Wise, Ingenious, Attentive

"Dr. Kai-Yi Wang has been a postdoctoral fellow in my laboratory since 2023, and in this short time she has become an essential pillar of our scientific community. Her research aims to elucidate how a single traumatic event can leave a persistent emotional trace, shaping behavior long after the initial experience. To tackle this complex question, she focuses on the role of astrocytes within the central amygdala and how these glial cells might encode and store emotional information. Her approach is both rigorous and innovative: she combines behavioral assays, in vivo fiber-photometry calcium imaging, and ex vivo patch-clamp electrophysiology, complemented by opto- and chemogenetic manipulations of specific cell populations. Through this multidisciplinary strategy, she is rapidly advancing our understanding of the cellular and circuit-based mechanisms of emotional memory. I wish to nominate Dr. Wang as a “Lab Hero” for a multitude of reasons that extend far beyond her scientific expertise. First and foremost, she embodies the integrity and honesty that define truly outstanding researchers. She consistently produces robust, carefully controlled datasets, regardless of whether her results align with prevailing hypotheses or the expectations of her supervisors. Her commitment is to science itself, not to pleasing others, and this independence of thought is increasingly rare and invaluable. Within the lab, Dr. Wang has naturally become a point of reference for students, technicians, and postdocs alike. She mentors younger colleagues with genuine kindness and patience, offering guidance without ever imposing and stepping in whenever help is needed. Her problem-solving abilities are remarkable; whatever the obstacle, technical, conceptual, or organizational, she invariably finds a constructive way to go. Many of our recent experiments would not have succeeded without her insight and intervention. Her reliability and humility have earned her the trust and respect of the entire institute. Senior scientists appreciate her clarity and thoughtfulness, while interns and animal caregivers value her generosity and approachability. She listens deeply, supports those around her, and brings a sense of calm, wisdom, and good will to every interaction. In conclusion, Dr. Kai-Yi Wang is, without question, our lab hero. Her scientific rigor, human qualities, and unwavering dedication make her indispensable in our daily work. This title truly reflects who she is, and I know no one who deserves it more."

Nominated by Alexandre Charlet, Peptidergic Control of Emotions, INCI, CNRS UPR3212, France

Wise, ingenious, attentive

"Dr. Kai Yi Wang is an exceptionally versatile scientist, mastering a broad range of techniques with level of precision that sets her apart. She handles electrophysiology, calcium imaging, optogenetics, stress and fear-related behavioral essays and surgical procedures with the same calm competence. Few people can move so fluidly from one complex technique to another, and even fewer do it with such care. Her meticulous approach, combined with her remarkable patience, means she rarely experiences setbacks, and when experiments are delicate or high-risk, she is often the one we trust to execute them flawlessly. She played a decisive role at the beginning of my PhD, helping me set up experiments that I would never have managed alone before. Even now, she continues to guide me whenever I hit a difficult point whether it is understanding a unexpected result, adjusting a protocol, or finding a new way to approach a problem. Her advice is always clear, practical, and grounded in real experience. One of the thing I value most is that Kai Yi is the kind of person to whom you can express your scientific doubts without ever feeling judged. She listens with genuine openness, asks thoughtful questions, and helps you think through the problem with patience and kindness. She notices when you are struggling and steps in with quiet, steady support. Her work ethic is extraordinary. Kai Yi spends more time in the lab than anyone else on the team, driven by genuine dedication rather than obligation. She stay informed about her field with regularity, always reading, learning, and updating her knowledge. When an obstacle arises, she does not get discouraged. She simply works through it with the same measured determination that defines her entire approach to science. Her consistency, resilience, and thoughtful pace make her a model of professionalism. Above all, Dr. Wang is humble, wise, patient, and profoundly trustworthy. She knows incredible amount but never boasts about it. She teaches with clarity and empathy, making even difficult concepts accessible. She is the kind of colleague you can rely on without hesitation, always present, always generous, always composed. Working with her is both reassuring and inspiring; this is why she is my Lab Hero."

Nominated by Clémence Denis, Pepdidergic Control of Emotions, Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neuroscience, France