Minji Jang Ph.D.

I am a Postdoctoral Associate in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Duke University, currently focusing on developmental changes associated with social enrichment in the neural mechanisms underlying social behavior in autism spectrum disorder. I have a strong background in neuroscience, with expertise in the neurophysiological changes related to neural disorders and animal behavior. Based on this expertise, I have conducted research on neurophysiological and behavioral changes related to pain, emotional regulation, and social behavior in rodent models.

Currently, I joined in the Tim Dunn lab in the department of Biomedical Engineering at Duke since April 1st, 2025. 

1. My early research clarified how neural activity in brain regions such as the medial prefrontal cortex regulates adolescent social, emotional, and addictive behaviors. Using immunohistology, stereotaxic surgery, ex vivo electrophysiology, and behavior assays, I identified oxytocin's effects on fear memory and anxiety and demonstrated sex differences in fear extinction. These studies have helped elucidate mechanisms underlying social buffering and emotional regulation.

a.    Jang, M., Jung, T., Byun, Y., Jeong, Y., & Noh, J. (2022). Oxytocin modulation in the medial prefrontal cortex of pair-exposed rats during fear conditioning. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 141, 105752. 

b.  Jang, M., Jung, T., & Noh, J. (2021). Oxytocin-induced anxiogenic behavior in juvenile male rats. Animal Cells and Systems, 25(6), 369-376. 

c.  Jang, M., Jung, T., Kim, S., & Noh, J. (2019). Sex differential effect of dexmedetomidine on fear memory extinction and anxiety behavior in adolescent rats. Neuroscience Research, 149, 29-37.

2. My postdoctoral research advanced understanding of neural mechanisms of pain and emotion with in vivo rodent models of migraine and psoriatic itch. Using optogenetics, calcium imaging, stereotaxic surgery, and light-sheet fluorescence microscopy, I characterized direct synaptic connections between peripheral sensory and central neurons involved in orofacial pain and emotional comorbidities. This work provides key insights into neural circuit dysfunction underlying pain disorders.

a.     Zhang, Q., Jang, M., Dias, F. C., Zeng, Q., Wang, P., Tai, H., Chattha, E., Zhang, J. Y., Lim, R. S. P., Liedtke, W., & Chen, Y. (2025). Neuronal mechanisms of psoriatic itch: Role of IL17R/ERK/TRPV4 signaling pathway. Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 

b.     Zhang, Q., Su, S., Liang, P., Baldi, R., Wang, P., Dias, F. C., Jang, M., Lim, P., Moreira, R. W. F., Yang, H., Chun, J., Guilak, F., Liedtke, W., Nackley, A., & Chen, Y. (submitted). LPA/LPAR signaling drives temporomandibular disorders-like pain through regulating the expression and sensitization of PIEZO2. Journal of Clinical Investigation. 

See my CV for more information

Feel free to reach out to me at:

Email: minji.jang@duke.edu

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/minjijang9401