Yimei Cai

Thesis Advisor: Dr. Tingting Wang

Research Interests: Synaptic Plasticity, Neuronal Degenerative Diseases and Disorders

Education:
University of Maryland, B.S. Physiology and Neurobiology, 2015

University of Maryland, M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction, 2017

Georgetown University, M.S. Pharmacology, 2020

About: 

Yimei’s journey started with a teaching career in local public high schools with a focus on special education. While teaching, Yimei developed interests in neurodevelopmental disorders during her interactions with her students. After receiving her master’s degree in pharmacology, she was accepted into the Ph.D. program in pharmacology and physiology at Georgetown University.

Currently in the Wang lab, Yimei uses Drosophila and mammalian models to investigate the molecular and cellular basis of homeostatic signaling in health and disease. The lab has identified several genes that are essential for glial-neuron communications in homeostatic synaptic plasticity. Yimei’s PhD thesis work of uncovering the complex mechanisms of synaptic homeostatic plasticity in Drosophila has led to critical discoveries, especially the elucidation of how glial cells modulate synaptic function via the secretion of signaling factors in response to postsynaptic receptor impairment.

Rotations:
Dr. Tingting Wang
Dr. Gerard Ahern
Dr. Alexey Ostroumov

Academic Appointment(s)

Primary
PhD Student, Ph.D. Program in Pharmacology & Physiology
PhD Student, Wang Lab