Yoko Wang

Ms Yoko Wang

Higher Degree by Research Candidate

PhD Candidate

School of Biomedicine

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Yoko Wang is a PhD candidate in Vagal Afferent Research Group. She completed her Bachelor in Science (Biotechnology) from University of Surabaya in 2016 with Summa Cumlaude. In 2017, she was awarded the Australia Awards Scholarships to pursue her postgraduate study in The University of Adelaide.

In her PhD, Yoko focuses on understanding how inflammation contributes to obesity. She is particularly interested in the interaction between inflammation, appetite regulation and dietary intake. Besides research, Yoko has a deep interest in science communication where she combines her passion in science and arts to pursue her aspirations in improving STEM education for children, young adults and general public. She is actively teaching science to children, young adults and junior scientists worldwide. She loves to incorporate illustration or motion graphics to tell her science story.

Yoko is currently investigating the role of different types of vagal afferents in the stomach and their interaction with leptin - the fullness hormone - to control appetite. Vagal afferents are the sensory part of the vagus nerve that send fullness signal from gut to the brain to control feeding. Leptin enhances this signal transmission but in obesity, leptin effect is dampened and this may alter eating behaviour. Using combination of approaches at molecular (e.g. viral mediated neural tracing, genetically modified animal models, cell culture) and physiological (e.g., electrophysiology, metabolic monitoring, gastric emptying studies) level, Yoko aims to unravel how leptin acts through vagal afferents in the stomach and why leptin loses its effect in obesity. The outcome of this research would significantly contribute to the development of new therapeutic approaches for obesity through pharmacotherapy or dietary intervention.

 

 

  • Awards and Achievements
    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2020 Award First Place Winner BLiSS*Adelaide Science Bites 2020 BLiSS*Adelaide Australia
    2020 Research Award Adelaide Medical School HDR Research Support Award 2020 The University of Adelaide Australia $1,000
    2020 Award People's Choice Award Visualise Your Thesis 2020 The University of Adelaide Australia
    2017 Scholarship Australia Awards Scholarship The Government of Australia Indonesia
    2016 Award Exemplary Graduate of Faculty of Biotechnology University of Surabaya Indonesia
    2016 Award Summa Cumlaude University of Surabaya Indonesia
    2015 Achievement First Place PERTAMINA National Science Project PERTAMINA Indonesia
    2014 Achievement Silver Medallist in National Biology Olympiad The Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Technology, Republic of Indonesia Indonesia
    2012 Scholarship Mr. Boedisoesetya Scholarship University of Surabaya Indonesia

  • Language Competencies
    Language Competency
    English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
    Indonesian Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    2012 - 2016 University of Surabaya, Surabaya Indonesia B. Sc.

  • Research Interests
    Neuroscience, Behaviour and Brain Health Nutrition and Metabolic Health Dietetics and Nutrigenomics Epigenetics Gene and Molecular Therapy Neurosciences

  • Committee Memberships
    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    2020 - ongoing Member PPIA SA Creative Media PPIA SA Australia
    2020 - ongoing Member ASMR South Australia State Committee ASMR Australia

  • Memberships
    Date Role Membership Country
    2021 - ongoing Member Australasian Epidemiological Association Australia
    2021 - ongoing Member International Epidemiological Association United States
    2021 - ongoing Member Society for the Study of Ingestive Behaviour United States
    2021 - ongoing Member The Obesity Society United States
    2020 - ongoing Member The Australasian and New Zealand Obesity Society Australia
    2020 - ongoing Member Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR) Australia
    2018 - ongoing Member Australasian Neuroscience Association Australia
  • Position: PhD Candidate
  • Phone: 0881284815
  • Email: yoko.wang@adelaide.edu.au
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: SAHMRI, floor 7 South
  • Org Unit: Research Scholars (Positions)
Connect With Me
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