Mrinalini Pandurang Nikrad

“Birth and death are just passages, not of life but of time.” – Sadhguru

Mrinalini Pandurang Nikrad, age 43, passed away peacefully on May 10th, 2025, following a 4 – year battle with breast cancer. Mrinalini was born in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India on October 24th, 1981, to parents Malti and Pandurang Nikrad. As she grew, Mrina developed an immense drive for knowledge and strength- learning all she could in school, excelling in swimming and tae kwon do, and finding time to help her two younger siblings navigate the world. She earned her PhD in Molecular Microbiology in 2013 from the University of Delaware and dedicated her professional life to the advancement of microbial and genomic science. Her passion for science and innovation led her to become one of the few people in the nation to travel to the continent of Antarctica for her doctoral research. During her leisure time, Mrina loved to explore the world, eat delicious food, and cuddle her most precious cats, Merlin and Fae. She was a fiercely independent, adventurous, brilliant woman, and her presence on this earth will be remembered and cherished every day.

Mrina will fondly be remembered as a loving daughter, sister, and friend. She is survived by her parents- Malti and Pandurang Nikrad, her siblings- Gauri and Vineet Nikrad, her closest friends- Ben Farr, Teneke Warren and Genevieve Lawrence, and all those who benefit from her extensive contributions to science.

Mrina loved cats and cultivated a deep bond with her rescues. Rather than sending flowers or bereavement gifts to our family, please donate to your local Humane Society in her memory.

“Only a person who has lived totally can die gracefully.” – Sadhguru