Meet the Team: Laura Tran, Ph.D.

In sixth grade, Laura Tran, now an assistant editor at The scientistwas named a Future Scientist of America. It sparked her early fascination with microbes, the little crawling critters that inhabit the world. Her undergraduate research focused on resilient microbial communities, and in graduate school she explored the interactions between circadian rhythms, alcohol, and the bacteria-laden gut. Today, her writing covers topics ranging from plant genes to building Nerf gun replicas using DNA origami.

Science is a wild adventure where discovery is central, but the thrill also lies in managing its ups and downs.

—Laura Tran, The scientist

Q | What is your scientific background?

As an undergraduate at Saint Louis University, I trained to become a medical laboratory scientist. My fascination with bacteria led me to pursue academic research where I quickly became familiar with petri dishes, pipettes, and the pungent smell of bacteria. I then moved into clinical microbiology, analyzing patient samples in the hospital lab, where I gained experience culturing a wide range of bacteria. Researchers in the neighboring lab collected the bacteria I worked with to study multidrug-resistant strains. Observing this research in progress rekindled my passion for the research lab. I decided to pursue a PhD in Integrated Biomedical Sciences at Rush University, where I studied the effects of meal timing, alcohol, and microbial changes on the gut.

Q | How did you get into scientific writing?

As a graduate student, I got involved with the Chicago Council on Science and Technology, a nonprofit that promotes STEAM topics to the community. Soon, I was captivated by writing short articles about new research—it became a creative way to create stories that resonated with a broader audience. I continued to seek out research articles outside of my microbial field, enthusiastically learning and sharing new ideas. When graduation came around, I wanted to pursue science writing full-time. I joined The scientist in 2023.

Q | What is your favorite story that you have written for The scientist?

In our June 2024 print issue, I wrote about how scientists combined artificial intelligence and embryonic frog cells to create living robots. This collaboration between roboticists and developmental biologists resulted in synthetic organisms that could walk, swim, perform tasks, and even self-replicate. An unexpected side project turned into a breakthrough. I never imagined I would stumble upon such a delightfully unusual mix of skills, and the cherry on top was that one of the original researchers took this work to the next level in adult human cells. It’s inspiring to see how diverse disciplines can learn from each other, sharing ideas and skills to fuel curiosity and expand the possibilities of what scientists can accomplish. I look forward to seeing how this work becomes a tool to push the boundaries of synthetic biology and beyond.

Q | How do you choose the topics for your stories?

It’s a mix of all of these, my scientific curiosity is my compass. I’m intrigued by researchers who integrate diverse skills, such as gastronomy and caving, into their scientific work. I’m also particularly drawn to stories that challenge my thinking or leave me speechless and incredulous. Sometimes these ideas come to me when I’m diving into a field that has no connection with this one!

Q | What is your favorite part of being a science writer?

I get a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes efforts that can end in failure, produce unexpected results, lead to scientific breakthroughs, or even encompass all of these at once. Science is a wild ride where discovery is central, but the thrill is also in navigating its ups and downs. This aspect resonates deeply with other scientists and deserves to be highlighted.

Q | What do you like to do outside of work?

I like to take my trusty 35mm camera with me on my road trips. I also tend to a vast jungle of houseplants. In the background, I often play Mort Garson’s song Mother Earth Plantasia on vinyl to encourage new leaf growth. When I’m not tending to my plants, I love to plug into my desktop computer to play video games with friends.

Connect with Laura on her LinkedIn.