Yang Weiyuan

Dr. Yang Weiyuan is a full-time Researcher at the Institute of Biochemistry, Academia Sinica, focusing on autophagy, organelle damage responses, and optogenetic tools for quantitative single-cell analysis. His work combines advanced cell imaging techniques with molecular biology to uncover how cells tune autophagosome biogenesis and manage organelle-specific stress responses.

Education:

• Ph.D., Biophysics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2003)
• B.S., Physics, National Taiwan University (1997)

His research explores the quantitative regulation of autophagosome formation and the dynamic responses to organelle damage, using custom optogenetic schemes and organelle-specific dyes. This work has implications for neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and aging-related pathologies.

While his publications span 2009–2021, they reveal consistent expertise in autophagy mechanisms, mitochondrial quality control, and imaging-based quantification. Key techniques include live-cell fluorescence imaging, optogenetic damage induction, and cryo-electron tomography.