John Chen has a solid academic education background in biochemistry and molecular biology by using insect as a model.  After he earned his Ph.D. at the end of 2006, he accumulated a very broad research experiences in protein biochemistry, structural biology, behavioral neuroscience, developmental neuroscience, and neuropharmacology through working on Drosophila (2007 – 2010) and mouse (2010 – current).  His research achievements can be demonstrated in 14 publications (7 first author papers).  Since John Chen experiences in multiple disciplines, these could make him look at a scientific question from several different angles which may lead to a big breakthrough in his projects. He is interested in the roles of neurotransmitters and their modulated signalling pathways in alcohol sensitivity and tolerance. He published 3 papers in this field by using Drosophila as a model.  In recent a couple of years, his interests have extended to the impact of alcohol and other addiction drugs on the synaptogenesis and plasticity of inhibitory neurons, and their relationships with mental disorders.

Alcohol sensitivity Alcohol tolerence Neurotransmitters signalling pathway