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Bronwyn Lucas

@bronwynalucas.bsky.social
1.5K followers 424 following 111 posts

Asst Prof of Molecular Cell Biology and Computational Biology at UC Berkeley Building a new lab capturing close-ups of cells with electrons. lucaslab.science Attempting to "dwell (somewhat) patiently in the variety and complexity of organisms."

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Bronwyn Lucas @bronwynalucas.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
In many ways this is not possible for many anymore. Salaries keeping pace with inflation is an equity issue.
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UC Berkeley MCB @berkeleymcb.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
MCB is hiring Assistant Professors across 3 divisions!: 🧪BBS: aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05483 🧬GGED: aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05481 🦠IMM: aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05486 🗓️ Application Deadline: October 19, 2026 🔗 Click the links or scan the QR codes to learn more and apply
MCB is hiring 3 Assistant Professor positions across 3 divisions: 

Biochemistry, Biophysics and Structural Biology (BBS); Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development (GGED); and Immunology and Molecular Medicine (IMM)

BBS application link: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05483

GGED application link: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05481

IMM application link: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05486
Assistant Professor of Immunology and Molecular Medicine (IMM). IMM application link: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05486Assistant Professor of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Structural Biology (BBS). BBS application link: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05483Assistant Professor of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development (GGED). GGED application link: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05481
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Bronwyn Lucas @bronwynalucas.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Now on Arxiv: arxiv.org/abs/2608.10029 Led by grad student Matthew Giammar and collaborator Alex Strang, we provide a fast algorithm to calculate a low rank approximation to large (>100 million row) matrices with high fidelity that will accelerate template matching.
arxiv.org
A fast diagonalization algorithm to enable singular value decomposition of large matrices for efficient template matching
Many computational problems possess the following three features: (1) the problem could be solved efficiently if a linear operator could be diagonalized, (2) direct diagonalization is infeasible due t...
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Alexis Rohou @alexisrohou.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Come work with us at Genentech. We do drug discovery, pretty cutting edge cryoEM/ET stuff, and always learn a lot together. Any questions or recommendations, do let me know.
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Bronwyn Lucas @bronwynalucas.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Leopard-EM now on SBGrid! Learn more about using this program via our GitHub: github.com/Lucaslab-Ber...
github.com
GitHub - Lucaslab-Berkeley/Leopard-EM: Two-Dimensional Template Matching implemented in Python
Two-Dimensional Template Matching implemented in Python - Lucaslab-Berkeley/Leopard-EM
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Bronwyn Lucas @bronwynalucas.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Now on Arxiv: arxiv.org/abs/2608.10029 Led by grad student Matthew Giammar and collaborator Alex Strang, we provide a fast algorithm to calculate a low rank approximation to large (>100 million row) matrices with high fidelity that will accelerate template matching.
arxiv.org
A fast diagonalization algorithm to enable singular value decomposition of large matrices for efficient template matching
Many computational problems possess the following three features: (1) the problem could be solved efficiently if a linear operator could be diagonalized, (2) direct diagonalization is infeasible due t...
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Reposted by Bronwyn Lucas
Bronwyn Lucas @bronwynalucas.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
See the post from first author @lainahall.bsky.social below:
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Bronwyn Lucas @bronwynalucas.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
See the post from first author @lainahall.bsky.social below:
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Laina Hall @lainahall.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
With Cryo-ET/EM, the macromolecules we study (and biological questions we ask) are SNR-limited. Here, we share Nilas, a low-voltage milling method named after thin sea ice. Nilas produces thin (sub 50 nm in places!), minimally damaged lamellae. biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.07.21.739890v1
biorxiv.org
Optimized cryo-FIB milling strategy to generate thin, minimally damaged biological lamellae
Focused ion beam (FIB)-milling has been adapted to thin frozen cells for visualization of macromolecular structures in situ with cryogenic electron microscopy. However, only a few large and abundant c...
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Bronwyn Lucas @bronwynalucas.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
