Jing Zheng
Postdoctoral Fellow (Alumnus)
Contact information
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Biography
About me
I am original from the central region of China, and I am now a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Deborah Kurrasch's (https://cumming.ucalgary.ca/labs/developing-brains) and Dr. Catherine Lebel's (https://www.developmentalneuroimaginglab.ca/about/) labs. I got my bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology.
My research
I was trained in neuropharmacology in my master's program and neurotoxicology for my Ph.D. degree. I earned my Ph.D. from China Pharmaceutical University at the end of 2018. During my Ph.D. study, my projects studied the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which environmental pollutants (organohalogens such as PCBs, pyrethroids, and natural marine organohalogens) disrupt intracellular Ca2+ signaling and neuronal plasticity.
I am now working in Deborah Kurrasch's and Dr. Catherine Lebel's labs. My research focuses on understanding how prenatal factors (e.g., environmental pollutants and maternal obesity) affect the neurodevelopment of offspring.
BRAIN CREATE program aspirations
Through the BRAIN CREATE program, I hope to get academic exchange opportunities to interact with people who have expertise in studying the neurodevelopmental toxicity of environmental pollutants. I also hope to improve my communication skills (e.g., presentation and writing) through the BRAIN CREATE program.
Commercialization
My project is a translational study using animal models combined with human data. This study will explore the molecular mechanisms of changes observed in human samples. Thus, the models established in this project could be potentially commercialized to assess all chemicals that could cause health concerns. In addition, the markers identified in this project could also be considered in the preclinical phase of drug discovery.
Awards
NSERC BRAIN CREATE Postdoctoral Fellowship