Sijie Huang
About
Ph.D. in Neurobiology from East China Normal University. My research interests lie in the neural mechanisms of learning and memory, particularly memory engrams. I possess extensive expertise in in vivo multi-channel electrophysiology and optogenetics, covering the complete experimental pipeline from microdrive fabrication to data acquisition. Proficient in MATLAB and advanced algorithms, I combine experimental and computational approaches to elucidate memory mechanisms.
Education
East China Normal University
Ph.D. in Neurobiology
Thesis: Neural Encoding of Fear Memory by Engram Cells in the Dentate Gyrus
Supervisor: Prof. Longnian Lin
East China Normal University
B.S. in Biological Sciences
GPA: 3.6/4.0
Minor in Applied Psychology
Research Experience
Functional Heterogeneity of Medial Septal GABAergic Neurons in Theta Rhythm Modulation
- Investigated the functional diversity of Medial Septal (MS) GABAergic neurons in freely moving mice using combined multi-channel in vivo electrophysiology and optogenetic tagging.
- Elucidated directional coupling between MS neurons and theta oscillations via Granger Causality and Time-Delayed Mutual Information analysis.
- Classified MS GABAergic neurons into distinct functional subgroups based on their causal influence on theta rhythms via unsupervised hierarchical clustering.
- Identified two distinct optogenetic response phenotypes and provided in vivo evidence for a bidirectional septo-hippocampal inhibitory loop, demonstrating that MS GABAergic neurons orchestrate theta rhythms through coordinated drive and feedback mechanisms.
Neural Encoding of Fear Memory by Engram Cells in the Dentate Gyrus
- Combined multi-channel in vivo electrophysiology with optogenetics in TRAP2 transgenic mice to tag, identify, and record fear memory engram cells in the hippocampal dentate gyrus.
- Characterized electrophysiological properties of engram cells, revealing significantly higher excitability, increased burst firing ratios, and enhanced phase-locking to theta/gamma oscillations relative to non-engram cells.
- Revealed distinct firing patterns during memory retrieval: engram cells exhibited suppressed firing rates during the conditioned stimulus (30 s) while maintaining high sensitivity and specificity to auditory pips (50 ms).
- Demonstrated a significant negative correlation between engram cell firing rates and freezing behavior during memory retrieval.
- Unveiled population-level dynamics using FastICA and MUA analysis, highlighting the preferential recruitment of engram cells into synchronized neuronal ensembles with enhanced coordination.
In vivo Multi-channel Recording Technique Combined with CaMPARI2 Labeling Strategy
- Spearheaded the ex vivo validation of CaMPARI2 via whole-cell patch-clamp and UV illumination, confirming that permanent labeling is contingent upon specific firing patterns and evaluating photoconversion efficiencies.
- Characterized labeling sensitivity across diverse brain regions, revealing that intrinsic neuronal properties modulate photoconversion efficiency under identical stimulation parameters.
- Defined optimal stimulation-illumination parameters based on ex vivo evidence, laying the foundation for subsequent in vivo closed-loop recording implementations.
Publications
Journal Articles
Huang, S., Wang, Y., Ma, X., Lin, L.,
& Xu, J. (2026). Functional Heterogeneity of Medial Septal GABAergic Neurons in
Theta Rhythm Modulation and Septo-Hippocampal Communication. Brain Research
Bulletin, 111827.
Li, H., Wu, Y., Qiu, Y., Li, X., Guan, Y., Cao, X., Liu, M., Zhang, D., Huang, S., Lin, L. & Hui, L. Stable
transgenic mouse strain with enhanced photoactivatable cre recombinase for spatiotemporal
genome manipulation. Advanced Science, 9(34), 2201352.
Manuscripts in Preparation
Li Q.#, Huang,
S.#, Lin L., Xu J. Neural Encoding of Fear Memory by Engram Cells
in the Dentate Gyrus.
Skills
- In vivo Multi-channel Recording: Proficient in in vivo multi-channel recording in freely moving mice.
- Microdrive Fabrication: Proficient in designing and assembling custom adjustable microdrive arrays.
- Patch Clamp: Familiar with ex vivo whole-cell patch-clamp recording.
- Programming: Proficient in MATLAB for custom neural data analysis pipelines. Familiar with Python environment.
- Signal Processing: Proficient in spike and LFP analysis.
- Advanced Analysis: Skilled in implementing algorithms including mutual information, granger causality, SVM, MUA, and FastICA.
- Manipulation: Proficient in optogenetic tagging and manipulation of specific neuron types.
- Viral Tools: Skilled in stereotaxic viral injections (AAV) targeting specific brain regions.
- Histology: Experienced in perfusion, sectioning, Immunohistochemistry, and confocal microscopy imaging.
- Behavioral Models: Extensive experience with fear conditioning and memory retrieval/extinction paradigms.
- Automated Tracking: Skilled in DeepLabCut, U-Net segmentation, and BehaviorDEPOT for behavioral quantification.
Conference Presentations
Sijie Huang#, Qi Li#,
Xingqi Wang, Longnian Lin*, Jiamin Xu*. Neural Encoding of Fear Memory Retrieval by Engram Cells
in the Dentate Gyrus. The 17th Annual Meeting of Chinese Neuroscience Society (CNS
2024). [Poster Presentation]
Sijie Huang#, Qi Li#,
Xingqi Wang, Chen Dong, Longnian Lin*, Jiamin Xu*. In vivo firing pattern of fear
memory
engrams. The 4th Annual Meeting of the Basic and Clinical Branch of Learning and
Memory. [Poster Presentation]
Sijie Huang, Qi Li, Mengmeng Wu, Jiamin Xu,
Yiran Gu, Longnian Lin*. In vivo multi-channel recording technique combined with
CaMPARI2 labeling strategy. The 14th Annual Meeting of Chinese Neuroscience Society (CNS
2021). [Poster Presentation]