Kate Hong

Dr. Kate Hong is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and Neuroscience Institute at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). She leads the Hong Lab, which investigates neural circuits underlying sensory-guided behavior, focusing on how cortical and subcortical regions mediate perception, decision-making, and recovery from injury. Her work combines electrophysiology, optogenetics, and behavioral assays using mouse models.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Harvard University
• Sc.B. in Biology, Brown University
• Postdoctoral Fellowships at Columbia University and Boston Children's Hospital

Research Focus: Dr. Hong's lab explores two core questions: (1) How cortical-subcortical interactions drive sensory-motor decisions, and (2) How neural circuits reorganize after cortical injury. Recent studies include investigating texture discrimination mechanisms and recovery pathways in stroke models. Techniques used include high-speed imaging, optogenetics, and fMRI.

Grants & Awards:

• Collaborative Grant from the RCSA (2023)
• SFARI Pilot Award to study autism-related tactile deficits
• Shurl and Kay Curci Foundation Grant (2022)

Lab Team:

• PhD Students: Ben George, Alice Nam, Rawan Fakhreddine
• Undergraduates: Maggie Monahan (NASA Fellow), Baihe Zhang (SURFiN Scholar)
• Research Assistants: Morgan Tenney, Alex Lammers

Future Directions: Ongoing projects include studying subcortical plasticity post-injury and developing new tools to map thalamocortical circuits in awake mice.