About me

Hello! I'm Isaac, a second-year Neuroscience PhD student at the University of California, San Francisco.

I grew up in Hong Kong and received my Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Cell Biology at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). During my undergraduate studies, I worked under Professor Savio Chan at Northwestern University and characterized different GPe neuron subtypes and survey their electrophysiological properties, projection patterns and behavior roles. I am now in the laboratory of Professor Jeanne Paz at the Gladstone Institute and I study how circuit dysfunctions in the thalamus contribute to motor deficits in a variety of disease contexts such as traumatic brain injury and Parkinson's Disease.

Publications

    1. Dissociable Roles of Pallidal Neuron Subtypes in Regulating Motor Patterns

    Cui, Q.*, Cherian, S.*, Pamukcu, A.*,Chang, I. Y. M.*, Berceau, B., Xenias, H., . . . Chan, C. S. (2021). Dissociable Roles of Pallidal Neuron Subtypes in Regulating Motor Patterns. Journal of Neuroscience 17 March 2021, JN-RM-2210-20; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2210-20.2021

    2. Striatal Direct Pathway Targets Npas1+ Pallidal Neurons

    Cui, Q., Du, X., Chang, I. Y. M., Pamukcu, A., Lilascharoen, V., Berceau, B. L., . . . Chan, C. S. (2020). Striatal Direct Pathway Targets Npas1+ Pallidal Neurons. Journal of Neuroscience 17 March 2021, JN-RM-2306-20; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2306-20.2021

Curriculum Vitae

Resources

Grad Guidebook

Looking for advice and tips on graudate school application? I, along with several others, have compiled a guidebook detailing our experiences in this process. Hope it helps!

  1. Which school is my best fit?
  2. How should I write my personal/research statement?
  3. How do I prepare for interviews?

This is meant to be an open resource. So feel free to share it around :D

Podcasting

I am a producer at Carry The One Radio , a student-run science podcast at the University of California San Francisco. Here are some the episodes that I have produced. Enjoy!

  • Young Scientist Spotlight: Dr. Roshmi Sarma (5/16/2022)
  • Young Scientist Spotlight: Dr. Arun Richard Chandrasekaran (6/21/2022)
  • Contact

    Ask me anything :D