Chiou-Fen Chuang

Chiou-Fen Chuang is an Associate Professor in Biological Sciences at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. She leads the Chuang Lab, focusing on molecular and genetic mechanisms of neuronal diversity in C. elegans. Her research explores how sensory neuron identities are established, with implications for regenerative medicine and developmental biology. Dr. Chuang holds a PhD from the California Institute of Technology and completed postdoctoral training at UCSF/Rockefeller University under Cori Bargmann.

Her research interests include left-right neuronal asymmetry, transcription factor regulation (e.g., SOX-2), and gap junction-mediated signaling networks. Key contributions involve uncovering how stochastic processes and genetic switches drive olfactory neuron diversification. She is an Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow.

Publications span topics like neuronal regeneration, microRNA roles in asymmetry, and transportin-mediated nuclear import. Her lab collaborates with institutions such as Stanford and the University of Utah. Recent student achievements include PhD defenses and awards in neuroscience research.

Dr. Chuang advises graduate and undergraduate researchers, fostering a dynamic team exploring C. elegans neurobiology. Ongoing work targets novel mechanisms underlying sensory system diversity with translational potential to vertebrate systems.