Traci Yu

Contact

chunxiuy@mtu.edu
906-487-2353
Dow 528

Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Affiliated Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences

PhD, The Weizmann Institute of Science

Biography

Dr. Chunxiu (Traci) Yu is an assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. She received her Ph.D. degree at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel. After graduation, she joined Duke University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for her postdoctoral trainings to study the neural mechanisms underlying reward-guided behaviors, as well as the signal processing and network dynamics of visual attention. Before joining the MTU, she was a research scientist in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Duke University to study brain mechanisms of deep brain stimulation in Parkinson’s disease.

Dr. Yu’s research focuses on understanding signal processing networks of sensory and motor systems and developing biomedical devices to treat neurological disorders. Her research employs various neural engineering and neurobiological approaches, such as programming and computational modeling, electrical stimulation, optogenetics, electrophysiology, behavioral assays, and neuroanatomy. Dr. Yu has received research supports from NIH funds (NIH R03 and NIH R15) and MTU internal funds (Engineering Cross-Cutting Initiative, C2E2, and REF).

Brain Stimulation Engineering Lab

Our mission is to engineer novel brain stimulation paradigms through technology development, computational modeling, and experimental studies, with the goal of advancing the therapeutic efficacy and efficiency of deep brain stimulation for the treatments of neurological diseases.

Below: The components of deep brain stimulation include temporal pattern design, device modification, closed-loop stimulation, electrical stimulation, and optogenetic stimulation.

Deep Brain Stimulation components graphic.

Links of Interest

Chunxiu (Traci) Yu in Google Scholar

Research Interests

Neuroengineering
Brain Stimulation (Optogenetic and Electrical)
Neural Signal Processing
Brain-Computer Interface
Brain and Behavior (Parkinson's Disease, Depression, Stroke, and Addiction)

BME Research Areas

Biosensors and Biomedical Instrumentation
Biomedical Optics and Ultrasound

Position Openings

Please email Dr. Traci Yu (chunxiuy@mtu.edu) including a copy of your CV for any of the following positions:

1. Graduate students

We currently have openings for highly-motivated graduate/master students with interests and/or experience in neuroscience, engineering, or computer science. Previous experience in computational modeling is beneficial.

The focus of this position is on developing novel strategies to improve therapeutic efficiency and efficacy of brain stimulation in neurological disorders using various experimental and computational approaches.

Graduate students will be accepted in the department of Biomedical Engineering through the appropriate graduate admissions process and start in the fall of 2021, see link. Those interested should hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or a related field and contact Dr. Yu first before applying.

2. Undergraduate research assistants

We are also seeking motivated undergraduates with knowledge of engineering, biology, or computer science. Students will learn knowledge and hand-on skills in brain dissection, electrophysiology, behavioral testing, and computational data analysis. Students with MATLAB programming skill are preferred.

Honors, Awards, Fellowships

NIH Research Enhancement Award (AREA), 2020
Portage Health Foundation Research Excellence Award, 2020
Michigan Tech Century II Campaign Endowed Equipment fund (C2E2), 2019
NIH Small Research Grant (RO3) 2018, NINDS
MTU College of Engineering Cross-cutting Initiative, 2018