Position Title
Assistant Professor
Taiyi Diana Kuo joined the Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior in January 2022 as an assistant professor. Before joining the UC Davis faculty, she was an associate research scientist at Columbia University Medical Center’s Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center.
“I am interested in metabolism and what goes wrong during the progression of diabetes—a major metabolic disorder that affects millions in the world and shows no signs of slowing down,” said Kuo. “The goal of my research focuses on understanding the molecular processes, especially in the nucleus, that take place in the pancreatic beta cell during the disease development.”
Kuo earned both her bachelor’s degree and Ph.D. at UC Berkeley, where she majored in molecular and cellular biology. During her graduate studies, Kuo investigated glucocorticoid receptor signaling and insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle. She expressed excitement about joining UC Davis.
“Through my interactions with UC Davis faculty members, I learned that the Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior is scientifically excellent, collaborative, sincere and nurturing—an ideal environment for me to start my lab,” said Kuo. “Moreover, I have a passion for teaching. I look forward to the opportunity to help shape the next generation of students.”