Phi Nguyen, Ph.D.

Phi Nguyen is a postdoctoral fellow in René Hen’s lab at Columbia University. He obtained a bachelor of arts degree in neuroscience from Bates College and a doctorate in biomedical sciences from the University of California, San Francisco.

In his doctoral work in Anna Molofsky’s lab, Nguyen studied how immune cells impact learning-dependent synaptic remodeling. He discovered a mechanism where microglia actively shape the brain’s extracellular matrix through phagocytosis, creating microenvironments that enhance synaptic remodeling in response to learning. In his postdoctoral work in René Hen’s lab, Nguyen aims to uncover the cellular substrates underlying behavioral modulation during antidepressant treatment. His work revealed that mature neurons in the adult brain retain an intrinsic capacity to re-engage dormant developmental plasticity programs — an ability that is harnessed by antidepressants to promote neural circuit remodeling. As he transitions to independence, Nguyen seeks to re-engineer these developmental plasticity programs to target endophenotypes of normal aging, neurodegeneration, and psychiatric disorders.

Nguyen is a recipient of numerous awards, including a postdoctoral fellowship from the Jane Coffin Childs Fund for Medical Research, an NIH Outstanding Scholars in Neuroscience award and a graduate research fellowship from the National Science Foundation.