Yichen Luo

The transformation of sensory information into adaptive motor outputs is a fundamental function of all nervous systems. What fascinates me most is how evolution drives both the diversification of neural circuits to meet species-specific needs and the convergence of different species onto similar solutions for shared challenges. To understand these fundamental mechanisms of sensorimotor control, I am building a research program focused on the Drosophila respiratory system, where constant feedback between sensory inputs and motor outputs is essential for maintaining homeostasis. This work will provide insights into circuit principles that can inform our understanding of respiratory control in flies. The results have the potential to provide experimental or theoretical frameworks to study parallel systems across species.

Throughout my research career, I have developed both the technical expertise and conceptual framework needed to tackle these complex questions. As an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Yulong Li's laboratory at Peking University, I designed and developed the first genetically encoded fluorescent sensor, GRABDA1m, for dopamine detection at physiological concentrations. This intellectually stimulating experience led me to pursue graduate studies with Dr. John Carlson at Yale. There, I investigated how Drosophila species use their chemosensory systems to locate and choose mates.

To deepen my understanding of sensorimotor integration, I joined Dr. John Tuthill's laboratory at the University of Washington as a postdoctoral fellow. In this project, I will study the Drosophila respiratory system. My aim is to uncover the neural circuits controlling respiratory feedback. Through this work, I seek to understand how animals maintain respiratory homeostasis across different behavioral states.

May 2025