New preprint from the lab! Led by graduate student @lainahall.bsky.social we show a new method to thin cells for cryo-EM imaging with minimal damage. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
biorxiv.org
Optimized cryo-FIB milling strategy to generate thin, minimally damaged biological lamellae
Focused ion beam (FIB)-milling has been adapted to thin frozen cells for visualization of macromolecular structures in situ with cryogenic electron microscopy. However, only a few large and abundant c...
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Justin Taraska @taraska.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Looking for your next step after a BS/BA or MS in biology, cell biology, biochemistry, or a related field? My NIH lab in Bethesda, MD is looking for a Lab Manager/Technical Specialist. Interested in basic research? Please email me directly or learn about our lab here: irp.nih.gov/pi/justin-ta...
irp.nih.gov
Justin Taraska, Ph.D. | Principal Investigators | NIH Intramural Research Program
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Ahmad Jomaa @jomaalab.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
Excited to share our work uncovering SNOR, a ribosome-associated factor that promotes translation restart after dormancy published in Nature!! This was, as usual, a wonderful collaborative effort between our group and the Mattei Lab @simonemattei.bsky.social @embl.org www.nature.com/articles/s41...
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Simons Foundation @simonsfoundation.org · 28/04/2026
@flatironinstitute.org senior research scientist Pilar Cossio builds crucial tools to reveal how environmental changes alter the behavior of RNA: bit.ly/48rCAg2 #science #biology
bit.ly
Pilar Cossio: Reconstructing RNA’s Shapeshifting Behavior
Flatiron Institute researcher Pilar Cossio builds tools to analyze experimental measurements and reveal how environmental changes alter the behavior of RNA molecules.
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Bronwyn Lucas @bronwynalucas.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
That increased versatility of the genetic code through alternate mRNA processing is generally deleterious is why I think we should award a Nobel to Joan Steitz and Lynne Maquat for “the elucidation of the molecular grammar of the genetic code and it’s importance in mRNA quality control.” Overdue.
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MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology @mrclmb.ac.uk · 24/02/2026
Are you a structural biologist pushing the boundaries of molecular science with an ambitious research programme? Join our Structural Studies Division as a tenure-track Group Leader, with core funding, world-leading facilities & enthusiastic colleagues. Apply by 16 MAR www.nature.com/naturecareer...
Job opening for Research Group Leader in Structural Studies at MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, focusing on macromolecular structures.
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Simons Foundation @simonsfoundation.org · 21/01/2026
Join us for a Presidential Lecture on 1/28 with Eva Nogales: "Visualizing Structure, Dynamics and Interactions Using Cryo-EM." Register: www.simonsfoundation.org/event/visu… #science #biology
simonsfoundation.org
Visualizing Structure, Dynamics and Interactions Using Cryo-EM
Visualizing Structure, Dynamics and Interactions Using Cryo-EM on Simons Foundation
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Janet Iwasa @jiwasa.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
This was a really fun and interesting Molecule of the Month to do! Check out the article to see even more elaborate RNA-only structures.
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Structural Biology @actacrystd.iucr.org · 09/12/2025
M​atthew D. Giammar et al.: Leopard-EM: an extensible 2D template-matching package to accelerate in situ structural biology #InSituStructuralBiology #CryoEM #CryoET @usc...#IUCr journals.iucr.org/paper?S2059798325…
journals.iucr.org
Leopard-EM: an extensible 2D template-matching package to accelerate in situ structural biology
In situ cryo-EM coupled with 2D template matching (2DTM) holds the potential to visualize the cellular structureome in context, but further developments are required to make this a reality. We describe Leopard-EM (Location and orientation of particles found using two-dimensional tEmplate Matching), an extensible Python package for 2DTM to accelerate in situ structural biology.
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Bronwyn Lucas @bronwynalucas.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
Congratulations to Matthew and Josh! Check out our extensible Python based 2DTM package, check out our example adaptations for optimizing template parameters and constrained searches and customize to suit your own experiments. Stay tuned for exciting future developments in the pipeline :)
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Bronwyn Lucas @bronwynalucas.bsky.social · 16/10/2025
Nominations for the June Almeida award for Mid/Senior-Career Women in Cryo-EM are now open! Submit your nomination via this link www.biophysics.org/awards-fundi... by November 14th to recognize an exceptional woman in our community.
biophysics.org
Subgroup Awards - The Biophysical Society
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Edward T Eng @edwardteng.bsky.social · 04/10/2025
