Yishi Jin

Yishi Jin is a geneticist who made seminal discoveries in neural development and regeneration. She pioneered the use of GFP for in vivo visualization of synapses in forward screening. This work, performed in C. elegans, led to the identification of "pioneer molecules" in synapse development and inspired many researchers to study homologs in other organisms. Jin is further known for devising behavioral and functional paradigms, followed by genetic screens, for the discovery of intermediates in cell signaling pathways. One particularly innovative paradigm involves amplified, ultra-short laser pulses for precision axotomy to establish molecular determinants of axon regeneration in C. elegans.