Assistant Professor
Research Interests:
Neural Computation, Neuromodulation, Ultrasound, Brain Imaging, Brain-Computer Interfaces, Neural Engineering
Email: k.yu@uconn.edu
Address:
Bronwell 303, 260 Glenbrook Road
University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT 06269-3247
Office Phone: (860) 486-8194
Education:
B.S. Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
M.S. Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
Ph.D. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Postdoc Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Research Summary:
Our society faces pressing challenges in diagnosing and treating brain disorders. The mission of Yu Lab is to develop computational tools and neuromodulation technologies to study how the brain encodes and processes endogenous and exogenous inputs. The lab seeks to elucidate fundamental neural mechanisms and translate the technologies into innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for brain disorders. Dr. Yu’s research spans three core areas: neural computation, neuromodulation and neuroimaging, and point-of-care devices for treating brain disorders.
Honors and Awards:
NIH Blueprint MedTech Seedling Award
Samuel and Emma Winters Foundation Award
IEEE Brain Initiative Neurotech Entrepreneurs Workshop Award
Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship, University of Minnesota
MnDRIVE Graduate Research Fellowship, University of Minnesota
Gold Medal, The 40th International Exhibition of Inventions, Geneva, Switzerland
Best Innovation Award, The 2nd NXP Cup Innovation Design Competition, Shanghai, China
Selected Publications:
Google Scholar Citations Link
1. K. Yu and B. He, “Transcranial focused ultrasound modulates visual thalamus in a nonhuman primate model”, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 2025.
2. M. G. Kim*, K. Yu*, C. Yeh, R. Fouda, D. Argueta, S. Kiven, Y. Ni, X. Niu, Q. Chen, K. Kim, K. Gupta, and B. He, “Low-intensity transcranial focused ultrasound suppresses pain by modulating pain processing brain circuits”, Blood, vol. 144, pp. 1101-1115, 2024.
3. K. Yu, S. Schmitt, Y. Ni, E. Crane, M. Smith, and B. He, “Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Remotely Modulates Extrastriate Visual Cortex by Stimulating Frontal Eye Field with Subregion Specificity”, Journal of Neural Engineering, vol. 21, p. 066018, 2024.
4. J. Kosnoff, K. Yu, C. Liu, and B. He, “Transcranial Focused Ultrasound to V5 Enhances Human Visual Motion Brain-Computer Interface by Modulating Feature-Based Attention”, Nature Communications, vol. 15, p. 4382, 2024.
5. K. Yu*, X. Niu*, E. Krook-Magnuson, and B. He, “Intrinsic Functional Neuron-type Selectivity of Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Neuromodulation”, Nature Communications, vol. 12, p. 2519, 2021.
6. K. Yu*, X. Niu*, and B. He, “Neuromodulation Management of Chronic Neuropathic Pain in the Central Nervous System”, Advanced Functional Materials, vol. 30, p. 1908999, 2020.