Bo Li

Bo Li is the Robert Lourie Professor of Neuroscience at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) in the School of Biological Sciences. His research focuses on the neural circuits underlying cognitive function and dysfunction related to anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and autism, with particular emphasis on synaptic mechanisms and rodent behavioral models. He earned his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of British Columbia in 2003.

• Education:
  • Ph.D., Neuroscience, University of British Columbia (2003)
  • M.Sc., Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (1997)
  • B.Sc., Medicine, Jining Medical College (1992)

Li's lab integrates in vitro and in vivo electrophysiology, imaging, molecular and genetic techniques, optogenetics, and chemogenetics to probe fear and reward circuits in rodent brains. His work examines how these circuits contribute to adaptive and maladaptive behaviors, with significant implications for understanding mental disorders.

Recent publications highlight his exploration of the vitamin B6 pathway in cancer, opioid neuropeptide dynamics in motivation, and area postrema neurons in brain-body interactions. His research also addresses salience assignment through striatal-amygdala circuits and dietary choice regulation via neurotensin neurons in the extended amygdala.

Scientific awards include:

• HFSP Research Grant awards
• 2015 NARSAD Independent Investigator grant
• WSBS Teaching Award 2015

Students in his lab include Sara Boyle, Mingzhe Liu, and Danielle van de Lisdonk. His work has been supported by NIH BRAIN Initiative grants and involves collaborations across multiple CSHL laboratories.