Mahua Mukhopadhyay, Ph.D.

Mahua Mukhopadhyay, Ph.D., was named acting chief of DBCAB in August 2024. Since joining NICHD in 2008 as a program official, she has overseen a program in early embryonic development and established programs in stem cell biology, regenerative biology, biophysics/biomechanics of development, and developmental metabolomics. Prior to joining DBCAB, she was a biologist in the NICHD Intramural program where she led research projects pertaining to typical and atypical mammalian embryonic development. 

Dr. Mukhopadhyay serves on several NICHD and NIH working groups, including the Program Leadership Committee, responsible for coordinating administrative duties across NIH. She is the NICHD scientific and administrative contact for the NIH R15 program and the Institutional Development Award (IDeA) co-funding program. She also serves on working groups coordinating NIH-wide initiatives, including the Common Fund's Cellular Senescence Network program, the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program, and the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies® initiative.

Dr. Mukhopadhyay received her doctorate degree in biological sciences from McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, studying development of neuronal connectivity in the Drosophila visual system. During her postdoctoral studies at NICHD’s Laboratory of Mammalian Genes and Development, she acquired extensive knowledge in mammalian embryonic development using the powerful tools of mouse genetics. She has received several NIH and NICHD awards recognizing her contribution in science administration and work-life balance pursuits.