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
Manuscripts in Preparation
Huang, S., Wang, Y., Ma, X., Lin L.,
Xu J. Functional Heterogeneity of Medial Septal GABAergic Neurons in Theta Rhythm
Modulation. Brain Research Bulletin.
Li Q.#, Huang,
S.#, Lin L., Xu J. Neural Encoding of Fear Memory by Engram Cells
in the Dentate Gyrus.
Journal Articles
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.
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]