Zhengkun Long | Cognitive Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Zhengkun Long | Cognitive Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award 

Dr. Zhengkun Long is a cognitive neuroscientist at the School of Psychology, Shenzhen University. He earned his Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from the Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, where he studied the neural mechanisms of mind wandering and its effects on motor control and semantic processing. His research combines EEG and behavioral methods to explore how spontaneous thoughts influence sensory-motor functions and brain dynamics. Dr. Long is skilled in programming, EEG/fMRI data analysis, and experimental design, and has published in leading journals such as PNAS, NeuroImage, and Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience.

Dr. Zhengkun Long | Shenzhen University | China

Profile 

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57299929900

ORCID ID

🎓Education

  • Dr. Zhengkun Long earned his Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from the Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (2019.09–2024.06), under the supervision of Prof. Xiaolan Fu. He completed his undergraduate studies at Wuhan University, obtaining a B.S. from the Economics and Management School (2012.09–2018.06). During his undergraduate years, he served two years (2015.09–2017.09) in an army unit of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.

👨‍🏫Experience

  • Dr. Long’s research focuses on the cognitive neuroscience of mind wandering, with particular emphasis on its effects on motor control, semantic processing, and brain dynamics. Since January 2024, he has been investigating the neurodynamics of on- and off-task thoughts using EEG-based metrics such as autocorrelation window (ACW), Lempel-Ziv complexity (LZC), and power-law exponent (PLE). He is also exploring how task difficulty and attention levels influence sensory and motor phase coherence during mind wandering. His previous projects (2020–2023) examined how mind wandering impairs motor control and affects the processing of Chinese compound words, particularly considering factors like movement difficulty and word familiarity

🤝Awards and Honors

  • Dr. Long has published in high-impact journals, including the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS), NeuroImage, and the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience. His research has been co-authored with prominent neuroscientists such as Georg Northoff and Prof. Xiaolan Fu, reflecting the significance and collaborative nature of his scientific contributions.

💡Skills and Certifications

  • Dr. Long is proficient in MATLAB, Python, and Unix for programming and experimental design. He has extensive experience in EEG data analysis, including time-frequency analysis, functional connectivity, and aperiodic signal analysis. He also has training in fMRI data analysis using FSL and is skilled in utilizing PsychoPy and Psychtoolbox for psychological experiment programming

🔬Research Focus

  • Dr. Long’s core research interests lie at the intersection of attention, mind wandering, and neural mechanisms. He aims to understand how internally directed thought processes influence external sensory and motor functions. His work combines behavioral experiments with advanced neuroimaging techniques to uncover the temporal and functional architecture of spontaneous thought and its consequences on task performance

🌎Conclusion

  • Dr. Zhengkun Long exemplifies the qualities of a Best Researcher Award recipient: intellectual curiosity, methodological excellence, and impactful scholarship. His forward-thinking research on brain dynamics and cognition makes a meaningful contribution to neuroscience and positions him as a rising leader in his field. He is highly deserving of this recognition.

📖Publications

  • How mind wandering influences motor control: The modulating role of movement difficulty
    Authors: Zhengkun Long, Qiufang Fu, Xiaolan Fu
    Journal: NeuroImage

  • Word Familiarity Modulates the Interference Effects of Mind Wandering on Semantic and Reafferent Information Processing
    Authors: Zhengkun Long, Qiufang Fu, Xiaolan Fu
    Journal: Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience

  • Unpredictable fearful stimuli disrupt timing activities: Evidence from event-related potentials
    Authors: Qian Cui, Mingtong Liu, Chang Hong Liu, Zhengkun Long, Ke Zhao, Xiaolan Fu
    Journal: Neuropsychologia

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Jian Yang | Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jian Yang | Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

Jian Yang, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor at the School of Medicine, Shanghai University. He holds a B.S. in Chemical Technology and Engineering from Jiangsu Ocean University, an M.S. in Applied Chemistry from Sichuan University, and a Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry from China Pharmaceutical University, with joint research training at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. His research focuses on molecular imaging probe design for early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases, PET tracer synthesis, and drug discovery. Dr. Yang has received funding from the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and the Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai. He actively serves as an editor and reviewer for several international journals.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jian Yang | Shanghai University | China

Profile

🎓Education

  • Jian Yang received his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Technology and Engineering from Jiangsu Ocean University, Jiangsu, China, in 2003. He pursued his Master of Science in Applied Chemistry at Sichuan University, graduating in 2006. He then completed his Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry at China Pharmaceutical University in 2017. During his doctoral studies, he also conducted joint research in Molecular Imaging at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School from 2015 to 2017.

👨‍🏫 Experience

  • Currently, Jian Yang serves as an Associate Professor at the School of Medicine, Shanghai University, a position he has held since September 2020. Prior to this, he worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow at China Pharmaceutical University from 2017 to 2020. Earlier in his career, he held industrial roles, including Manager at Nanjing JoyMed Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. from 2010 to 2013, Group Leader at Nanjing Acesys Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. from 2007 to 2010, and Scientist I at WuXi Apptec in Shanghai from 2006 to 2007.

