实验室集中在神经元通讯的基本结构突触上，从两个层面上开展研究：一是开发前沿的工具，即开发新型成像探针，用于在时间和空间尺度上解析神经系统的复杂功能；二是借助先进的工具探究突触传递的调节机制，特别是在生理及病理条件下对神经递质释放的调节。教育经历：
2000 - 2006，博士，神经生物学，美国杜克大学
1996 - 2000，学士，生命科学学院，北京大学
工作经历：
2012 - 至今，研究员，北京大学生命科学学院，北京大学麦戈文脑研究所，北大清华生命联合中心，
2006 - 2012，博士后，斯坦福大学
荣誉奖励：
2015 绿叶生物医药杰出青年学者奖
2015 北京大学生命科学学院十佳教师
2006 杜克大学神经生物学最佳博士论文奖（The Somjen Prize）
学术兼职：
美国神经科学学会会员
中国生理学会青年工作委员会委员
代表性论文（selected publications, * corresponding authors）
- Jing, M., Zhang, P., Wang, G., Feng, J., Mesik, L., Zeng, J., ... & Li, Y.* (2018). A genetically-encoded fluorescent acetylcholine indicator. Nature Biotechnology, in press.
- Wang, H., Jing, M., & Li, Y.* (2018). Lighting up the brain: genetically encoded fluorescent sensors for imaging neurotransmitters and neuromodulators. Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 50, 171-178. (Review)
- Wang, A., Feng, J., Li, Y.*, & Zou, P.* (2018). Beyond Fluorescent Proteins: Hybrid and Bioluminescent Indicators for Imaging Neural Activities. ACS chemical neuroscience, 9(4), 639-650. (Review)
- Qian, C., & Li, Y.* (2015). Spine maturation and pruning during development: Cadherin/Catenin complexes come to help. Science China. Life sciences,58(9), 929. (Preview)
- Shen, Y., Ge, W. P., Li, Y., Hirano, A., Lee, H. Y., Rohlmann, A., ... & Ptacek, L. J. (2015). Protein mutated in paroxysmal dyskinesia interacts with the active zone protein RIM and suppresses synaptic vesicle exocytosis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(10), 2935-2941.
- Liang, L., Li, Y., Potter, C. J., Yizhar, O., Deisseroth, K., Tsien, R. W., & Luo, L. (2013). GABAergic Projection Neurons Route Selective Olfactory Inputs to Specific Higher-Order Neurons. Neuron, 79(5), 917-931.
- Li, Y.*, & Tsien, R. W.* (2012). pHTomato, a red, genetically encoded indicator that enables multiplex interrogation of synaptic activity. Nature neuroscience, 15(7), 1047-1053.
- Park, H., Li, Y., & Tsien, R. W. (2012). Influence of synaptic vesicle position on release probability and exocytotic fusion mode. Science, 335(6074), 1362-1366.
- Yoo, A. S., Sun, A. X., Li, L., Shcheglovitov, A., Portmann, T., Li, Y., ... & Crabtree, G. R. (2011). MicroRNA-mediated conversion of human fibroblasts to neurons. Nature, 476(7359), 228-231.
- Zhang, Q., Li, Y., & Tsien, R. W. (2009). The dynamic control of kiss-and-run and vesicular reuse probed with single nanoparticles. Science, 323(5920), 1448-1453.
- Kuner, T., Li, Y., Gee, K. R., Bonewald, L. F., & Augustine, G. J. (2008). Photolysis of a caged peptide reveals rapid action of N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor before neurotransmitter release. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 105(1), 347-352.
- Li, Y., Augustine, G. J., & Weninger, K. (2007). Kinetics of complexin binding to the SNARE complex: correcting single molecule FRET measurements for hidden events. Biophysical journal, 93(6), 2178-2187.
