Obituary - We mourn the loss of Sayan Mukherjee

It is with deep sadness that we bid farewell to Professor Dr Sayan Mukherjee, who passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on 31 March 2025 at the age of 54. His loss leaves a huge gap in the biotechnology scene in Saxony.

Professor Mukherjee, born in India, received his doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2001 and continued his research at renowned institutions in the USA. In 2022, he was appointed Alexander von Humboldt Professor of Artificial Intelligence at the University of Leipzig and simultaneously became a Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences.

His work in topological data analysis and his contributions to the development of Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) have opened up new avenues in precision medicine. By applying innovative statistical methods, he made a significant contribution to better understanding the biological function of gene groups and their role in the development of diseases.

Professor Mukherjee was not only an outstanding scientist, but also a bridge-builder between different disciplines and institutions. His commitment to the closer integration of research institutions, such as the Center for Scalable Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (ScaDS.AI) at Leipzig University and the Max Planck Institute, has made Leipzig an internationally recognised centre for AI research.

The biosaxony e.V. and leap:up GmbH (formerly biosaxony Management GmbH) bid farewell to an outstanding scientist. Professor Mukherjee was an inspiring personality whose research made a significant impact on the biotech scene in Saxony and beyond. His legacy will accompany future generations of scientists“, said André Hofmann, CEO of leap:up GmbH and Deputy Chairman of the Board of biosaxony e.V. „We mourn with his family, friends and colleagues and offer them our heartfelt condolences.“

To the press release of the University of Leipzig

To the digital condolence book of the University of Leipzig