It is with profound sadness that we mourn the recent passing of our dear friend and colleague, Dr. Atrouli Chatterjee. A brilliant postdoctoral associate in the Rothman Lab at Yale University's West Campus, Atrouli was a gifted scientist and an invaluable member of our community.
Atrouli's academic journey began at the Tohoku International School in Sendai, Japan. After coming to the United States, she built a remarkable scientific foundation, earning a BSc in Chemical Engineering from UC Berkeley (2015), an MEng in Biomedical Engineering from Cornell University (2016), and an MSc and PhD in Chemical Engineering from UC Irvine (2021). Her doctoral dissertation with Dr. Alon Gorodetsky on "Squid-Inspired Engineering of Optically-Dynamic Mammalian Cells" 1 showcased her creativity and breadth of expertise.
As a member of our lab, Atrouli made immediate and significant contributions to the field of neuronal exocytosis. Her research yielded a key insight into neurotransmitter release, as she used TIRF microscopy to show that the coordinated action of chaperones Munc13, Munc182, and Synaptophysin3 was essential for ultra-fast, SNARE-driven fusion. A true innovator, she also began developing a new interferometry-based microscopy technique to achieve nanometer-scale precision, tackling a fundamental challenge in the field.
Her impact extended far beyond her own projects. An incredibly productive scientist, Atrouli co-authored 16 papers and held a patent4. She is remembered fondly as a generous colleague who was always willing to help and a dedicated mentor who took joy in lifting others up scientifically. This passion for service was clear in her leadership roles with Women in Science and Engineering (Berkeley), the Society of Women Engineers (Irvine), and as a 2023 ambassador for Optica.
Atrouli was a shining light in our lab and in the scientific community. Her brilliance, kindness, and dedication will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.