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 and inline skating. Fun fact: he’s also made short films, and would like to do more filmmaking in the future.
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.
Jinnie Sun
Graduate Research Assistant
Jinnie Sun (she/her) is a Master’s student in Computational Biology and Biomedical Informatics at Yale, driven by a research interest in computational neuroscience and modeling. She majored in Biological Science at ShanghaiTech University and completed her undergraduate thesis at UC Berkeley, where she studied the neural basis of sleep and motor deficits in patients with Parkinson’s Disease. Outside the lab, Jinnie is passionate about theater and has performed in ~20 Mandarin plays across China and the US.
Ada Ates
Rotating Graduate Student
Ada Ates is a PhD student in the Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, originally from Turkey. She majored in Neuroscience and Computer Science at Oberlin College, where she conducted research at the intersection of computation and neuroscience. During her post-baccalaureate work, she developed neuron segmentation models for Parkinson’s disease. She is passionate about leveraging computational approaches to advance neuroscience and is particularly interested in how disruptions in neural circuits contribute to neuropsychiatric disorders. Outside the lab, she enjoys baking, painting, reading, and traveling.
Jiyeon Yang
Rotating Graduate Student
Jiyeon Yang is a PhD student in the Biomedical Engineering program, originally from Korea. She majored in Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Bio-SW at Hanyang University, where she developed a strong interest in circuit-level neuroscience. During her master’s training at Seoul National University, she worked with in vivo calcium imaging and optogenetics to study neural function in mouse retrosplenial cortex. Her current research interests focus on how neural circuit structure underlies neural computation. Outside the lab, she enjoys walking and doing DIY projects.
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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.
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.
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.
Wendy Guo
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Wendy Guo (she/her), from Storrs, Connecticut, is a first-year in Pierson College, prospectively majoring in Neuroscience. Previously, she investigated how genetic predispositions interact with environmental stressors to influence vulnerability to substance use disorders. At Yale, she is a volunteer for Haven Free Clinic and a chair for YMUN LII. In her free time, she loves listening to true crime podcasts and exploring different cafes around New Haven.
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.