Zhao Xuan

Zhao Xuan is an Assistant Professor of Neurobiology in the School of Biology and Ecology at the University of Maine. She earned her PhD from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in 2014.

Her research investigates cellular and molecular mechanisms of synapse development, with emphasis on active zone organization, synaptic autophagy, and neurodegeneration using C. elegans models. Current projects examine:

• CLA-1 protein interactions in neurotransmitter release
• Periactive zone assembly and synaptic maintenance
• Molecular links between axon guidance and neurotransmission

Her publications reveal consistent focus on presynaptic mechanisms and neural circuit development, with recent work exploring autophagy-synapse interactions. She leads the Xuan Lab, utilizing advanced live-animal imaging and genetic techniques to study neuronal function.