Han Wang
Credentials: Integrative Biology Department
Position title: Neurogenetics and Behavior
Email: han.wang@wisc.edu
Address:
115 iBio Research Building
1117 W Johnson St
Madison, WI 53706
LAB WEBSITE:
FOCUS GROUPS:
Developmental Biology & Regenerative Medicine; Physiology; Systems Biology
RESEARCH DESCRIPTION:
My lab is interested in studying how the brain controls behaviors. Our current focus is to understand sleep. Despite being an evolutionarily conserved behavior, sleep remains one of the most intriguing mysteries in biology. We use C. elegans as a model system and exploit its advantages (powerful genetics, optical transparency, and a small nervous system with well defined anatomical connectivity) to understand the molecular, cellular, and circuit mechanisms underlying sleep. We take an integrative approach by combining classic molecular and genetic tools with state-of-the-art techniques, such as optogenetics, in vivo live imaging, genome editing, and next generation sequencing. In parallel, we also develop novel molecular and genetic tools to precisely control transgene expression and manipulate gene activity.
ALSO A TRAINER IN THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS: Neuroscience (NTP), Genetics, Zoology