Mikhail Baloban

Mikhail Baloban is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Genetics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. His work focuses on engineering fluorescent proteins and optogenetic tools for advanced imaging and gene regulation. He specializes in near-infrared technologies, bacterial phytochromes, and genetic tools for biomedical applications. His research bridges biophysics, protein engineering, and neuroscience, with a particular emphasis on developing tools for deep-tissue imaging and non-invasive optogenetic control.

Key contributions include the design of red-shifted fluorescent proteins (e.g., miRFP704nano), near-infrared optogenetic systems (iLight2), and SWIR imaging platforms. His studies explore protein structure-function relationships, monomer-dimer dynamics, and photoconversion mechanisms in bacterial phytochromes. Baloban’s work also addresses challenges in nuclear localization signals for neuronal tools and antigen-dependent fluorescent nanobodies.

His publications highlight advancements in multiscale imaging, genetic tool optimization, and the application of these technologies to study cellular processes in vivo. Despite no listed awards, his prolific output (over 20 publications from 2017–2025) underscores his active research role. Advising and grants are not detailed in the provided text, but his lab likely focuses on protein engineering and biomedical imaging innovations.