Dr. Lawrence J. DeLucas, UAB

Lawrence J. DeLucas (b. 1950), Professor of Optometry, Director of the Center for Macromolecular Crystallography and Senior Scientist in the VSRC. He received a B.S. (1972) from The University of Alabama at Birmingham. After a two-year period as a research assistant in the UAB Institute of Dental Research, he started graduate school and received a M.S. (1973) in chemistry. During 1975-1976, he worked as a research associate in the Department of Biochemistry with Dr. Charles E. Bugg on the crystallographic analysis of small molecules considered to be of biological importance. In the fall of 1976, Dr. DeLucas began two degree programs at UAB. He was awarded an O.D. (1981) and he completed the requirements for a Ph.D. (1982) in biochemistry.

Dr. DeLucas delivered a presentation on October 11th, 2001 in the Jenkins Science Center at Elizabeth City State University. He spoke of his work with crystallography at the University of Alabama and the growth of crystals aboard the space shuttles. His presentation also included information regarding his time as a member of the Space Shuttle Columbia, STS-50, Microgravity Laboratory-1 (USML-1) Spacelab mission.