Yongxin Leon Zhao

Yongxin (Leon) Zhao is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University. His research focuses on biological imaging, expansion microscopy, optogenetic reporters, biomolecular engineering, synapse typing, and complex diseases. His lab develops interdisciplinary tools to interrogate biological and pathological processes in cells and tissues, with an emphasis on nanoscale imaging technologies for complex systems such as the brain, cancer, and infectious diseases. Zhao's work includes the advancement of expansion microscopy (ExM) and related techniques for mapping structural and molecular properties of biological systems. His research also explores tools for probing the dynamics of biological processes, including the development of genetically encoded indicators for signaling molecules and molecular events.

Yongxin Zhao is a researcher specializing in biophotonics and imaging, with a focus on developing advanced tools for biological research. His work includes the creation of genetically encoded Ca2+ indicators, all-optical electrophysiology techniques, and expansion microscopy for nanoscale imaging. Zhao's research explores molecular contrast, nanoscale resolution, and the application of optogenetics in neuroscience. His contributions span from fluorescent biosensors to three-dimensional nanofabrication, emphasizing the integration of imaging technologies with biological systems. Zhao's publications highlight the development of bright and fast voltage reporters, as well as the use of expansion microscopy in clinical and neuroscientific contexts.