People

Assistant Professor, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology 

Michigan Neuroscience Institute

Single Cell Spatial Analysis Program, Biosciences Initiative

Affiliate Faculty, Department of Biomedical Engineering

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2019)

B.Eng., Tsinghua University (2013)

Collaborative Pairs Pilot Project Award, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (2024)

Biological Sciences Scholar (BSSP) by University of Michigan (2022)

MIT Spot Award (2022)

MIT Technology Review 35 Innovators Under 35 (TR35) China (2021)

Bioengineering Rising Star Speaker by Princeton University (2021)

J. Douglas Tan Postdoctoral Fellow (2020)

McGovern Graduate Fellow (2018)

MIT Presidential Fellow, Irwin Mark Jacobs and Joan Klein Jacobs (2013)

Enjoys brewing coffee, hiking, music, and science!

Email: linghu@umich.edu

Lab Manager and Senior Technician

Will's journey in science began when he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at a young age. He dedicated his academic pursuits to biochemistry, culminating in PhD studies at Miami University. He was able to explore the complex relationship between bacterial metabolism, bacterial interactions with the immune system in the gut, and the progression of type 1 diabetes in the NOD mouse. His time working in Dr. Michael Kennedy's lab at Miami provided myriad opportunities to engage with many techniques such as NMR spectroscopy, Mass Spectrometry, and Confocal Microscopy. He is thrilled to embark on a new chapter of his career exploring neuroscience and working with a diverse group of highly motivated researchers. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time building miniatures and sharing hobbies with his friends.

Email: wjoesten@umich.edu

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

My scientific journey is punctuated with fresh starts as part of my pursuit for new challenges. After completing my Ph.D. study in the subcellular localization of Sprouty proteins at the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (Singapore), I joined Prof. Kun-Ping Lu’s lab at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center to study neurodegeneration mouse models using biochemistry and immunohistochemical approaches. Subsequently, I worked with Prof. Jean Paul Thiery’s lab in Singapore to study neural crest and cranial bone development. This piqued my interest in bone formation, which led me to Prof. Shuying Yang’s group at University of Pennsylvania. There, I studied the primary cilia, IFT20 and bone cell alignment. Before joining Dr Linghu lab, I was working on the transcranial ultrasound stimulation of mouse brain cells in National Taiwan University. I am currently interested in developing and applying technologies to analyze cellular dynamics.

Email: jormayl@umich.edu

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

With a deep curiosity for the neural system, my scientific journey started with electrophysiology, utilizing patch clamp to record neuronal activities. Then I soon realized that understanding neuronal networks requires a broader perspective and shifted to microscopy, particularly live cell imaging which allowed me to observe multiple neurons simultaneously. Specifically, I focused on engineering voltage sensors, aiming to decipher neuronal electrical activities directly with high accuracy. Now I wish to expand my observation to a diversity of cellular signals across space and time. Outside the lab, I enjoy swimming, reading detective fiction and playing jigsaw puzzles.

Email: sdongqin@umich.edu

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Lirong Zheng received his Ph.D. degree in Physics from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China, in 2023. Throughout his Ph.D. program, he delved into the design and engineering of proteins, as well as the biomacromolecule structure and dynamics. His primary research focuses on protein design and engineering for live-cell interfacing.

Beyond his academic pursuits, Lirong enjoys a balanced lifestyle. He appreciates the subtle nuances of various coffees and engaging games on SWITCH. Interestingly, he finds unique pleasure in interacting with nature, specifically through feeding small animals like cats and dogs. Observing these creatures partake in their meal brings him a sense of fulfillment, adding a serene joy to his personal life.

Email: lrzheng@umich.edu

Undergraduate Researcher

My name is Mehul Gautam and I am an undergraduate neuroscience student at the University of Michigan. In my previous research projects, I worked to develop a vaccine database and learned how to use bioinformatic tools to simplify vaccine design efforts. Through these experiences, I have developed a fascination for the intersections between medical science and biotechnology. By working with the Linghu Lab, I hope to discover how technology can improve neurological research efforts. In my free time, I enjoy playing my bass clarinet and alto saxophone. I also love Chicago sports, running, and drinking coffee :)

Email: mgauta@umich.edu

Undergraduate Researcher

Emily Klyder is a junior pursuing a bachelor's degree in Biomolecular Science. She has a keen interest in understanding both the small components and large systems that transport information within the brain. She enjoys learning languages on Duolingo, strumming an acoustic guitar, and volunteering her time at various non-profit organizations.

Email: eklyder@umich.edu

Undergraduate Researcher

I am a fourth-year undergraduate from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, majoring in Biomedical Science. Before visiting Dr. Linghu's lab, I have been working on projects on synthetic biology and neural circuits, and I learned basic skills in molecular biology and neuroscience techniques for mice. Having a broad curiosity and enthusiasm for science, I am interested in interdisciplinary fields such as employing novel biotechnologies for neuroscience research. I enjoy communicating and collaborating with people from different backgrounds. And I love using emoji…😝

Email: yixiaoy@umich.edu