Scholars@Duke

Dr. Chia-Chien (Eric) Chen is an Assistant Professor of Neuroscience at Duke Kunshan University.  He received his PhD in Psychology from The Graduate Center at City University of New York.  He worked 6.5 years as a postdoctoral scholar at University of California, Santa Cruz and three years as a scientific scholar / adjunct Assistant Professor at Queens College, City University of New York.  Dr. Chen’s research focuses on how significant life experiences (e.g., sensory deprivation, malnutrition, stress, learning, and environmental enrichment) affect the neuronal circuits, brain development, and the associated behaviors that are governed by these circuits.  He is also interested in rejuvenation of the aging brain by various behavioral, pharmacological, environmental, nutritional, and genetic manipulations on a systemic level.  Last, he also studies how environmental pollution (e.g., PM 2.5, heavy metal poisoning) may cause circuits and behavioral defects during brain development.