Danielle Grotjahn, PhD

Associate Professor

Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology

Research Focus

The Grotjahn Lab connects molecular structure with cellular context to study how mitochondria remodel their shape, composition, and function in response to changing cellular demands and stressors. Our lab combines recent advances in cellular cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) and super-resolution fluorescence microscopy to elucidate the structural and functional interactions that regulate mitochondrial behavior amid changing cellular conditions. Our goal is to uncover fundamental mechanisms of mitochondrial adaptation that could inform new therapeutic strategies for disease.

Education

Professional Experience

Awards & Professional Activities

Select Publications

Chang, Ya-Tin T.; Barad, Benjamin A.; Hamid, Juliette; Rahmani, Hamidreza; Zid, Brian M.; Grotjahn, Danielle A. Cytoplasmic ribosomes on mitochondria alter the local membrane environment for protein import. 2025, 224.
Medina, Michaela; Chang, Ya-Tin T.; Rahmani, Hamidreza; Frank, Mark; Khan, Zidan; Fuentes, Daniel; Heberle, Frederick A.; Waxham, M Nea N.; Barad, Benjamin A.; Grotjahn, Danielle A. Surface Morphometrics reveals local membrane thickness variation in organellar subcompartments. 2026, 225.
Mageswaran, Shrawan K.; Grotjahn, Danielle A.; Zeng, Xiangrui; Barad, Benjamin A.; Medina, Michaela; Hoang, My H.; Dobro, Megan J.; Chang, Yi-Wei; Xu, Min; Yang, Wei Y.; Jensen, Grant J. Nanoscale details of mitochondrial constriction revealed by cryo-electron tomography. Biophysical Journal 2023, S0006-3495, 481-482.
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Barad, Benjamin A.; Medina, Michaela; Fuentes, Daniel; Wiseman, R Luk L.; Grotjahn, Danielle A. Quantifying organellar ultrastructure in cryo-electron tomography using a surface morphometrics pipeline. 2023, 222.
Baron, Kelsey R.; Oviedo, Samantha; Krasny, Sophia; Zaman, Mashiat; Aldakhlallah, Rama; Bora, Prerona; Mathur, Prakhyat; Pfeffer, Gerald; Bollong, Michael J.; Shutt, Timothy E.; Grotjahn, Danielle A.; Wiseman, R Luk L. Pharmacologic activation of integrated stress response kinases inhibits pathologic mitochondrial fragmentation. 2025, 13.
Lander, Gabriel C.; Lander, Gabriel C.; Grotjahn, Danielle A.; Chowdhury, Saikat; Basanta, Benjamin A guided approach for subtomogram averaging of challenging macromolecular assemblies.. Journal of structural biology: X 2020, 4, 100041.
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Podcast

Danielle Grotjahn: What mitochondria tell us about disease, stress and cell death

Are the mitochondria truly the powerhouses of the cell? In this episode, assistant professor Danielle Grotjahn shares why she thinks “the stress sensors of the cell” may be a more appropriate name for this cellular organelle–and more. Dr. Grotjahn works in the Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology at Scripps Research, where her lab is answering how mitochondrial networks change shape in response to genetic, pharmacological or environmental stress. Listen as we talk about the links between mitochondrial dysfunction and disease, cell death, and the cutting-edge imaging technologies that are enabling Grotjahn and her team to peer into the mysteries of the mitochondria.

Integrative Structural & Computational Biology

News

Scientists measure cellular membrane thickness inside cells for the first time

Measuring membrane thickness was previously only possible in artificial membranes—now scientists can do it inside intact cells, providing crucial context for understanding how cells work.

Integrative Structural & Computational Biology

Video

Peering into the mitochondria to reveal cellular stress and disease

The mitochondria are well known for being cellular “powerhouses,” given their important role in energy generation. Yet emerging research is now suggesting these organelles also play a key role as the stress-sensors for the cell. In this Front Row lecture, Scripps Research assistant professor Danielle Grotjahn explored how mitochondria change shape in response to different genetic and environmental stressors. By harnessing cutting-edge imaging technologies to examine mitochondria in these never-before-seen-ways, Grotjahn is revealing how these organelles can predict overall cellular health and even disease, including neurodegenerative disorders and cancer.

Integrative Structural & Computational Biology Cancer Events Front Row Lecture Series Integrative Structural & Computational Biology Neurological Disorders

News

Scripps Research’s Danielle Grotjahn named 2023 Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences

The award will support Grotjahn’s study of how cells assemble the molecular machinery that governs programmed cell death.

Integrative Structural & Computational Biology

News

Scripps Research scientists develop new technique for studying mitochondria

Advance offers a new way of investigating diseases—including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and different cancers—where mitochondria are disrupted.

Integrative Structural & Computational Biology

Video

A new toolkit for mapping the mitochondria

An advanced imaging-based method from scientists at Scripps Research offers a new way of studying mitochondria, which are best known as the “powerhouses” of cells. In their report on February 14, 2023, in the Journal of Cell Biology, the scientists described a set of techniques that enables the imaging and quantification of even subtle structural changes inside mitochondria, and the correlation of those changes with other processes ongoing in cells.

Integrative Structural & Computational Biology Cancer Integrative Structural & Computational Biology Neurological Disorders

News

Scripps Research Fellows Program launches new recruiting season, seeking original thinkers

The Scripps Research Fellows Program fosters the next generation of scientific thought-leaders. The application period is now open.

News

Scientists with diverse expertise to join Scripps Research faculty

Protein engineering and autism genetics experts join the faculty, bringing diverse skills and tools.