Muyuan Chen has turned structural biology into an immersive experience with his new video game Meowtabolism, now available on Steam. Try the demo here: store.steampowered.com/app/4045010/... Give Muyuan feedback: steamcommunity.com/app/4045010 #ScienceGaming #StructuralBiology #CryoEM #STEMOutreach
store.steampowered.com
Meowtabolism - Examining Feline Behavior within Unicellular Algae on Steam
Explore the interior of an algal cell on your four paws. Built with experimental data and populated with actual protein structures, Meowtabolism offers a glimpse of the vast world inside the basic fun...
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Kexin Zhang @kekexinz.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
🚀 Check out our new preprint on extending the scope of single-particle cryo-EM with 2D template matching! Improved cryo-EM reconstruction of sub-50 kDa complexes using 2D template matching is now available on bioRxiv! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
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Alexis Verger 🧬🧫🧪 @alexis-verger.cpesr.fr · 11/09/2025
EU and Australia open talks on closer research partnership through Horizon Europe poke @katequinlan.bsky.social @merlincrossley.bsky.social @marnieblewitt.bsky.social @joelpmackay.bsky.social @pseudokinase.bsky.social www.openaccessgovernment.org/eu-and-austr...
openaccessgovernment.org
EU and Australia open talks on closer research partnership through Horizon Europe
The European Commission and the Australian Government have begun discussing their scientific cooperation through Australia’s association with Horizon Europe
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UC Berkeley MCB @berkeleymcb.bsky.social · 04/09/2025
Congrats to MCB's Priya Moorjani on her promotion to MCB Associate Professor of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development! 👏🥂 mcb.berkeley.edu/news-and-eve...
Priya Moorjani promoted to MCB Associate Professor
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Tanmay Bharat @tbharat-lab.bsky.social · 31/08/2025
Sub-cellular chemical mapping in bacteria using correlated cryogenic electron and mass spectrometry imaging Congrats Hannah Ochner and authors on this important paper! Strong collaboration with @kiranrpatil.bsky.social www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/... @mrclmb.bsky.social @wellcometrust.bsky.social
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Ben Engel @cellarchlab.com · 31/08/2025
New software from @bronwynalucas.bsky.social Lab for high-resolution 2D template matching of macromolecules inside cells 🔍🔬. #TeamTomo 🧶🧬🧪
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Alister Burt @alisterburt.bsky.social · 30/08/2025
Special mention to @joshdcryoem.bsky.social and Matthew Giammar who have become driving forces within the project - I'm excited to see community driven open source flourish in cryo-EM, let's see where things go! 🥰
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Bronwyn Lucas @bronwynalucas.bsky.social · 30/08/2025
Thanks Alister! Being a part of broader comminity efforts like teamtomo.org has made it easier to build modular tools and not have to reinvent the wheel every time. Full credit to Matthew and @joshdcryoem.bsky.social
teamtomo.org
teamtomo.org
Modular Python packages the cryo-ET community can depend on.
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Josh Dickerson @joshdcryoem.bsky.social · 30/08/2025
Happy for this to be out! We have documentation and tutorials here. Please give it a try and let us know what you think. lucaslab-berkeley.github.io/Leopard-EM/
lucaslab-berkeley.github.io
Leopard-EM Homepage - Leopard-EM: Two-Dimensional Template Matching in Python
Overview of the Leopard-EM package for 2DTM in Python
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Bronwyn Lucas @bronwynalucas.bsky.social · 30/08/2025
First pre-print from the Lucas Lab led by Matthew Giammar and @joshdcryoem.bsky.social online today! We develop a new, extensible Python implementation of 2DTM and apply it to build pixel size optimization, constrained search and characterize molecular motions in situ www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
biorxiv.org
Leopard-EM: An extensible 2DTM package to accelerate in situ structural biology
The ability to generate high-resolution views of cells with cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) can reveal the molecular mechanisms of biological processes in their native cellular context. The re...
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Bronwyn Lucas @bronwynalucas.bsky.social · 25/07/2025
If you are going to M&M, also see postdoc @joshdcryoem.bsky.social's poster about tilted vs untilted data collection for in situ structural biology www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti....
sciencedirect.com
To tilt or not to tilt? Strategies for in situ cryo-EM data collection
Recent breakthroughs in single-particle cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and protein structure prediction have transformed our ability to resol…
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Bronwyn Lucas @bronwynalucas.bsky.social · 25/07/2025
PhD student @lainahall.bsky.social will be giving a talk about our measurements of FIB-milling damage in cryo-lamellae (with new data!) at M&M on Tuesday next week.
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Bronwyn Lucas @bronwynalucas.bsky.social · 18/07/2025
