At the Yale School of Medicine, he leads a research laboratory studying fundamental questions at the interface of neuroscience and cell biology. His group is specifically interested in how synapses are precisely assembled to build the neuronal architecture that underlies behavior. They collaborate with network scientists, physicists, microscopists and computational biologists to pioneer integrated and quantitative approaches that enable unprecedented access to the cell biology of the synapse, in embryos as they form synapses and in adults as synapses are maintained or modified to underpin learned behaviors.

His research program, mentoring and educational activities have been recognized with awards from the National Institutes of Health, American Association for the Advancement of Science and the White House. He has occupied leadership roles, including being part of the University Science Strategic Committee which developed the strategic plan for STEM at Yale and leading the Neuroscience Working Group, which convened the neuroscience community and developed the strategic plan for the occupancy and focus of the research building 100 College.

Professor Colón-Ramos completed his B.A. at Harvard University, his Ph.D. in the lab of Dr. Sally Kornbluth at Duke University and was a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Dr. Kang Shen at Stanford University.