Arnab Mukherjee

Arnab Mukherjee is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), with a joint appointment in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry (DCB). He leads the Mukherjee Lab, focused on molecular bioimaging, combining imaging science with synthetic biology, protein engineering, and chemical biology. His research addresses challenges in visualizing biological processes via non-invasive technologies like MRI and optical imaging.

His work includes developing genetically encoded reporters for MRI, such as aquaporin-based systems that enhance water diffusion for diffusion-weighted imaging. Parallel efforts involve engineering oxygen-independent fluorescent proteins (LOV domains) to enable anaerobic and deep-tissue imaging, overcoming limitations of traditional GFP-derived reporters. These innovations target applications in tumor microenvironment studies, infectious disease diagnostics, and functional imaging of cellular processes.

Mukherjee's lab is located in Elings Hall (Engineering II), and he collaborates across disciplines to advance biomolecular imaging tools. His research has produced over 20 peer-reviewed articles, with recent focuses on biomolecular probes, phage-based nanomaterials, and calcium-responsive contrast agents. He holds a robust publication record spanning molecular engineering, biosensor design, and imaging technologies.

He is contactable at arnabm@ucsb.edu and office 3349 Engineering II. The lab’s work is supported by grants from NIH, NSF, and industry partnerships, though specific grants are not detailed in the provided texts.