Aaron T. Kuan
Aaron Kuan (he/him) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at Yale School of Medicine, and a Wu Tsai Institute Investigator. His lab, which opened recently in August 2023, aims to apply circuit-mapping techniques at brain-wide scales to understand how brain wiring underlies cognition and neurological diseases.
As a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard Medical School with co-mentors Dr. Wei-Chung Lee and Dr. Christopher Harvey, Aaron developed new electron microscopy and X-ray imaging techniques that make it possible to map neural circuits at unprecedented detail and scale, and leveraged these techniques to investigate how decision-making is implemented in the brain. Previously, he received his Ph.D. Applied Physics under the mentorship of Dr. Jene Golovchenko.
In addition to his research, Aaron is also a violinist and conductor, having studied at New England Conservatory and the The Juilliard School, and served as the Music Director of the Dudley House Orchestra at Harvard University for several years.
Zhen Zhang
Postdoctoral Fellow
Zhen Zhang (he/him) is graduate from University of Science and Technology of China, with a PhD degree in Nuclear Science and Technology. His research area is imaging technology, mainly focus on the methodologies of tomography and tomographic data processing algorithms. Currently, he is exploring the imaging techniques in neuroscience and the data processing pipelines for connectomics. Outside of the lab, he enjoys cooking, working out and watching cartoons. Fun fact: Zhen is learning 3D modeling and rendering and wants to make his own cartoons.
Allison Cairns
Graduate Student
Allison Cairns (she/her) is a PhD candidate in Applied Physics and Physical Engineering Biology from Santa Ana, California. Allison majored in Physics at Portland State University, where she worked at the Center for Electron Microscopy and Nanofabrication. Allison is co-advised by the Bewersdorf Lab. Her research utilizes pan-Expansion Microscopy to quantify molecular alterations in synaptic architecture and circuit organization in mouse models of autism spectrum disorder. Allison serves as the Graduate President of WISAY and as a Graduate Coordinator of the STARS II Program. For recreation, Allison enjoys hiking, backpacking, skateboarding, surfing, cliff diving, and practicing MMA. Fun fact: Allison has been approached by a great white while surfing!
Nghia Le
Graduate Student
Nghia Le (he/him) is a PhD student in the Biomedical Engineering Department, as well as the Physics, Engineering and Biology (PEB) program. Originally from Hanoi, Vietnam, he majored in Biophysics at Bucknell University, with a minor in Film/Media Studies. There he studied microbial motility in fluid flows. His interest in neuroscience also led him to spend a summer researching the effects of adolescent isolation on mouse brain. His current research interest lies in understanding how brain connectivity supports function. Outside the lab, he enjoys singing, learning to play the guitar, going to concerts, inline skating, and movies.
Mao Yaseuda
Graduate Student
Mao Yasueda is a first-year PhD student in Physics and in the Physical & Engineering Biology program. Originally from Tokyo, Japan, she completed her undergraduate degrees in Physics and Computer Science at Mount Holyoke College. Her research experience spans computational neuroscience—focusing on reinforcement learning—and soft matter physics. Mao’s primary aim is to bridge physics and neuroscience to uncover how microscopic neural interactions collectively drive macroscopic cognitive phenomena such as learning and reward-based behavior. In her free time, she enjoys going to concerts and musicals.
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Sarosh Kayani
Postgraduate Associate
Sarosh Kayani (she/her) is a Yale graduate from Islamabad, Pakistan with a Bachelor's degree in Neuroscience. Her senior undergraduate research investigated optimal error rates for visuomotor learning in human subjects. She was also involved with the International Students Organization and spoken poetry groups at Yale. In her free time, she enjoys origami and watercolor painting. Fun fact: She is currently studying Korean in order to translate her favorite novel!
Jacob Liao
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Jacob Liao (he/him) is a senior in Pierson College from California majoring in MCDB and Applied Math. His passion for neuroscience led him to the Kuan Lab, where is a data analyst for volumetric neuronal data. Outside of the lab, Jacob is involved in YMUN and the Pierson College Council. In his free time, Jacob enjoys reading manga, macrophotography, and taking care of his aloe plant at 100 College. Fun fact: Jacob keeps 3 carpenter ant colonies.
Kavya Gupta
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Kavya Gupta (She/Her) is a first year in Benjamin Franklin College from San Diego, California considering majoring in Molecular, Cellular Developmental Biology on the Neurobiology Track. Outside of lab, Kavya is part of the Yale Jashan Bhangra dance team, a writer for the Yale Scientific Magazine and is training to become a certified EMT student. In the past, she worked on creating EM segmentations for dendritic spines in Marmoset data to understand the impacts of cognitive decline over age. In her free time, she loves to bake and create fun DIY projects with household items.
Jaeyee Jung
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Jaeyee Jung (she/her), a junior in Berkeley College from Raleigh, North Carolina, is pursuing a B.S. in Neuroscience and a certificate in Data Science. She previously helped study the effects of music-making on people who experience auditory hallucinations. In addition to research, she is involved with CT Hospice, Hunger and Homelessness Action Project, chamber music, and campus ministries. She appreciates violin side quests, word games, and the intricacy of the brain.
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Joshua Sokeye
Physical Engineering Biology REU Student
Joshua Sokeye (he/him) is a rising junior at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University from Chicago, Illinois. He is currently majoring in Biomedical Engineering on the pre-med track. Last summer, he shadowed in a Urologic Oncology clinic and the operating room while contributing to research that examined disparities in the delivery of radiotherapy to underserved populations. At his home institution, he conducts research on polyelectrolyte multilayers and their biomedical applications. In his free time, he loves taking photos and listening to music.
Yutian (Tim) Fan
Undergraduate Research Assistant
An Undergraduate Research Assistant (he/him), Tim is currently a senior at Brandeis University majoring in Computer Science, with extensive experience in connectomics research. His primary focus is computational neuroscience, particularly segmentation techniques and electron microscopy image processing. Outside the lab, Tim composes and arranges music—especially piano arrangements from game and movie soundtracks—and enjoys gaming, philosophy, and writing fantasy fiction.
Could be you!
We have openings!
We are always looking for enthusiastic and curious individuals to join the lab. Don't hesitate to to reach out if you are interested in joining our team.