Dorit Hanein

Professor Dorit Hanein holds dual appointments in the Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Biomedical Engineering at UC Santa Barbara. She is also an adjunct professor at the Scintillon Institute and Sanford Burnham Prebys. Her research focuses on integrating cryogenic light and electron microscopy to study biological macromolecular machines at atomic resolution under native conditions. She leads the Hanein Lab, pioneering techniques in cryo-TEM and correlative microscopy to explore cell mechanics, membrane dynamics, and 3D soft material design. Key projects include studying immune responses, sensory perception mechanisms, and aging processes. She directs the upcoming SB2EM cryo-TEM facility at UCSB.

Education includes a BS from Shenkar College (1987), PhD from Weizmann Institute (1995), and Sorbonne HDR (2021). Honors include Pew Innovation Fund Investigator (2018) and Fulbright Postdoctoral Scholar (1996). Her lab collaborates globally, with former roles at Pasteur Institute (Paris) and Sanford Burnham Prebys (La Jolla). Current research emphasizes in situ cryo-TEM workflows, cellular cryo-tomography, and mechanobiology.

Awards: Fullbright Postdoctoral Scholar, Pew Innovation Fund Investigator, Sorbonne HDR. Grants include NIH, Beckman Foundation, and Fondation Pour l'Audition. Active in training students across levels, with notable lab members including Rowan Vitro (PhD candidate) and undergraduate researchers Andres Carranza, Elaina Pace, and Jennifer Wu.