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Xitong Liang
Life Science
Peking University
Beijing
Language: English, Chinese, German
Neural Mechanisms
Evolutionary Mechanisms
Animal Behavior
Behavior Diversity
Imaging Technologies
Neural Activity
Large-Scale Imaging
Neuroscience
Evolution
Technology
Areas of Focus
- Neural and evolutionary mechanisms of animal behavior diversity
- Development of large-scale neural activity imaging technologies
Work Experience
- 2022-12 to present - Assistant Professor, School of Life Sciences, Peking University
- 2022-12 to present - Researcher, McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Peking University
- 2022-12 to present - Researcher, Peking University-Tsinghua University Center for Life Sciences
- 2019-03 to 2022-11 - Postdoctoral Researcher, Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Germany
Academic Background & Achievements
- 2009-2013 Bachelor of Biological Sciences, Peking University
- 2013-2018 PhD in Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis
- Published multiple papers in prestigious journals including Nature, Science, Neuron, and PNAS
Publications
- Synchronous Drosophila circadian pacemakers display nonsynchronous Ca2+ rhythms in vivo, Liang, X., Holy, T. E., & Taghert, P. H., 2016
- Importin-7 mediates memory consolidation through regulation of nuclear translocation of training-activated MAPK in Drosophila, Li, Q.*, Zhang, X.*, Hu, W.*, Liang, X.*, Zhang, F., Wang, L., Liu, Z.J., & Zhong, Y., 2016
- A series of suppressive signals within the Drosophila circadian neural circuit generates sequential daily outputs, Liang, X., Holy, T. E., & Taghert, P. H., 2017
- Morning and evening circadian pacemakers independently drive premotor centers via a specific dopamine relay, Liang, X., Ho, M. C., Zhang, Y., Li, Y., Wu, M. N., Holy, T. E., & Taghert, P. H., 2019
- Circadian pacemaker neurons display co-phasic rhythms in basal calcium level and in fast calcium fluctuations, Liang, X., Holy, T. E., & Taghert, P. H., 2022
- Polyphasic circadian neural circuits drive differential activities in multiple downstream rhythmic centers, Liang, X., Holy, T. E., & Taghert, P. H., 2023
- The Dynamics of Pattern Matching in Camouflaging Cuttlefish, Woo, T.*, Liang, X.*, Evans, D., Fernandez, O., Kretschmer, F., Reiter, S., & Laurent, G., 2023
Awards
- Most Popular Teacher Award, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, 2023
- Yifang Scholar, 2022
- Olin Medical Scientist Award, Washington University, 2017
- O'Leary Outstanding Research Award, Washington University, 2017
- Thach Award, Washington University, 2016
- Ron Konopka Outstanding Research Award, International Society for Biological Rhythms, 2016
