Andrew C. Liu, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics at University of Florida College of Medicine. Dr. Liu received his doctoral degree in Biochemistry from University of Michigan Medical School and postdoctoral training in Genetics and Genomics in The Scripps Research Institute. Dr. Liu’s lab studies the molecular and physiological mechanisms of circadian rhythms including the sleep/wake cycle using cells and mice as models. One line of research aims to identify new clock genes that modify the circadian clock function, which led to the discovery, for example, that mTOR regulates circadian clocks and the sleep/wake rhythm. The ultimate goal of this line of research is to gather sufficiently detailed knowledge to effectively enhance our circadian and sleep systems and improve quality of life.
