Bronwyn Lucas
@bronwynalucas.bsky.social
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."
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."
Pinned
Bronwyn Lucas
@bronwynalucas.bsky.social
· Aug 30
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...
www.biorxiv.org
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...
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.
Subgroup Awards - The Biophysical Society
www.biophysics.org
October 16, 2025 at 7:08 PM
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.
Reposted by Bronwyn Lucas
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
Try the demo here: store.steampowered.com/app/4045010/...
Give Muyuan feedback: steamcommunity.com/app/4045010
#ScienceGaming #StructuralBiology #CryoEM #STEMOutreach
October 4, 2025 at 1:34 PM
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
Try the demo here: store.steampowered.com/app/4045010/...
Give Muyuan feedback: steamcommunity.com/app/4045010
#ScienceGaming #StructuralBiology #CryoEM #STEMOutreach
Reposted by Bronwyn Lucas
🚀 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...
Improved cryo-EM reconstruction of sub-50 kDa complexes using 2D template matching is now available on bioRxiv!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
September 17, 2025 at 5:07 PM
🚀 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...
Improved cryo-EM reconstruction of sub-50 kDa complexes using 2D template matching is now available on bioRxiv!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Bronwyn Lucas
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...
www.openaccessgovernment.org/eu-and-austr...
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
www.openaccessgovernment.org
September 11, 2025 at 11:51 AM
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...
www.openaccessgovernment.org/eu-and-austr...
Reposted by Bronwyn Lucas
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...
mcb.berkeley.edu/news-and-eve...
September 4, 2025 at 7:13 PM
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...
mcb.berkeley.edu/news-and-eve...
Reposted by Bronwyn Lucas
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
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
August 31, 2025 at 6:44 PM
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
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
Reposted by Bronwyn Lucas
New software from @bronwynalucas.bsky.social Lab for high-resolution 2D template matching of macromolecules inside cells 🔍🔬. #TeamTomo 🧶🧬🧪
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...
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...
www.biorxiv.org
August 31, 2025 at 1:21 AM
New software from @bronwynalucas.bsky.social Lab for high-resolution 2D template matching of macromolecules inside cells 🔍🔬. #TeamTomo 🧶🧬🧪
Reposted by Bronwyn Lucas
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! 🥰
August 30, 2025 at 2:06 AM
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! 🥰
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
August 30, 2025 at 2:10 AM
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
Reposted by Bronwyn Lucas
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/
August 30, 2025 at 1:22 AM
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/
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...
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...
www.biorxiv.org
August 30, 2025 at 12:49 AM
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...
Reposted by Bronwyn Lucas
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....
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…
www.sciencedirect.com
July 25, 2025 at 8:08 PM
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....
Reposted by Bronwyn Lucas
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.
July 25, 2025 at 8:04 PM
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.
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
July 18, 2025 at 10:18 PM
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
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
Check out our recent review discussing the merits of tilt series vs single micrographs for in situ cryo-EM! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
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…
www.sciencedirect.com
July 7, 2025 at 5:18 PM
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
Re-upping this opportunity while the application window is still open!
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
Scientific Director, Cal-Cryo@QB3, UC Berkeley’s Cryo-EM Facility
University of California, Berkeley is hiring. Apply now!
tinyurl.com
January 24, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Re-upping this opportunity while the application window is still open!
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
Kexin Zhang et al.: A new statistical metric for robust target detection in cryo-EM using 2D template matching ##3DReconstructionAndImageProcessing##SingleParticleCryoEM##Imaging@umassboston...##IUCrhttps://journals.iucr.org/paper?S2052252524011771
A new statistical metric for robust target detection in cryo-EM using 2D template matching
A novel statistical metric for 2D template matching (2DTM), the 2DTM p-value, has been developed to improve the detection of targets in cryo-EM images under various imaging and sample conditions, particularly for smaller and aspherical targets.
journals.iucr.org
January 18, 2025 at 3:04 AM
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
Reposted by Bronwyn Lucas
Outstanding opportunity to lead a world-class core facility within @qb3-berkeley.bsky.social. Check it out and spread the word!
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
Scientific Director, Cal-Cryo@QB3, UC Berkeley’s Cryo-EM Facility
University of California, Berkeley is hiring. Apply now!
tinyurl.com
January 15, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Outstanding opportunity to lead a world-class core facility within @qb3-berkeley.bsky.social. Check it out and spread the word!
Reposted by Bronwyn Lucas
I encourage you to apply and join us at @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social !
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
Scientific Director, Cal-Cryo@QB3, UC Berkeley’s Cryo-EM Facility
University of California, Berkeley is hiring. Apply now!
tinyurl.com
January 16, 2025 at 11:11 PM
I encourage you to apply and join us at @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social !
Reposted by Bronwyn Lucas
Please spread the word and apply!
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
Scientific Director, Cal-Cryo@QB3, UC Berkeley’s Cryo-EM Facility
University of California, Berkeley is hiring. Apply now!
tinyurl.com
January 16, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Please spread the word and apply!
Reposted by Bronwyn Lucas
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
Scientific Director, Cal-Cryo@QB3, UC Berkeley’s Cryo-EM Facility
University of California, Berkeley is hiring. Apply now!
tinyurl.com
January 15, 2025 at 9:53 PM
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
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
Scientific Director, Cal-Cryo@QB3, UC Berkeley’s Cryo-EM Facility
University of California, Berkeley is hiring. Apply now!
aprecruit.berkeley.edu
January 15, 2025 at 11:42 PM
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
Reposted by Bronwyn Lucas
The Cryo-EM: the next 50 years Symposium held yesterday at @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social was a smashing success!!
January 12, 2025 at 4:51 PM
The Cryo-EM: the next 50 years Symposium held yesterday at @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social was a smashing success!!
Reposted by Bronwyn Lucas
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/analytical-c...
Structural biology in context
New techniques allow scientists to see protein structures in their native environments
cen.acs.org
December 24, 2024 at 4:35 PM
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/analytical-c...
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.
Something that's come up in a few conversations and I think is underappreciated: the X-ray / cryo-EM structures you download from the PDB are average structures, but not *typical* structures: very few proteins in your sample actually look like that.
November 26, 2024 at 7:59 PM
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.