Dr. Chuan-Chin Chiao

Dr. Chuan-Chin Chiao is a Distinguished Professor in the Institute of Systems Neuroscience & Department of Life Science at National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) in Hsinchu, Taiwan, where he also served as Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Director of the Institute of Molecular Medicine.

He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) after completing his undergraduate studies in Taiwan. Dr. Chiao’s research spans over two decades in visual neuroscience, with a particular emphasis on retinal neurobiology, cephalopod neuroethology, optic-nerve regeneration and visual ecology.

At NTHU, he leads the Visual Neuroscience Laboratory, where multidisciplinary methods are applied to uncover neural mechanisms of vision and behaviour, and to explore ways of repairing or substituting damaged neural circuits in the retina. Dr. Chiao is also an accomplished educator; he has developed MOOCs and mobile learning courses in life science and neuroscience, and his teaching has earned awards such as the Best MOOC Award (2018) from the Taiwanese Ministry of Education, the Best Mentor Award (2016) at NTHU, and the prestigious Wu Ta You Memorial Award in 2011.

Beyond his laboratory and teaching roles, Dr. Chiao’s administrative leadership—particularly as Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs since 2018 and Director of the Institute of Molecular Medicine—demonstrates his commitment to advancing neuroscience research, international collaboration, and academic excellence in Taiwan and the broader Asia-Pacific region. He also served as the Director of the National Museum of Natural Science in Taichung, the first museum in Taiwan to bring natural science closer to everyday life.

His career integrates deep scientific inquiry with a strong culture of mentorship, interdisciplinary education and institutional leadership, making him a key figure in the interface of neuroscience, higher education and research policy in Taiwan.