Name: Quan Wen(温泉）
　Address: Principal Investigator, School of Life Sciences

University of Science and Technology of China

443 HuangShan Rd, Hefei, Anhui, P. R. China
　Website: http://www.wenlab.org/
　E-mail: qwen@ustc.edu.cn

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　EDUCATION AND RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
1997-2001
B.S. in physics, Fudan University
2001-2007
Ph.D in physics, Stony Brook University and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
2007-2009
Associate, Janelia Farm Research Campus, HHMI
2009-2013
Postdoc, Department of Physics, Harvard University
2014-
Bairen Professor, USTC


　RESEARCH INTERESTS
1.
Neural basis of sensorimotor behavior and optical neurophysiology
2.
Structure-function relationship of neural circuit
3.
Connectomics


　DESCRIPTION

We are interested in understanding how collective activities in a neural circuit give rise to complex behaviors. To address this question, we strive to precisely describe the behavior of interest, to identify the neural computations that drive such behavior, and to elucidate the underlying biophysical mechanisms by which neurons and synapses implement such computations.
At current stage, we focus on using C. elegans as a model system to study the neural basis of sensorimotor behaviors. This millimeter long, optically translucent roundworm has only 302 neurons, for which the entire wiring diagram or connectome has been mapped out at synaptic resolution. Its genetic tractability also allows physiological access to virtually every neuron using optical methods. These advantages hold the promise of a deep understanding of sensorimotor transformation at both algorithmic and mechanistic levels.


　REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS
1.
Luo L*,Wen Q*, Ren J*, Hendricks M*, Gershow M, Qin Y, Greenwood J, Soucy E, Klein M, Smith H.K, Colon-Ramos D, Samuel ADT, Zhang Y, Dynamic encoding of perception, memory and movement in aC. eleganschemotaxis circuit,Neuron82, 1115-1128, June 4, 2014. *Co-first author.
2.
Wen Q, A statistical theory of dendritic morphology, book chapter in The computing dendrite, from structure to function. Springer Series inComputational Neuroscience, Vol. 11, 2014.
3.
Williams D, Bejjani R, Ramirez PM, Coakley S, AeKim S, Lee H,Wen Q, Samuel ADT, Lu H, Hilliard M and Hammarlund M, Rapid and permanent neuronal inactivationin vivovia subcellular generation of reactive oxygen with the use of killerRed,Cell Reports2013;5:553-563.
4.
Wen Q*, Po M, Hulme E, Chen S, Liu X, Gershow M, Leifer A, Butler V, Fang-Yen C, Schafer W, Whitesides G, Wyart M, Chklovskii DB, Zhen M and Samuel ADT*, Proprioceptive couplings within motor neurons driveC. elegansforward locomotionNeuron76, 750–761, November 21, 2012. *Corresponding author. Also see Preview inNeuron76, 669-670, 2012 andhttp://f1000.com/prime/, rated as exceptional.
5.
Fang-Yen C, Wyart M, Xie J, Kawai R, Kodger T, Chen S,Wen Qand Samuel ADT Biomechanical analysis of gait adaptation in the nematodeCaenorhabditis elegans,PNAS, 2010 Nov 23, 107(47) 20323-28
6.
Makara J, Losonczy A,Wen Qand Magee J, Experience-dependent compartmentalized dendritic plasticity in rat hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons,Nature Neuroscience, 2009 Dec;12(12):1485-7.
7.
Wen Q, Stepanyants A, Elston G, Grosberg A and Chklovskii DB, Maximizing the connectivity repertoire as a statistical principle governing the dendritic arbor shape,PNAS, 2009 Jul 28;106(30):12536-41. Also see http://f1000.com/**#eval623810.
8.
Wen Qand Chklovskii DB, A cost-benefit analysis of neuronal morphology,Journal of Neurophysiology, 99, 2320 (May, 2008)
9.
Wen Qand Chklovskii DB, Segregation of the brain into gray and white matter: a design minimizing conduction delaysPloS Computational Biology,1(7): e78, Dec 2005. Also see article Highways and byways in the brain.Seed magazine, January 31, 2006.
10.
Wen Qand Chklovskii DB, To myelinate or not to myelinate, a cost-benefit analysis Book chapter in Axons: Advances in morphology, physiology, development, computation and pathophysiology(Springer, Norwell MA 02061, U.S.A.)