Senior Research Associate at OHSU
Hi! I'm Yangmiao Zhang, a neuroscientist based in Portland, Oregon. My research is mainly focused on pain mechanism and management, branching out to alcohol use disorder and the neural basis of empathy. With a multi-disciplinary background, my skillset extends beyond neuroscience to chemistry and physics. Outside these areas, my passion and curiosity reaches further to art and aesthetics. It will be a good day when we finally understand how our brain identifies beauty, and better if I can somehow contribute to that endeavor.
My path began in college where I obtained intensive training in multiple science disciplines, including math, chemistry, physics, and biology. After receiving a master's degree in chemistry, I moved to the United States in 2010 for my Ph.D. study in pharmaceutical science and neuroscience at Washington State University. Following graduation, I moved to Portland for postdoctoral training, and I am now working there as a senior research associate. The work I've been doing in the past few years has made me realize that gaining new knowledge and making scientific discoveries will always be essential to my life. To give back to the world for the enlightenment I have been fortunate to receive, I also dedicate part of my time to sharing knowledge with people and providing them opportunities to learn however I can.
I was invited to speak at the 2022 Nogginfest where I gave a talk about free will and explained what happens in the brain when we make "decisions".
Artistically speaking, the March issue of Genes, Brains, and Behavior features one of my drawings on the front cover. It is the official publication of the International Behavioural and Neural Genetics Society.