Hello!
I am Kou (Cheng-Yu Huang), a PhD candidate at the University of Cambridge in the lab of Julija Krupic. My work focuses on analysing neuronal representation in the hippocampus and animals' spatial navigation behaviour, using computational and data-driven approaches.
I am particularly interested in the intersection of data and mathematical modelling, and the application of statistical inference tools to uncover the unobservable states of biological systems.
Research
My PhD research investigates how neural representations emerge and change in the hippocampus, combining large-scale imaging data with behavioural analysis. I work primarily with two-photon imaging datasets and develop analysis pipelines to study both single-cell and high-dimensional population neural activity.
A major focus of my current work is the analysis of neural representations in a dementia mouse model, examining how the disease affects the stability and organisation of neural codes. This work integrates data analysis, statistical modelling, and biologically grounded interpretation. It is currently being prepared for publication.
Teaching
Alongside my PhD, I supervised undergraduate students during term time. Supervision is a small-group teaching format focused on discussion and problem-solving. I taught two third-year Engineering courses: Statistical Signal Processing (3F3) and Inference (3F8), guiding students through key concepts and supporting their learning in a more interactive setting.
Workshop & Outreach
Bioimage analysis is a core skill in modern biology, yet it is rarely part of formal training. To address this gap, I developed and delivered a series of hands-on workshops in bioimage analysis. What began as a small training initiative (initially just for my wife) expanded into workshops held at research institutes and universities across Taiwan and Japan between 2022 and 2025.
These two-day workshops introduce participants to Python-based analysis, fundamental principles of digital data processing, and practical use of the Napari and other open-source software for interactive data exploration.
This work was presented at the GLOBIAS conference in 2024, highlighting approaches to scalable training in bioimage analysis; it also led to the foundation of EABIAS, a collaborative partnership to foster bioimage analysis training across Japan and Taiwan.
Publications
📃 Lu, C.-H., Huang, C.-Y. et al. Large-scale expanded sample imaging with tiling lattice lightsheet microscopy. Int. J. Biochem. Cell Biol., 154, 106340 (2023)
📃 Huang, CY., Draczkowski, P., Wang, YS. et al. In situ structure and dynamics of an alphacoronavirus spike protein by cryo-ET and cryo-EM. Nat Commun 13, 4877 (2022)
Other Interests
I enjoy reading, writing, cooking, and creating art.
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