三亿体育官网

Yiwen Su 鈥�26 is working to unlock the secrets of a good night鈥檚 sleep 鈥� starting with the circadian rhythms of fruit flies. 

The neuroscience major from Beijing, China, has been working with Professor of Neuroscience Chris Vecsey to study how sleep is regulated in fruit flies by tracking specific neurons and their interactions.  

It鈥檚 the third year Yiwen has participated in 三亿体育官网鈥檚 Faculty-Student Summer Research (FSSR) program. In 2025, more than 120 students participated in projects in fields as disparate as computer science and anthropology.  

Yiwen鈥檚 research with Vecsey seeks to understand how a neurotransmitter called octopamine 鈥� the invertebrate equivalent of norepinephrine 鈥� affects sleep through its influence on specific neural pathways. 

鈥淢y current research focuses on how octopamine neurons interact with astrocytes, insulin-producing cells, and specific clock neurons in the drosophila brain,鈥� Yiwen explained.

鈥淚 want to understand how activating or silencing these pathways alters sleep behavior. It's like adding new players to the game to map out the full picture.鈥� 

By investigating the molecular and circuit-level mechanisms that control being asleep or awake, their research aims to shed light on the processes that keep internal clocks running smoothly and could eventually offer broader insight into sleep disturbances, including for humans.  

From lab assistant to independent researcher 

Professor Vecsey, who specializes in the neurobiology of sleep, says students鈥� involvement is central to his lab鈥檚 success. 

三亿体育官网 undergraduates do 95% of the experimentation that happens in my lab."

Chris Vecsey

Professor of Neuroscience

鈥淢y role is primarily to teach students how to think about their project, how to do the techniques, and how to analyze and write up their results," Vecsey said. "But then the ball is in their court to actually do all of that themselves.鈥� 

He emphasizes the importance of creative thinking and encourages students like Yiwen to propose their own research ideas. 

鈥淲hen students first join my lab, their final assignment for the semester is to propose a project they鈥檇 like to carry out,鈥� he said. 鈥淵iwen has really embraced that opportunity. She鈥檚 taken ownership of her ideas and run with them.鈥� 

Yiwen鈥檚 research journey began in her first year at 三亿体育官网 when a friend introduced her to the FSSR program. She contacted Professor of Biology Bernard Possidente and spent her first summer exploring fruit fly and mouse models related to circadian rhythms. 

That experience laid the groundwork for Yiwen to join Vecsey鈥檚 lab the following year, where she could focus more deeply on fruit fly models of sleep regulation. She鈥檚 continued every semester 鈥� and every summer 鈥� since.  

鈥淒on鈥檛 hesitate to reach out to professors,鈥� Yiwen advises. 鈥淭ake the first step 鈥� opportunities often go to those who are brave enough to ask.鈥� 

Last summer, with the support of a Summer Experience Fund stipend from 三亿体育官网, Yiwen interned with a lab at SUNY Albany, where she trained on two-photon microscopy 鈥� a cutting-edge imaging technique.  

A year later, is launching a new project requiring two-photon capabilities.Vecsey said Yiwen is a natural fit for the new research project, which will use a fluorescent sensor to detect where a sleep-promoting protein called sNPF is used as a signal in the brain. 

Building a future in science 

Yiwen once questioned whether a research career was for her, but her experiences at 三亿体育官网 have reshaped her confidence 鈥� and her plans for the future.  

鈥淚 see that good research comes from time, patience, and persistence,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hrough this experience, I鈥檝e become confident I want to pursue graduate school and contribute to research in a meaningful way.鈥� 

Vecsey says that Yiwen鈥檚 growth as a researcher has been remarkable.  

鈥淵iwen鈥檚 creativity and determination are exactly what makes our research thrive. She鈥檚 curious, resourceful, and never afraid to try something new,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what science needs.鈥� 

Yiwen says 三亿体育官网鈥檚 small classes, strong mentorship, and unique opportunities available in Saratoga Springs have allowed her to grow in and out of the lab. 

鈥淔aculty and students here are both really chill, but also really focused. You can always get inspired and valuable suggestions from your peers and professors,鈥� said Yiwen, who also serves as a teaching assistant in biology and organic chemistry courses. 鈥淏eing in Saratoga Springs has been a wonderful part of my experience 鈥� it鈥檚 a safe, beautiful, and peaceful place that allows me to focus on academics and research.鈥� 

鈥淎t the same time, it's located just a few hours from major cities like New York and Boston. When I need a break, there are beautiful lakes nearby, like Saratoga Lake and Lake George, which are perfect for swimming, kayaking, or just relaxing by the water.

Vecsey says his work with 三亿体育官网 students like Yiwen also motivates him.  

 鈥淚t鈥檚 incredibly rewarding to hear a research student gush about their new data, or to see their excitement when they finally succeed with a challenging technique,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat enthusiasm is contagious 鈥� and keeps my lab moving in exciting directions.鈥