Dorit Hanein

Research

Professor Hanein’s research focus is the quantitative combination of high-resolution imaging technologies to directly view in three-dimensions and while in their native environment, the molecular architecture, and the dynamic conformational landscape of biological nanomachines. Her research is at the interfaces between structural biology, cell biology, systems biology, and engineering science, focusing on tying dynamics and mechanics of cell cytoskeleton, membrane, and organelles in cell motility. Professor Hanein is a world expert in developing and employing scale integration workflows ranging from tens of microns to sub-nanometers involving a combination of novel sample preparation protocols, correlative light and electron microscopy, cellular cryogenic electron tomography, bioengineering and biophysical tools to allow visualization of macromolecular complexes in vitro, within cells, and in tissues. This workflow is tied to high-resolution, live-cell fluorescence imaging techniques that are used to pinpoint the location of individual protein assemblies. The resulting quantitative integration of scales between macroscopic cellular behavior and high-resolution structural changes carries high impact in both medicine and basic biological research. Professor Hanein is a PI and co-Investigator on current and previous NIH funded projects, the Pew Foundation, Beckman Foundation, Fondation Pour l'Audition and industrial partners. Professor Hanein designed and commissioned two international cryo-TEM facilities including Titan Krios, Glacios, dual beam cryo-FIB technologies (Aquilos) and cryo- light and EM auxiliary machineries, one at Sanford Burnham Prebys, the other at Institute Pasteur (France). She is the Scientific Director of the upcoming cryo-TEM facility at UCSB (SB2EM).

Education

• Shenkar College of Engineering and Design BS 1987
• Weizmann Institute of Science MSc 1989
• Weizmann Institute of Science PhD 1995
• Fulbright Postdoctoral Scholar 1996
• Pew Biomedical Scholar 2000
• Pew Innovation Fund Investigator 2018
• Sorbonne University Habilitation (HDR) 2021

Experience

• 2022 - Present: Professor, UCSB, Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry , and of Biomedical Engineering, Santa Barbara, CA
• 2022 - Present: Professor (Adjunct), Scintillon Institute, San Diego, CA
• 2017 - 2021: Professor, Pasteur Institute, Paris, France
• 2012 - 2020: Professor, Sanford Burnham Prebys, La Jolla, CA
• 2012 - 2020: Professor (Adjunct), UCSD, Pathology Department , La Jolla, CA