Liqun Luo

Liqun Luo is the Ann and Bill Swindells Professor at Stanford University's School of Humanities and Sciences, holding primary appointments in the Department of Biology and courtesy in Neurobiology. As a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator and member of multiple Stanford institutes, he has pioneered research on neural circuit assembly and function.

• B.S., University of Science and Technology of China (1986)
• Ph.D., Brandeis University (1992)

His research spans neural circuit development using Drosophila and mouse models, synaptic specificity mechanisms through cell-surface proteins, and motivated behavior neurobiology including thirst/hunger drives. Recent work focuses on circuit rewiring and single-cell manipulation tools.

His 15 most recent publications demonstrate expertise in dimensionality reduction in circuit assembly, repulsive synaptic interactions, and computational approaches to neuroendocrinology. Articles highlight cross-species comparisons and innovative methodologies.

Scientific honors include:

• 2025 National Academy of Sciences Award in Neurosciences
• 2020 Society for Neuroscience Education Award
• 2019 National Academy of Sciences Pradel Award
• 2012 National Academy of Sciences membership

Dr. Luo teaches BIO 102: Introduction to Neuroscience and has advised numerous doctoral students including Zhuoran Li and Alina Xiao. His lab develops cutting-edge tools like the TRAP and TRIO methods for circuit mapping, while maintaining active collaborations across multiple disciplines.