About
Professor Wei Wei is a distinguished researcher in the Department of Neurobiology at the University of Chicago, where he leads a lab focused on understanding the synaptic basis of neural computation in the retina. His work bridges cellular and systems neuroscience, with particular emphasis on how retinal circuits process visual information to detect motion and other visual features.
- Institution: University of Chicago
- Department: Neurobiology
- Research Focus: Retinal circuitry and visual processing
- Current Funding: Multiple NIH R01 grants
Dr. Wei received his PhD in Neurobiology from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in 2008, followed by postdoctoral training at the University of California, Berkeley from 2008-2011. His educational background provided him with a strong foundation in both molecular/cellular neuroscience and systems-level approaches to neural circuit function.
Wei's research primarily investigates how neural circuits in the retina are assembled to perform specific computations, with particular focus on motion detection. His lab leverages genetic tools that label specific retinal neuron types to target synapses of interest, using multiphoton microscopy, visual stimulation, electrophysiology, and molecular biology to characterize synaptic maturation and function. A key area of investigation involves starburst amacrine cells and their role in direction selectivity. His work has revealed how dendritic computations, synaptic plasticity, and circuit organization contribute to visual processing.
Analysis of Wei's recent publications shows a clear progression from fundamental circuit mechanisms toward understanding more complex visual processing in naturalistic contexts. His work spans from cellular and synaptic physiology to systems-level circuit function, with a consistent focus on motion detection mechanisms. The research increasingly incorporates advanced imaging techniques and computational approaches to understand how retinal circuits transform visual inputs into neural representations.
- 2012 Whitehall Foundation Grant
- 2013 Sloan Research Fellowship
- 2013 E. Matilda Ziegler Foundation Grant
- 2014 Karl Kirchgessner Foundation Grant
- 2016 McKnight Scholar Award
As Principal Investigator on multiple NIH R01 grants totaling millions of dollars, Wei directs a well-funded research program investigating the synaptic basis of motion detection in the retina. His current projects explore dynamic interactions between synaptic and intrinsic properties of starburst amacrine cells, circuit mechanisms for encoding naturalistic motion, and the developmental basis of motion detection circuits. The lab maintains strong collaborations with other researchers in visual neuroscience, as evidenced by co-authorship with scientists at multiple institutions.
The Wei Lab operates within the University of Chicago's Department of Neurobiology, utilizing state-of-the-art facilities for retinal imaging and electrophysiology. The lab employs a multidisciplinary approach that combines genetic, optical, electrophysiological, and computational techniques to dissect retinal circuit function. Current research directions include investigating how short-term plasticity shapes circuit function, how dendritic computations contribute to visual processing, and how retinal circuits adapt to changing visual environments.