🤝 Awards

  • Jian Yang has been recognized with several research grants and funding awards. These include support from the 62nd China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (No. 1600010008), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81971677), and the Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai (No. 22ZR1424400).

💡Skills and Certifications

  • He has extensive skills in molecular imaging, PET tracer synthesis, drug discovery, and new imaging technology development. Jian Yang is actively involved in editorial work, serving as a Guest Associate Editor for Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology and Frontiers in Immunology, Review Editor for Frontiers in Chemistry, and Contributing Editor for Brain-X. He also reviews for several leading journals including Analytical Chemistry, Theranostics, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, and Chemical Engineering Journal.

🔬 Research Focus

  • Jian Yang’s research mainly focuses on the design of molecular imaging probes for the early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). He is dedicated to advancing new imaging technologies, synthesizing novel PET tracers for preclinical AD studies, and contributing to drug synthesis and drug discovery research.

🌎Conclusion

  • Dr. Jian Yang is highly suitable for the Research for Best Researcher Award. His multi-disciplinary excellence, global collaboration, translational research outcomes, and sustained publication and funding record make him a standout candidate. His contributions not only advance the scientific understanding of brain diseases but also inspire innovation in molecular diagnostics and therapeutics.

📖Publications

  •  Novel Dual-Functional Half-Curcumin Analogues as a Fluorescent and PET Probe for β-Amyloid Imaging in the Alzheimer’s Disease APP/PS1 Model
    Authors: Haijun Yang, Ke Li, Tingfang Wang, Jianguo Lin, Jian Yang
    Journal: ACS Chemical Neuroscience, 2025
  • Dual Targeting of Neuropilin-1 and Glucose Transporter for Efficient Fluorescence Imaging of Cancer
    Authors: Jianwei Zhu, Can Zhou, Jian Yang, Zhenhua Wang
    Journal: Molecular Imaging and Biology, 2025
  • Targeted Radionuclide Therapy of CLDN18.2-Positive Gastric Cancer with [131I]I-Zolbetuximab: An In Vitro and In Vivo Study
    Authors: Yang Wang, Shuhua He, Lin Ma, Zheng Li, Qingnuan Li
    Journal: Molecular Pharmaceutics, 2025

Houze Zhu | Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

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Mr. Houze Zhu | Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

Zhu Houze is a Lecturer at the School of Basic Medical Sciences, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. He earned his PhD in Pathophysiology from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, his master’s degree in Basic Psychology from East China Normal University, and his bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from Fudan University. His research focuses on the mechanisms of neurodegeneration and memory impairment in Alzheimer’s disease, with expertise in neurophysiology, molecular biology, and cognitive neuroscience. Zhu has contributed to high-impact publications in journals such as and and has participated in several major national research projects.

Mr. Houze Zhu | Huazhong University of Science and Technology | China

Profile

🎓Education

  • Zhu Houze received his PhD in Pathophysiology from Huazhong University of Science and Technology between September 2014 and June 2017. Prior to that, he earned his master’s degree in Basic Psychology from East China Normal University from September 2011 to June 2014. He completed his undergraduate studies in Biological Sciences at Fudan University from September 2007 to June 2011.

👨‍🏫 Experience

  • Since October 2017, Zhu Houze has been serving as a Lecturer at the School of Basic Medical Sciences, Department of Physiology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. He has not undertaken postdoctoral work. His recent research experience includes participation in several major projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, focusing on Alzheimer’s disease, temporal lobe epilepsy, and memory regulation mechanisms.

🤝 Awards and Achievements

  • Zhu Houze has made significant contributions to Alzheimer’s disease research, particularly in the areas of neuronal degeneration and memory impairment. His representative publications include a co-first author paper in Nature Communications on the degeneration of hippocampal cholinergic synapses and its effects on spatial memory, and contributions to high-impact studies in Journal of Neuroscience, Molecular Neurobiology, and Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. His work has helped uncover molecular pathways involved in neurodegeneration and cognitive decline.

💡Skills and Certifications

  • Zhu Houze possesses strong expertise in neurophysiology, molecular biology, behavioral neuroscience, and cognitive impairment mechanisms. His technical skills include neuronal circuit analysis, memory behavior assessments, molecular signaling pathway investigation, and experimental model development for neurological diseases.

🔬 Research Focus

  • His primary research focus lies in the mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration and memory impairment, especially in Alzheimer’s disease. He has contributed to understanding the roles of cholinergic synapse degeneration, ferroptosis, long noncoding RNAs, and astrocyte network disintegration in neurodegenerative conditions. Additionally, he is exploring the neural network structure of the “brain-gut axis” in early-stage cognitive impairment related to Alzheimer’s disease.

🌎Conclusion

  • Zhu Houze is highly suitable for the Research for Best Researcher Award. His proven ability to lead cutting-edge research, achieve meaningful scientific outcomes, and contribute significantly to the neuroscience community positions him as a strong and deserving candidate for this honor.

📖Publications

  • Amyloid-β mediates intestinal dysfunction and enteric neurons loss in Alzheimer’s disease transgenic mouse
    Authors: Guoqiang Liu, Quntao Yu, Houze Zhu, Youming Lu, Hao Li et al.
    Journal: Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences