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Kun Li Ph.D.

Associate Professor

2003-2008 Jilin University, China／B.S.
2008-2014 Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China／Ph.D.
2014-8/2020 The Rockefeller University, USA／Postdoctoral Fellow
9/2020-present School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, China／ Assistant Professor, Associate Professor
9/2020-present Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Science, Tsinghua University, ／Principle Investigator

● Research interest：

Sex differences are evident not only in normal social cognition and emotional behaviors, but also in the prevalence and symptoms of many psychiatric disorders. Despite their significance, the neural mechanisms underlying these sex differences remain poorly understood. Our lab integrates cutting-edge techniques—including RNA sequencing, electrophysiology, calcium imaging, genetic manipulation, computational neuroscience and transgenic mouse models—to investigate the molecular, cellular, and circuit-level bases of sexually bivalent behaviors. We aim to uncover how internal states interact with neural circuits to drive sex-dependent behavioral outcomes, and how these mechanisms contribute to sex-biased vulnerability to mental illnesses.

● Selected publications：

1. Wang Y*, Song X*, Chen XM*, Zhou Y*, Ma JH*, Zhang F*, Wei LQ*, Qi GX, Yadav N, Miao BJ, Yan YM, Yuan GH, Mi D, Rajasethupathy P, Ibañez-Tallon I, Jia XX, Heintz N^# and Li K^#. Integrating reproductive states and social cues in the control of sociosexual behaviors. Cell. 188, 3530-3549. (2025)

2. Gao YX, Xin FY, Wang T, Shao CJ, Hu Y, Chen ZY, Wang YW, Xie FH, Li TY, Li SJ, Ren LQ, Li CQ, Yang X, Yang ZJ, Li MJ, Tan KM, Bai T, Wei CW, Peng HC, Li K, Jia YC, Yuan KX. VIVIT: Resolving trans-scale volumetric biological architectures via ionic glassy tissue. Cell. 188, 1-17. (2025)

3. Wang YW, You L, Tan KM, Li MJ, Zou JS, Zhao ZF, Hu WX, Li TY, Xie FH, Li CQ, Yuan RZ, Ding K, Cao LW, Xin FY, Shang CP, Liu MM, Gao YX, Wei LQ, You ZW, Gao XR, Xiong W, Cao P, Luo MM, Chen F, Li K, Wu JM, Hong B, Yuan KX. A common thalamic hub for general and defensive arousal control. Neuron. Oct 18;111(20):3270-3287. (2023).

4. Antolin-Fontes B, Li K, Ables JL, Riad MH, Görlich A, Williams M, Wang C, Lipford SM, Dao M, Liu J, Molina H, Heintz N, Kenny PJ, Ibañez-Tallon I. The habenular G-protein-coupled receptor 151 regulates synaptic plasticity and nicotine intake. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. Mar 10;117(10):5502-5509. (2020)

5. Li K, Nakajima M, Ibañez-Tallon I, Heintz N. A Cortical Circuit for Sexually Dimorphic Oxytocin-Dependent Anxiety Behaviors. Cell. Sep 22;167(1):60-72.e11. (2016)

6. Li K*, Zhou T*, Liao L, Yang Z, Wong C, Henn F, Malinow R, Yates J, Hu H. βCaMKII in lateral habenula mediates core symptoms of depression. Science. 341:1016-1020. (2013)

7. Zhao CT, Li K, Li JT, Zheng W, Liang XJ, Geng AQ, Li N, Yuan XB. PKCδ regulates cortical radial migration by stabilizing the Cdk5 activator p35. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 106(50):21353-8. (2009)

● Award：

1. State Natural Science Award of China (2024)[second prize] (second contributor)
2. Leon Levy neuroscience fellowship (2018-2020)
3. Human Frontier Science Program Postdoctoral fellowship (2015-2018)
4. Tianqiao&Chrissy Chen Fellowship (2018)
5. The Ray Wu Prize. (2014)
6. The Meiji Life Science Award. (2013)

● Contact information：

Office: B103, Biomedicine Hall, Tsinghua University, Beijing,10084

Lab: B110, Biomedicine Hall, Tsinghua University, Beijing,10084

Phone: +86 10 62799528 (office); +86 10 62793587 (Lab)