Dr. Zhiqiang Yan is a Professor and Dean of the School of Basic Medical Sciences at Capital Medical University, as well as an Investigator and Director at the Chinese Institute for Medical Physiology, Chinese Institutes for Medical Research, Beijing. He earned his bachelor's degree from Fudan University in 2004 and completed his Ph.D. in neurobiology at the Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, the National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, and the Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, from 2004 to 2009. Following his Ph.D., Dr. Yan conducted his postdoctoral research under Yuh-Nung Jan and Lily Jan at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the University of California, San Francisco. In 2013, he became a Professor at the School of Life Sciences, Fudan University. From 2020 to 2024, he served as a senior principal investigator and deputy director at the Institute of Molecular Physiology, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory. Dr. Yan studies sensory neurobiology, focusing on identifying the receptors and neural circuits for sensation and interoception, studies their working mechanisms and related the diseases in sensory system. He has published numerous papers as a corresponding author in journals, including Neuron, PNAS, Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Nature Communications, and Cell Reports. He also serves as Vice President of the Beijing Neuroscience Society and Chair of the Committee on Cellular and Molecular Physiology of the Chinese Association for Physiological Sciences.

Research Directions

The Yan laboratory studies sensory neurobiology, focusing on identifying the receptors and neural circuits for sensation and interoception, studying their working mechanisms and related diseases in the sensory system.

a. Identify the receptors for hearing, touch, pain, and thirst sensation; study the gating and assembly of the sensory transduction complex; explore their functions in various physiological processes such as digestion and immunity.

b. Analyze the protein structures of sensory receptor ion channels and their complexes, as well as ion permeability and gating mechanisms.

c. Map the critical neuronal groups and circuits for sensation and interoception including touch, pain, vestibular and thirst sensation.

d. Study pathogenic mechanisms, diagnosis and treatment of congenital hearing loss.

We welcome outstanding students nationwide to apply for our doctoral programs via both the application-based admission system and direct entry from undergraduate studies.

Representative Publications

1. Fu S*, Pan X*, Lu M*, Dong J, Yan Z^#. Human TMC1 and TMC2 are mechanically gated ion channels. Neuron, 2025, 113: 411-425. DOI: 10.1016/j. neuron. 2024.11.009

2. Zou W*, Deng S*, Chen X*, Ruan J*, Wang H, Zhan W, Wang J, Liu Z, Yan Z^#. TMEM63B functions as a mammalian hyperosmolar sensor for thirst. Neuron, 2025, 113: 1430-1445. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2025.02.012

3. Zheng H*, Yan X*, Li G, Lin H, Deng S, Zhuang W, Yao F, Lu Y, Xia X, Yuan H, Jin L, Yan Z^#. Proactive functional classification of all possible missense single-nucleotide variants in KCNQ4. Genome Research, 2022, 32: 1573-1584. DOI: 10.1101/gr.276607.122

4. Li S, Li B, Gao L, Wang J, Yan Z^#. Humidity response in Drosophila olfactory sensory neurons requires the mechanosensitive channel TMEM63. Nature Communications, 2022, 13: 3814. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31253-z

5. Li B*, Li S*, Zheng H, Yan Z^#. Nanchung and Inactive define pore properties of the native auditory transduction channel in Drosophila. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2021, 118: e2106459118. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2106459118

Students may elect to pursue master’s or doctoral studies within this research group.

Main Responsibilities:

a. Complete experimental tasks assigned by the PI.

b. Assist in handling laboratory administrative affairs.

Qualifications:

a. A Bachelor's degree or higher in biology, clinical medicine, basic medical sciences, or a related field.

b. Techniques and principles of routine molecular cloning, cell culture, animal experimentation, and/or patch-clamp recording. Prior laboratory research experience is preferred.

c. Good communication skills and teamwork ability.

d. Proficient in English reading, writing, and daily communication.

To apply, please send your personal resume, research interests or plans, and other materials demonstrating your scientific capabilities to yan_lab@cimrbj.ac.cn, and indicate “Applicant's name + specific position” in the email subject line.

Contact person: Dr. Yan