Jiakun Chen

Jiakun Chen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His lab focuses on understanding astrocyte development and function in the nervous system using zebrafish and fruit fly models. Key research areas include astrocyte morphogenesis, plasticity, and their roles in neural circuit modulation. The lab investigates molecular mechanisms behind astrocyte growth and tiling, as well as how dysfunction impacts neural circuits.

Dr. Chen received his PhD from Washington University in St. Louis, studying embryonic development, and completed postdoctoral work at the Vollum Institute (OHSU) on astrocyte biology. He launched his independent lab at UNC in 2024.

Current lab members include graduate students Mady Chlebowski and Jenna Norton, and undergraduate researchers Akhil Malakapalli, Matt Rodzen, Avery Staub, and Mia Zhou. The lab emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches combining molecular genetics and live-imaging techniques.

Research themes span developmental and aging contexts, exploring astrocyte contributions to brain health and neurological disorders. The lab’s work has been published in journals like Neuron and Nature Neuroscience.