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Laura Tran, PhD

Laura Tran, PhD

Laura joined The Scientist as an assistant editor in 2023. She has a background in microbiology and earned her PhD in biomedical sciences from Rush University. Her research focused on how circadian rhythms and alcohol affect the gut. 

Articles by Laura Tran, PhD
Image of blood in a test tube with the four base pairs of DNA in the background.
A Novel Polymerase Reduces Stutter in Forensic DNA Analysis
Laura Tran, PhD | Oct 28, 2024 | 4 min read
A breakthrough enzyme aims to resolve a persistent DNA artifact that has challenged forensic analysis for decades.
Researchers found human antibody candidates that neutralize the toxin of European black widow venom.
Antibody Potion Against Black Widow's Bite
Laura Tran, PhD | Oct 15, 2024 | 2 min read
Scientists brewed recombinant human antibodies that take the sting out of the European black widow’s toxin.
Image of the monocled cobra, a venomous cobra species.
pH-Engineered Venom-Fighting Antibodies
Laura Tran, PhD | Oct 11, 2024 | 4 min read
A combinatorial approach enabled researchers to develop antibodies with improved catch-and-release abilities against snake venom toxins.
Image of carpet squares drying in the sun.
In Search of Microbes That Weave Colors into Moroccan Carpets
Laura Tran, PhD | Oct 7, 2024 | 5 min read
A scientist’s quest for microbes that produce purple pigments led her to the vibrant world of natural dyes, where biology and traditional artistry intertwine.
Image of female scientist crouching as she collects samples in a cave.
Spelunking for Microbes
Laura Tran, PhD | Oct 1, 2024 | 2 min read
Hazel Barton studies cave microbiomes and leverages their properties for unique applications.
Image of the small intestines and colon within a person with three circular callouts, highlighting different microbes. 
Unlocking the Human Microbiome Mysteries: From Cancer to COVID-19
Laura Tran, PhD | Sep 24, 2024 | 4 min read
The microbiome is a dynamic environment that can give researchers the inside scoop on health and disease.
Image of Lasker laureate Zhijian “James” Chen. He wears glasses and a light blue shirt under a dark blue sweater. He smiles at the camera.
DNA-Sensing Enzyme Wins the 2024 Lasker Award
Laura Tran, PhD | Sep 19, 2024 | 7 min read
Zhijian “James” Chen received this year’s Albert Lasker Award for discovering cGAS, an enzyme which scopes out DNA-based threats and alerts the immune system.
Researchers at the University of Arizona developed a pH-responsive probe that activated in the basic environment (purple) of the larval midgut and bound to gut proteins.
Gut-Powered Mosquito Probes
Laura Tran, PhD | Sep 16, 2024 | 2 min read
With the rise of insecticide resistance, researchers crafted a novel probe that selectively targets mosquito larvae’s weak spot.
A computer monitor shows a video of two people sitting side by side singing and playing a guitar together.
The Soundtrack of Science
Laura Tran, PhD | Sep 16, 2024 | 2 min read
Barbara Di Ventura, a musician at heart and a scientist by trade, takes a musical approach to sharing research.
Two neurons send electrical signals to each other.
Eavesdropping on Ion Channels Using the Patch Clamp Technique
Laura Tran, PhD | Sep 13, 2024 | 10+ min read
Cells send electrical impulses throughout the body, but electrophysiologists struggled to tune into these signals until the patch clamp technique was developed.
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