Li, Kun

Date:2020-11-27
  PI, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain, Tsinghua University
  PI, Center for Life Science
  Assistant Professor, School of Life Science, Tsinghua University

 

  Office: B103, Biomedicine Hall, Tsinghua University, Beijing,10084

  Lab: B110 Biomedicine Hall, Tsinghua University, Beijing,10084

  Phone: +86 10 62799528 (office)   +86 10 62793587 (Lab)

  Email: kli@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn

 

 

[Research Focus]

Gender differences prevail in not only normal social and emotional responses, but also the incidence of mental disorders. The neuronal mechanisms responsible for sexual dimorphism are poorly understood. Our research interests are focused on understanding how sex differences in the brain from molecules to circuits contribute to gender differences in behaviors. We use pathway-specific and activity-dependent Translating Ribosome Affinity Purification (TRAP) techniques, combined with other complementary RNA sequencing, optogenetics, electrophysiology and calcium imaging approaches to identify the neural basis for sexually bivalent behaviors.

 

 
[Education & Experience]
 
9/2020-present   PI, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Tsinghua University
9/2020-present   PI, Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University
9/2020-present   Assistant Professor, School of Life Science, Tsinghua University
2014-8/2020       Postdoctoral Fellow, The Rockefeller University, USA
2008-2014           Ph.D., Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
2003-2008           B.S.,Jilin University, China
 
 
[Selected publications]
  • Antolin-Fontes B, Li K, Ables JL, Riad MH, Görlich A, Williams M, Wang C, Lipford SM, Dao M, Liu J, Molina H, Heintz N, Kenny PJ, Ibañez-Tallon I. The habenular G-protein-coupled receptor 151 regulates synaptic plasticity and nicotine intake. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. Mar 10;117(10):5502-5509. (2020)
  • Li K, Nakajima M, Ibañez-Tallon I, Heintz N. A Critical Circuit for sexually Dimorphic Oxytocin-Dependent Anxiety Behaviors. Cell. Sep 22;167(1):60-72.e11. (2016)
  • Li K*, Zhou T*, Liao L, Yang Z, Wong C, Henn F, Malinow R , Yates J, Hu H. βCaMKII in lateral habenula mediates core symptoms of depression. Science 341:1016-1020. (2013) (*co-the first author)
  • Zhao CT, Li K, Li JT, Zheng W, Liang XJ, Geng AQ, Li N, Yuan XB. PKCδ regulates cortical radial migration by stabilizing the Cdk5 activator p35. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 106(50):21353-8. (2009)