Several Lucas lab members giving talks and posters at meetings this summer! If you are going to ACA2025 this week, see graduate student Matthew Giammar talk about his work building an extensible software architecture for 2DTM in Python (pre-print dropping soon) @acastructuralsci.bsky.social
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Bronwyn Lucas @bronwynalucas.bsky.social · 07/07/2025
I am checking in to share this review in case you missed it. This is the first manuscript out of the lab, written together with postdoc @joshdcryoem.bsky.social, and I think it is an important starting point for designing in situ structural biology experiments
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Bronwyn Lucas @bronwynalucas.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
Re-upping this opportunity while the application window is still open!
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Bronwyn Lucas @bronwynalucas.bsky.social · 18/01/2025
New metric for calling significant detections of proteins in cryoEM images with 2DTM. Driven by Kexin Zhang in @grigoriefflab.bsky.social in collaboration with @pilarcossio.bsky.social
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Kumar Lab, UC Berkeley @kumarlabucb.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
Outstanding opportunity to lead a world-class core facility within @qb3-berkeley.bsky.social. Check it out and spread the word!
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Nogales Lab @nogaleslab.bsky.social · 16/01/2025
I encourage you to apply and join us at @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social !
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Steve Brohawn @stevebrohawn.bsky.social · 16/01/2025
Please spread the word and apply!
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Jim Hurley @jimhurley.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
Scientific Director, Cal-Cryo. We are looking for an outstanding microscopist to run our cryo-EM facility (two Krioses and an Arctica), increase training, engagement, and collaboration on campus, expand our user base, and join our community of cutting edge cryo-EM researchers. tinyurl.com/ykasna3p
tinyurl.com
Scientific Director, Cal-Cryo@QB3, UC Berkeley’s Cryo-EM Facility
University of California, Berkeley is hiring. Apply now!
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Bronwyn Lucas @bronwynalucas.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
Exciting new position at UC Berkeley! Cal-Cryo is looking for a new scientific director! This is an ideal position for someone who is looking to continue doing science and collaborating with research teams at Berkeley. Come work with us! aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF04670
aprecruit.berkeley.edu
Scientific Director, Cal-Cryo@QB3, UC Berkeley’s Cryo-EM Facility
University of California, Berkeley is hiring. Apply now!
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Nogales Lab @nogaleslab.bsky.social · 12/01/2025
The Cryo-EM: the next 50 years Symposium held yesterday at @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social was a smashing success!!
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Laurel Oldach @laureloldach.bsky.social · 24/12/2024
5. Structural biology in context - a deep dive into all you can accomplish these days with a million-dollar (plus) cryoelectron microscope, and how new methods and software are turning "visual proteomics" into an achievable goal. cen.acs.org/analytical-c...
cen.acs.org
Structural biology in context
New techniques allow scientists to see protein structures in their native environments
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Bronwyn Lucas @bronwynalucas.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
I made this point to my MCB graduate student class last week. We were discussing what insights we could get from atomic resolution structures and what that really means in biology.
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Christina Wolbrecht @cwolbrecht.bsky.social · 28/09/2024
This drove me nuts when I was pregnant. Yes, women have been doing this for eons but also pregnancy was a leading cause of death among women for those same eons.
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Roland Dunbrack 🏳️‍🌈 @rolanddunbrack.bsky.social · 09/05/2024
I reviewed the AlphaFold3 paper from DeepMind for the journal Nature. I tried really hard to get the editors to demand that DeepMind release the code (even an executable) so people could do the many high-throughput studies we saw for AF2 (see image from my review). I failed. So just a server 4 now.
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Bronwyn Lucas @bronwynalucas.bsky.social · 09/05/2024
Lunch with some new members of the lab today! Welcome Kithmini, Laina and Matthew!
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Bronwyn Lucas @bronwynalucas.bsky.social · 10/04/2024
Gotta keep our students fed!
Lab manager Clarence with glasses and a cap standing in front of a pastry case holding an oversized platter with cakes and pastries.
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Bronwyn Lucas @bronwynalucas.bsky.social · 31/03/2024
Our Berkeley garden is blooming in the spring sunshine
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Alexis Rohou @alexisrohou.bsky.social · 13/03/2024
This one is for the #cryoEM afficionados. Ten years ago tomorrow (March 14th, 2014), I was at the Tahoe symposium on cryoEM 3D image analysis (taking place again this year, starting today!) and attended a talk by Alberto Bartesaghi, then from NCI-NIH now Duke.
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