Faculty focus on Bronwyn Lucas

Bronwyn Lucas is an assistant professor of biochemistry, biophysics, and structural biology in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and the Center for Computational Biology. The Lucas lab employs cryo-EM and computational tools to develop new approaches to leverage the growing databases of molecular structures to investigate the molecular details of life.

QB3-Berkeley: What’s an exciting question or challenge that your field or your lab is trying to answer?

Bronwyn Lucas: Right now, we’re at a point where structural biology has been evolving over the last several decades. We now have huge databases of protein structures—both individual proteins and complexes. With AlphaFold, we also have massive datasets of predicted structures that are becoming increasingly accurate. Essentially, we now have what could be considered a reference dataset of structures for almost everything in the proteome, which is an incredible milestone.

Cyro-EM research image of Individual ribosomes and ribosome precursors visualized inside a yeast cell
Individual ribosomes and ribosome precursors visualized inside a yeast cell. Image courtesy of Bronwyn Lucas.

At the same time, in electron microscopy, there have been parallel advancements. We’re now able to capture more detailed images, and we can generate thin sections of cells to see molecular details inside them. The big challenge now is: How do we take the detailed information we have about single molecules and use it to study the molecular basis of cellular processes within entire cells?

This is the central challenge in the field, and many researchers are using a technique called cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to address it. It’s a powerful technique that lets us see a lot of detail, like membranes and large protein complexes.

However, the challenge is that samples get damaged in the electron microscope, which leads to a loss of information. We can often see that a protein is present, but we don’t always know what it is. My lab is focused on developing tools to address this. Specifically, we’re working on figuring out the identities of protein complexes when we only have a few molecules to analyze within the cell. This would help us map out biological processes in molecular detail. It’s a significant challenge, but it’s an incredibly exciting space to be working in right now.

QB3: What’s the biggest challenge and greatest reward of running your own lab?

BL: Running a lab is very different from the kind of work I was doing before, both during my PhD and as a postdoc. As a research scientist, most of my time was spent focusing on specific problems and figuring out how to solve them. As a lab head, my responsibilities are much broader: I’m thinking about how to support my team and ensuring they have the resources they need to succeed.

I also think a lot about the big picture—whether we’re asking the right questions and heading in the right direction. It’s about equipping the people in my lab to tackle these challenges and mentoring them as they develop their own approaches.

It’s a different kind of work, but it’s incredibly rewarding. Now, it’s not just me working on a problem. I get to work with amazing PhD students, postdocs, and even undergraduates in my lab. They bring their own ideas and insights, and it’s exciting to collaborate with them and see them push projects forward. It’s a team effort, and that’s something I really enjoy.

A group of people from the Lucas lab stand outside in front of a blue sky and green hills.
The Lucas lab. Image courtesy of
Bronwyn Lucas.

QB3: What do you carry forward from your mentors—any traditions, wisdom, or other takeaways from your time as a trainee?

BL: One thing I learned from my postdoc advisor is the importance of making time for incidental conversations. A lot of great ideas come up when you’re having informal discussions—whether over coffee or lunch. Sometimes people mention things they don’t fully understand or bring up topics that aren’t directly related to their projects but are still relevant. I try to create opportunities for these kinds of conversations in my lab because they can lead to unexpected insights.

QB3: What’s your favorite thing to do in the Bay Area?

BL: I love that the Bay Area is sunny most of the year. I’m originally from Australia, and after living on the East Coast for 12 years, being able to spend so much time outside is amazing. I especially enjoy hiking on the local trails. Our baby is getting big enough now that we can put her in a jogging stroller and go for runs, which has been really fun.

QB3: What surprised you the most about coming to Berkeley?

BL: One of the things I appreciate most about Berkeley is the collaborative atmosphere. People here are genuinely interested in working together and supporting each other’s work.

Berkeley is a big place, and there are so many people with expertise in different areas. For example, I had a meeting with a colleague in statistics this morning, and that’s something I really value. My lab’s research intersects with so many fields—biology, physics, statistics, computational biology, computer science—and Berkeley has strong experts in all of these areas. It’s an incredibly exciting place to be.