معرفی
Ji Ying Sze is an Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular Pharmacology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Her research focuses on the genetic and molecular mechanisms governing serotonin signaling in neural circuit development and psychiatric disorders. Her work employs mouse and C. elegans models to investigate how serotonin transporters and early life drug exposures impact synaptic architecture and behaviors linked to autism, schizophrenia, and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Key projects include studying serotonin-absorbing neurons' role in cortical circuit formation and identifying antidepressant-resistant genes through genetic screens in C. elegans.
Research Interests: Dr. Sze’s program explores serotonin’s role in neural plasticity, circuit development, and drug responses. Her lab dissects genetic pathways regulating serotonin signaling, with a focus on how disruptions in serotonin transporters (e.g., SERT) during critical developmental periods may underlie autism spectrum disorders and other neuropsychiatric conditions. Translational studies aim to bridge findings from animal models to human CNS development.
Publications Highlight: Over 12 peer-reviewed articles since 2009, emphasizing serotonin’s role in synaptic connectivity, antidepressant mechanisms, and neurodevelopmental processes. Recent work (2018) elucidates SSRIs’ effects on prefrontal-raphe circuits and emotional behavior modulation.
Advising & Labs: While formal student advisee names aren’t listed here, her lab conducts collaborative research with postdoctoral fellows and graduate students in molecular pharmacology and neurobiology. The lab is located at the Jack and Pearl Resnick Campus in Bronx, NY.
