Purnendu Chatterjee Chair in Engineering Biological Systems, Bioengineering
Faculty Scientist, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Mailcode 1762
510-643-5624
fletch@berkeley.edu
For more information, see: https://fletchlab.berkeley.edu/
Research Interests
The Fletcher Lab develops diagnostic technologies and studies mechanical regulation of membrane and cytoskeleton organization in the context of cell motility, signaling, and host-pathogen interactions. We specialize in development of optical microscopy, force microscopy, and microfluidic technologies to understand fundamental organizational principles through both in vitro reconstitution and live cell experiments. Recent work includes investigating the mechano-biochemistry of branched actin network assembly with force microscopy, studying membrane deformation by protein crowding and oligomerization with model membranes, and reconstituting spindle scaling in encapsulated cytoplasmic extracts. The long-term goal of our work is to understand and harness spatial organization for therapeutic applications in cancer and infectious diseases.
Education
- 2002 Postdoctoral Fellow, Stanford University, Biochemistry
- 2001 Ph.D., Stanford University, Mechanical Engineering
- 1997 D.Phil., Oxford University, Engineering Science
- 1994 B.S.E., Princeton University, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Major Awards
- 2017-2021 Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Investigator
- 2013-present Purnendu Chatterjee Endowed Chair in Engineering Biological Systems, UC Berkeley
- 2010-2013 Lester John and Lynne Dewar Lloyd Distinguished Professorship, UC Berkeley
- 2010 Bioengineering Teaching Award, Outstanding Instructor, Bioengineering Honor Society, UC Berkeley
- 2010 Tech Award Laureate, Museum of Technology and Innovation, San Jose, CA
- 2009 Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Grand Challenges Exploration Grant
- 2008-2009 White House Fellow, Washington, DC
- 2005 Hellman Faculty Fund Award, UC Berkeley
- 2004 National Science Foundation CAREER Award
- 2003 UC Berkeley Presidential Chair Fellow
- 2001 National Inventors Hall of Fame Collegiate Inventors Award
- 1996 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship
- 1994 Rhodes Scholarship
Professional Experience
- 2015-2019 Chair, Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley
- 2009-2015 Associate Chair, Department of Bioengineering, UC Berkeley
- 2010-present Professor, Bioengineering, UC Berkeley
- 2007-2015 Deputy Division Director, Physical Biosciences, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
- 2007-2010 Associate Professor, Bioengineering, UC Berkeley
- 2002-2007 Assistant Professor, Bioengineering, UC Berkeley
- 2003-present Faculty Scientist, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
- 2003-present Member, Nanoscale Science & Engineering Graduate Group, UC Berkeley
- 2002-present Member, Bioengineering Graduate Group, UC Berkeley & UCSF
- 2002-present Member, Biophysics Graduate Group, UC Berkeley
- 2002-present Faculty Affiliate, QB3, UC Berkeley