang, MD

Senior Researcher & Lab Manager

1988, BSc
2000, MD, Dalian Medical University, China

William Li

Research Assistant, Zhen Lab

2014 – 2018, BSc, University of Toronto
2019 – 2022, MSc, University of Toronto

Genetic methods to determine the functional and behavioural effects of neural connectivity

Ben Mulcahy, PhD

Post-doctoral Fellow

2009, BSc
2013, PhD, University of Southampton, United Kingdom

Investigating circuit wiring, development, and neurophysiology

Mona Wang

2019- PhD Candidate

2014 – 2018, BSc, University of Toronto

Investigating the influence of environment on neural circuits

Jayant Rai

2019- PhD Candidate (Co-supervised with Dr. Kenichi Okamoto)

2014 – 2018, HBSc, University of Toronto (Molecular Biology)

Investigating the spatiotemporal roles of cAMP in learning & memory

Neeraja Ramakrishnan

2019- PhD Candidate

2013 – 2017, BSc, University of Waterloo

Mechanisms of synaptic development

Hongruo Zhang

2020- PhD Candidate

2014 – 2018, BSc, Wuhan University

Mechanisms that regulate central pattern generators and neuronal excitability

Alanna Love

2021- PhD Candidate

2017 – 2021, BSc, University of British Columbia
2021 – 2023, MSc, University of Toronto (Molecular Genetics)

Ze Nan (Tommy) Tang

2021- MSc Candidate

2017 – 2021, HBSc, University of Toronto

Congrong (Ruby) He

2023- PhD Candidate (Co-supervised with Dr. John Calarco)

2023, Summer Research Student, Data Sciences Institute Awardee

2019 – 2023, BSc, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Toronto

Huayin Luo

Lab Assistant

2023 – 2024, Summer Research Student

2021 – 2026, BSc Candidate, University of Toronto (Molecular Genetics)

Danish Islam

Lab Assistant

2024 – Work Study Student

2023 – 2024, Summer Research Student, PEY Co-op

2021 – 2026, BASc Candidate, University of Toronto (Computer Engineering)

Sruthy Ravivarma

2023- PhD Candidate

2014-2014, BSc Botany, Sree Keralavarma College
2017-2019, MSc Biotechnology, Cochin University

Tian Du

2023- PhD Candidate (Co-supervised with Dr. Lu-Yang Wang)

2018 – 2023, BSc, Physiology, University of Toronto

Lucinda Zhu

2024- PhD Student  
2019-2023, hBSc Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto

Yuna Lee

2023- 2024 Undergraduate ROP

2022 – 2026, BSc, Neuroscience and Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Toronto

Mishaal Kandapath

2024 Summer – Summer Reasearch Student

2021-2025: BSc Candidate, University of Toronto (Computer Science, Computational Cognitive Science).

Ethan Chan

2024 Summer – Summer Reasearch Student

2022- 2027: BSc Candidate, University of Toronto (Computer Science).

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Alumni

Rory Gao

Summer Course, Biophysics (Princeton University)
Data Sciences Institute Awardee

2020 – 2024, BASc Candidate, University of Toronto (Engineering Science)

2020 – 2023 ROP Summer research Student , 4th year thesis student

Xindi Tao

2023- Undergraduate ROP

2021 – 2025, BSc, Computer Science and Neuroscience, University of Toronto

Michael Cheng

2023- Undergraduate ROP

2021 – 2025, HBSc, Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Toronto

Shuyu van Kerkwijk

2023, Summer Research Student

2022 – 2026, BSc Candidate, University of British Columbia (Physics and Computer Science)

Current: BSc Candidate, University of British Columbia

Ishaan Chandok

2023, Summer Intern
2022, UROP, Work-study Student, 4th Year Thesis Student

2019 – 2023, BSc, University of Toronto (Mathematics & Physical Sciences)

Current: PhD Candidate, Physics Department, Harvard University

Mohammad Haddadnia

2023, Summer Intern
2022, NSERC Summer Fellowship
2019, UROP, Work-study Student, 4th Year Thesis Student

2019 – 2023, BSc, University of Toronto (Molecular Genetics)

Current: MSc Candidate, Genomics, Harvard University

Jun Meng, PhD

2018-2021, PhD, University of Toronto 2021 – 2023, Post-doctoral Fellow

2009, BAgrSc DVM, China Agricultural University
2014, MSc, Hangzhou Normal University, China

Current: Post-doctoral Fellow, MRC, Cambridge

Investigating the molecular mechanisms for neuronal and circuit excitability

Yan Li, PhD

2016 – 2023, Senior Researcher

2011, PhD, University of Saskatchewan
2011 – 2014, Post-doctoral Fellow, University of Connecticut

