Dr. Yuki Oka

Biography

Yuki Oka is a Professor of Biology and an Investigator at the Heritage Medical Research Institute at the California Institute of Technology. He received his B.A. from the University of Tokyo in 2002 and completed his Ph.D. in 2007. Oka served as an Assistant Professor at Caltech from 2014 to 2020 before being promoted to Professor in 2020. He was a Chen Scholar from 2019 to 2022 and has been an HMRI Investigator since 2021. His research focuses on understanding the neural molecular basis of motivated behaviors and homeostatic regulation. Oka's long-term goal is to explore how the brain integrates internal body states with external sensory information to maintain homeostasis. His laboratory addresses key questions using a body fluid homeostasis model system, investigating how internal depletion of water and salt triggers specific motivations for drinking and salt intake. Through multidisciplinary approaches including genetics, pharmacology, optogenetics, and optical/electrophysiological recording techniques, Oka aims to dissect and control the neural circuits underlying these behaviors.

Research Interests

Experience

Awards