Dr. Zhou is currently a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Dr. Geoffrey Schoenbaum at the NIDA IRP where he studies neural circuit mechanisms of animal behavior and cognition. Using in vivo electrophysiology as a primary tool, his research attempts to map neural dynamics embedded in the neural population activities to the hidden cognitive variables that underlie learning and decision-making.
To facilitate a timely transition for outstanding postdoctoral researchers, the NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) provides up to five years of supporting: one to two years of mentored postdoctoral training and three years of independent research at institutions where the researchers are in a tenure-track position.
Dr. Zhou has begun the project titled “Cognitive map representations by orbitofrontal cortex and hippocampus” since July 2020.