Dr. Billy Lau has his own Assistant Professor position in the Department of Psychology at UT Knoxville since Fall 2023!
Postdoctoral Scientist
I have a strong interest towards understanding the neural circuits and plasticity that mediate behaviors, and how deficits in such circuits can lead to neurological disorders. I have 5 years of experience working with zebrafish where I have developed and used 1) behavioral assays to measure natural preferences for food and morphine as well as assays that measure fear-like behavior, and 2) pharmacology and molecular technique to identify the neural circuits mediating these behaviors. I have an additional 5 years of experience working with lampreys to identify the molecular pathways that mediate neurite plasticity and axon regeneration after spinal cord injury. I also have 4 years of experience working with mice to identify the neural mechanisms, from molecules to circuits, mediating odor processing and maternal behavior, using in vivo, single-unit loose patch recordings as well as behavioral and molecular techniques. Currently, I am investigating the molecular mechanisms mediating maternal and motor behaviors in the mouse model of Rett syndrome.
My Bibliography:
Funding: 