Education:

2003-2007 B.S. University of Science and Technology of China

2008-2014 Ph.D. University of Southern California, USA

Professional Positions:

2014-2020 Postdoctoral Fellow, Stanford University, USA

2021-now Assistant Professor, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tsinghua University

2021-now Investigator, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Tsinghua University

2021-now Investigator, Tsinghua-Peking Universities Center for Life Sciences

Research Areas:

The ultimate goal of our lab is to understand the neural mechanisms of animal behaviors under physiological and pathological conditions. To achieve this goal, we focus on the circuit mechanisms controlling motor functions, which are easy to quantify and interpret. Specifically, we are interested in the cerebellar and brainstem neural circuits that control fine motor movements. Using techniques such as circuit tracing, circuit manipulations, in vivo recordings, and quantitative behavior paradigms, we aim to characterize the circuit mechanisms underlying normal motor functions and essential tremor, the most common movement disorder.

Honors and Awards:

2021 Excellent Young Scientists Fund Program (Overseas)

2017 Mentored Research Scientist Career Development Award (NINDS K01)

2014 Chinese government award for outstanding self-financed students abroad

2012 Zach Hall travel award (University of Southern California)

Selected Publications:

1. Zhou, M. #, Melin, M.D., Xu, W., Südhof, T.C. (2020). Dysfunction of Parvalbumin Neurons in the Cerebellar Nuclei Produces Essential Tremor in Mice. Journal of Clinical Investigation 10, 5142-5156. (# Corresponding author) .

2. Zhou, M. #, Liu, Z., Melin, M.D., Ng, Y.H., Xu, W., Südhof, T.C.# (2018). A Central Amygdala to Zona Incerta Projection is Required for Acquisition and Remote Recall of Conditioned Fear Memory. Nature Neuroscience 11, 1515-1519. (# Co-corresponding authors) .

3. Zhou, M., Li, Y.T., Yuan W., Tao, H.W., Zhang, L.I. (2015). Synaptic Mechanisms for Generating Temporal Diversity of Auditory Representation in the Dorsal Cochlear Nucleus. Journal of Neurophysiology 113, 1358-1368.

4. Zhou, M.*, Liang, F.X. *, Xiong, X.R., Li, L., Li, H.F., Xiao, Z.J., Tao, H.W., Zhang, L.I. (2014). Scaling Down of Balanced Excitation and Inhibition by Active Behavioral States in Auditory Cortex. Nature Neuroscience 17, 841-850. (* Equal contribution) .

5. Zhou, M., Tao, H.W., Zhang, L.I. (2012). Generation of Intensity Selectivity by Differential Synaptic Tuning: Fast-saturating Excitation but Slow-saturating Inhibition. Journal of Neurosci 32, 18068-18078.