Current: Lab Manager, Sunnybrook Research Institute

Dylan Fong, BSc

2019 – 2023, Programmer

2016, BSc, University of Toronto (Computer Science)

Current: Consultant Software Engineer, University of California San Diego

ChengYue Zhang

2022 – 2023, Work-study Student

2019 – 2023, BSc, University of Toronto (Bioinformatics Specialist Program)

Mohamed Ebsim

2022 – 2023, Work-study Student

2019 – 2023, BSc, University of Toronto (Biological Physics – Biochemistry Stream)

Tosif Ahamed, PhD

2019 – 2022, Post-doctoral Fellow

2019, PhD, Biological Physics Theory Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Japan

Current: Theory Fellow at HHMI, Janelia

Endri Mjeku

2022 FUSRP Summer Research Student

2019 – 2023, BSc, University of Toronto (Mathematics and Physics)

Comparative Connectomics Using Random Graph Theory

Current: PhD candidate, Mathematics, University of Oxford

Maximilian Hofmann

2022 FUSRP Summer Research Student

2019 – 2023, BSc Candidate, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main

Comparative Connectomics Using Random Graph Theory

Szymon Sobczak

2022 FUSRP Summer Research Student

2019 – 2023, BSc Candidate, University of Oxford

Comparative Connectomics Using Random Graph Theory

Oliver Tang

2022, Lab volunteer

2021 – 2025, BSc Candidate, University of Waterloo (Honors Health Sciences)

Yi Li

2021, Visiting PhD Candidate

2022. PhD, Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Current: Post-doctoral Fellow, Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Shifei (Samuel) Wu

2019 – 2022, NSERC Summer Research Student, Work-study Student, 4th Year Thesis Student, LTRI ROP

2018 – 2022, BSc, University of Toronto (Molecular Genetics)

Identifying Insulin-Signalling Targets That Regulate Synapse Development

Current: PhD Candidate, Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto

Julian Moran

2019 – 2022, MSc Graduate, University of Toronto

2013 – 2017, BSc, University of Toronto

Imaging analysis pipeline design, mechanisms that regulate central pattern generators

Current: Bioinformatician at TCAG, SickKids

Yi (Jason) Yang

2021, Lab volunteer

2017 – 2021, BSc, University of Toronto

Current: MSc Candidate, University of Toronto

Linyan (Alice) Xu

2022, UROP, Work-study Student, 4th Year Thesis Student

2018 – 2022, BSc, University of Toronto (Molecular Genetics)

Current: MSc Candidate, Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto

Leila Lesanpezeshki, PhD

2021 – 2022, Post-doctoral Fellow

2015, BSc, Chemical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Iran
2020, PhD, Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University

Current: Medical Writer / Data Scientist, Red Nucleus

Randa Higazy

2020 – 2021, 4th Year Thesis Student

2017 – 2021, BSc, University of Toronto (Cell and Systems Biology)

Current: MSc Candidate, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto

Mengyao Lui

2020, Visiting PhD Candidate

Current: PhD Candidate, University of Southern China, Chinese Ministry of Education

Christine Rehaluk, MSc

2018 – 2021, MSc Student

2014-2018 BSc, University of British Columbia

Electron Microscopy Analysis of the Gap Junctions of the Adult Caenorhabditis elegans

Christina Wong

2018 – 2020, Undergraduate ROP, Work-study Student

2018 – 2022, BSc, University of Toronto (Pathobiology and Global Health)

Current: MHSc Candidate, Translational Research Program, University of Toronto

Maggie Chang, BSc

2016 – 2020, Post-graduate Research Assistant, Undergraduate ROP, 4th-year Thesis

2016- 2020, BSc, University of Toronto (Physiology)

Current: PhD Candidate, Department of Biology, McGill University

Daniel Witvliet, PhD

2011-2015, BSc, University of Copenhagen/ University of Toronto

2015 – 2020, PhD Student

2020, PhD, University of Toronto (Molecular Genetics)

Current: Senior Data Scientist, Coursera

Yangning Lu, PhD

2014 – 2020, Graduate Student

2020, PhD, University of Toronto (Physiology)

Current: Postdoctoral Fellow, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Boyden Lab)

Yufang (Flora) Liu, BSc

2018 – 2020, Undergraduate Work-study Student

2020, BSc, University of Toronto (Computer Science)

Current: Software Engineer, Google

Raymond Zhang, BSc

2019, Undergraduate ROP, Summer Student

Rebecca Scheiwe, MSc

2019, Summer Research Student

Current: Medical Science Liaison, Fresenius Medical Care Germany GmbH

Mindy Kim, BSc

2019, Summer Research Student
2016-2019, BSc, Cornell University (Human Biology)

