The Molecular Bioelectricity Lab Jianmin Cui, Principal Investigator

Current Members

Professor Jianmin Cui

Jianmin Cui is the Spencer T. Olin Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis. He received a Ph.D. in Physiology and Biophysics from State University of New York at Stony Brook and a post-doctoral training at Stanford University. He was an assistant professor of Biomedical Engineering at Case Western Reserve University before moving to St. Louis. His research interests are on membrane permeation to ions, drugs and genes, including the molecular mechanisms of ion channel function and ultrasound-mediated drug/gene delivery. Dr. Cui is a recipient of the Established Investigator Award from the American Heart Association.

Jingyi Shi Ph. D.

I got my B.S. in Peking University and Ph.D. from Dept. Of Physiology and Biophysics in SUNY at Stony Brook. After the postdoctoral training in the Department of Neurobiology at Stanford University, I joined the lab in 1999 when the lab started. As a research assistant professor, I am involved in multiple projects in the lab and oversee the day-to-day operations.

Guohui Zhang Ph. D.

After got my Ph. D in chemistry and Material Science in 2004 from University of Missouri Rolla, I joined Dr. Cui's lab to explore a new field in electrophysiology. I worked as a research scientist in a biotech company from 2007 to 2009 before back this lab again in June of 2009. My research focuses on the coupling between the pore and the voltage sensing and ligand binding domains of big-conductance potassium channels ( BK Channels) in order to understand the structure and function of channels. Patch clamp, mutagenesis, chemical modification and protein biochemistry are applied in my study.

Lu Han

I joined the Cui lab in June of 2022, before i joined the lab I was working for the school of social work for eighteen years as database administrator.

Lu Zhao Ph. D.

Lu joined the Cui Lab in May 2019 as a postdoctoral research associate. She received her doctoral degree in Biomedical Engineering from the Xi'an Jiaotong University in Xi'an, China. Her PhD study focused on the biomedical effects the low-intensity therapeutic ultrasound. When She first joined the Cui lab, She focused on finding a mechanosensitive ion channel which can be used as a sonogenetic actuator for ultrasound-mediated neuromodulation. She also researched on identifying IKs current activators that can be used for LQT therapy and antiarrhythmia. She also collaborated to figure out the mechanism of the VSD-PIP2 binding site of the kCNQ1 channel. Outside of the lab, Lulu enjoys eating yammi foods, especially the foods cooked by Dr. Cui.

Lei Huang Ph. D.

Lei joined the Cui Lab in January 2023 as a postdoctoral research associate. He received his doctoral degree in Forensic Medicine from the Zhongshan School of Medicine at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China. His research focused on the study of the comparison between KCNQ1 and KCNQ2 in terms of voltage-dependent gating. Outside of the lab, Lei enjoys watching movies and TV shows, visiting US cities, hiking, and trying different countries' foods.

Shuzong Du Ph. D.

After got my Ph. D in neuroscience from Kunming Institute of Zoology.CAS,I joined Dr. Cui's lab since July 2023. Using voltage-patch clamp to study the mechanism, function and drug development of potassium ion channels .

Yuyin Wang

After got my bachelor’s degree in pharmacy. I joined the Dr. Cui's lab in the fall of 2022. I am working on the insect odorant receptors.

Zyiasia Knighton

I currently am an undergraduate student at Bay Path University, majoring in Medical Science Pre-Medicine. I joined the lab as a Cardiovascular Summer Research Fellow at Washington University in St. Louis. My research focuses on drug discovery for the big conductance potassium channels (BK K+ Channels). Using the patch-clamp technique to record ion channels and screen chemicals to identify channel modulators for the BK channel, specifically the cardiovascular system.