Danielle Grotjahn

Danielle Grotjahn, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology at Scripps Research. She leads the Grotjahn Lab, which focuses on understanding mitochondrial shape changes in response to stress using advanced imaging techniques like cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) and correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM). Her research bridges structural, molecular, and cellular biology to uncover mechanisms of mitochondrial dysfunction in diseases like neurodegeneration.

Education:

• PhD in Biophysics, The Scripps Research Institute (2018)
• B.S. in Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison (2010)

Research Interests:

Dr. Grotjahn’s work explores how mitochondria act as stress sensors, dynamically altering their morphology to regulate cellular health. Key areas include mitochondrial ultrastructure under stress, mechanisms of membrane remodeling, and the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in disease. Her lab uses cutting-edge imaging to visualize molecular interactions in situ.

Awards & Honors:

• 2023 Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences
• 2023 Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovation Award (Phase 2)
• 2022 Baxter Young Investigator Award
• 2021 Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovation Award (Phase 1)
• 2018 Harold M. Weintraub Graduate Student Award

Advising & Grants:

Dr. Grotjahn mentors a dynamic team of graduate students and postdocs, focusing on mitochondrial dynamics and stress responses. Her lab has secured multi-million-dollar grants from Pew Charitable Trusts, Damon Runyon Cancer Foundation, and the National Science Foundation.

Labs & Collaborations:

The Grotjahn Lab collaborates with institutions like Caltech and NYU, advancing interdisciplinary research in mitochondrial biology. Current projects include studying mitochondrial fission machinery and phospholipid regulation during stress.