2020-2022, Research Assistant, Harvard Medical School (Lee Lab)

Current: PhD candidate, Harvard University (Cellular and Molecular Biology)

Lili Chen

2019, Visiting PhD Candidate

2022, PhD, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China (Gao Lab)

Neuromodulation of the C. elegans motor circuit

Current: Post-doctoral Fellow, Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Anson Sathaseevan, MSc

2017 – 2019, Undergraduate ROP, 4th-year Thesis

2019, BSc, University of Toronto (Molecular Genetics)
2021, MSc, University of Toronto (Molecular Genetics)

Current: MD Candidate, Medical School, Queen’s University

Claudia Arndt, BSc

2016 – 2019, Undergraduate ROP, 4th-year Thesis (co-supervised with the Park lab); Research Technician

2019, BSc, University of Toronto (Molecular Genetics)

Establishing the C. elegans and Drosophila models for ALS-causative mutations

Current: MD Candidate, Western University

Shangbang Gao, PhD

2016 – 2019, Visiting Professor
2008 – 2015, Post-doctoral Fellow

2006 – 2008, PhD, Chinese Academy of Science (Institute of Biophysics)

Neuronal excitability in C. elegans

Current: Professor, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (Gao Lab)

Danqian Cao, BSc

2018, Visiting Summer Intern, Department of Physics, Chinese University of Science and Technology, (Wen Lab)

Motif analyses for C. elegans connectomes

Current: PhD Candidate, King’s College London

Andreas Cuentas Condori, PhD

2018, Visiting PhD Candidate (Vanderbilt University, Miller Lab)

2014 – 2021, PhD, Vanderbilt University (Cell and Development Biology)
2008 – 2012, BSc, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (Biology)

EM reconstruction of the GABAergic motor neurons

Current: Postdoctoral Fellow, Yale University (Colón-Ramos Lab)

Tianqi Xu, PhD

2018, Visiting PhD Candidate

2014, BSc, Lanzhou University

Current: Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Physics, Chinese University of Science and Technology (Wen Lab)

Katarina Pankova, PhD

2017 – 2018, Post-doctoral Fellow

PhD, Ludwig Maximilian University

Investigating neuronal circuits underlying locomotion in C. elegans

Current: Senior Product Manager, Singleron Biotechnologies

Quan Wen, PhD

2017 – 2018, Visiting Professor

Current: Professor, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China (Wen Lab)

Soomin Maeng, BSc

2016 – 2018, Undergraduate ROP

2014 – 2019, BSc, University of Toronto (Physiology; Immunology; Computer Science)

Min Wu, MSc

2016 – 2018, Graduate Student

2016 – 2019, MSc, University of Toronto (Molecular Genetics)

C. elegans model for Johanson-Blizzard Syndrome

Current: Bioinformatician, Geneseeq Technology Inc.

Jerry (Zhitong) Wang, BSc

2015 – 2017, Summer student, 4th-year Thesis

BSc, McMaster University

Current: PhD Candidate, California Institute of Technology (Thomson Lab)

Wan Xian (Kate) Koh, BSc

2014 – 2017, Undergraduate ROP, 4th-year Thesis

2014 – 2018, BSc, University of Toronto (Physiology)

Current: MD Candidate, University of British Columbia

Kevin Chan, BSc

2014 – 2017, Undergraduate Summer Student

BSc, University of Toronto (Molecular Genetics)

Current: MD Candidate, University of Toronto

Vivek Venkatachalam, PhD

2017, Visiting Professor

Current: Assistant Professor, Physics, Northeastern University (Venkatachalam Lab)

Frederick Heim, BSc

2017 Visiting Intern, University of Wurzburg, Germany

Current: Facility Manager

Albert Lin, PhD

2017, Visiting PhD Candidate

2016-2021, PhD, Harvard University

Establishing a calcium imaging line for olfaction neurons​

Current: Fellow, Center for the Physics of Biological Function, Princeton University

Charline Roy

2017, Visiting PhD Candidate

2016 – 2022, PhD student, NeuroMyoGene Institute (Bessereau Lab), Lyon, France

Cell-sorting of dissociated C. elegans neurons and muscles

Maria (Ria) Lim, PhD

2012 – 2016, Post-doctoral Fellow

2006 – 2012, PhD, University of Pennsylvania (Neuroscience)

Current: Senior Medical Writer, OPEN Health Communications

Sebastian Britz, PhD

2016-2022, PhD Candidate, Theodor-Boveri Institute, Julius-Maximilians University, Germany

C. elegans connectome and correlative microscopy

Asuka Guan, MSc

2012 – 2015, Graduate Student

MSc, University of Toronto (Physiology)

