Yandong Zhou, PhD

Dr. Yandong Zhou is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Cell and Biological Systems at Penn State College of Medicine. His research program investigates how intracellular calcium signals are generated, organized, and translated into cellular responses in health and disease. A major focus of his laboratory is defining the molecular mechanisms by which the endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺-sensing STIM proteins interact with and gate Orai calcium channels in the plasma membrane to regulate store-operated calcium entry. His laboratory also studies calcium signaling at the endoplasmic reticulum, plasma membrane, mitochondria, and endolysosomal system. Current disease-focused projects examine how altered calcium signaling contributes to kidney fibrosis, age-related skeletal muscle dysfunction, and pediatric cancers. The Zhou laboratory combines live-cell calcium imaging, high-resolution fluorescence microscopy, molecular and cellular biology, CRISPR-generated cell models, protein-interaction studies, and electrophysiological approaches to define these mechanisms. Dr. Zhou is committed to training students and postdoctoral researchers in quantitative imaging, experimental design, scientific communication, and the development of independent research questions. Prospective students interested in calcium signaling, ion channels, organelle biology, advanced microscopy, or disease-focused cellular research are encouraged to explore the laboratory’s ongoing projects and training opportunities.