The Anatomic Connectome and Functional Dissection of the Caenorhabditis elegans First-stage Larvae (L1) Motor Circuit

Current: Research Scientist, Overland Pharmaceuticals, Shanghai, China

Jyothsna Devi Chitturi, PhD

2009 – 2015, Graduate Student

2008 – 2015, PhD, University of Toronto (Institute of Medical Science)

How do ubiquitin ligases regulate synapse formation

Current: Team Lead, Genesis Biotechnology Group

Tetyana Pekar, MSc

2011 – 2013, Graduate Student

MSc, University of Toronto (Physiology)

The role of GABAergic synapses in the adult Motor Circuit

Current: Tutor

Valeriya Laskova, MSc

2010 – 2013, Graduate Student

2010 – 2013, MSc, University of Toronto (Physiology)

Regulation of neuromuscular junction formation by guidepost neurons

Current: Interior Designer, IBI Group

Salvadore Alcaire, MSc, DMD

2010 – 2013, Graduate Student

MSc, University of Toronto (Institute of Medical Science)

Identification of signaling transducers and regulators of the NCA sodium leak channels

Current: Dentist, Dr. Kevin Russelo & Associates

Lin Xie, PhD

2007 – 2013, PhD, University of Toronto (Institute of Medical Science)

Identification of signaling transducers and regulators of NCA-1 channels

Current: Managing Partner, HEDA Ventures

Louis Wei-Chun Barbier, MSc

2009 – 2012, Graduate Student

MSc, University of Toronto (Molecular Genetics)

Regulation of the C. elegans motor circuits

Current: Psychotherapist, Toronto

Hang Li, MD

2008 – 2012, Technician

​Current: Okamoto lab, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute

Calvin Mok, PhD

2006 – 2012, Graduate Student

PhD, University of Toronto (Institute of Medical Science)

C. elegans as a model for Bardet-Biedl Syndrome

Current: Lecturer, University of Toronto

Nicholas Watkins, MSc

2012 – 2014, MSc, University of Toronto (Genetic Counseling)

2008 – 2012, MSc, University of Toronto (Molecular Genetics)

The role of insulin-signaling in the nervous system development

Current: Genetic Diagnostic Data Specialist, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto

John Calarco, PhD

2006 – 2011, Graduate Student

PhD, University of Toronto (Molecular Genetics)

Understanding the role of alternative splicing in C.elegans nervous system development and function

Current: Associate Professor, Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto

Michelle Po, PhD

2004 – 2011, PhD, University of Toronto (Molecular Genetics)

Gap Junctions and Stomatins Dictate Directional Movement

Current: Senior Medical Writer, Highland Therapeutics

Taizo Kawano, PhD

2003 – 2011, Post-doctoral Fellow and Research Associate

PhD, Kobe University (Genetics)

Motor circuit dynamics in C. elegans

Current: Associate Professor, International Institute for Integrative Sleep Medicine, University of Tsukuba

Magali Bouhours, PhD

2005-2010, Post-doctoral Fellow

PhD, University Paris VII (Neuroscience)

Electrophysiology analysis of C. elegans

Current: Bilingual Information Specialist, Health Nexus Santé

Sharon Ng, MSc

2006 – 2008, Graduate Student

MSc, University of Toronto (Molecular Genetics)

A putative nematode calcium channel, NCA-1, and its accessory component UNC-80 regulates synapse formation

Current: Research Scientist, GSK

Joanne Kim, MSc

2009 – 2015, PhD, University of Toronto (Health Policy)

2005 – 2007, MSc, University of Toronto (Molecular Genetics)

Activity and pathways of SAD-1 kinase in neuronal cell polarity and synaptogenesis in C.elegans

Current: Manager, Clinical Research, CADTH

Kyota Aoyagi, PhD

2005 – 2007, Post-doctoral Fellow

PhD, Tokyo University (Neuroscience)

Role of SAD-1 kinase during synapse development

Current: Professor, Kyorin University School of Medicine (Japan)

Edward Liao, PhD

2001 – 2007, Graduate Student

PhD, University of Toronto (Molecular Genetics)

The role of a SCF-like ubiquitin ligase complex in synapse formation

Current: Director, Kite Pharma

Yu Lui, MSc

2004 – 2006, Graduate Student

MSc, University of Toronto (Physiology)

Identifying genes regulating SAD-1 localization

Current: Programmer, Toronto

Roman Chlupaty, PhD

2004 – 2006, Technician

​Current: Author, The Evolution of Money, Columbia University Press

Edward Yeh, PhD

1995 – 2001, Post-doctoral Fellow

PhD, University of Toronto (Molecular Genetics)

A genetic screen to identify molecular determinants for active zones

Current: Lab Technologist, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario

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