Laura Tran, PhD Author Profile | The Scientist Magazine®

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.

(Left to right) The first panel is an image of an uneven scale, with the blue male symbol weighing heavier than the red female symbol. The second panel features a mouse with a callout depicting various red and blue lines to represent the estrous cycle. In the third panel, there are images of a mouse, marmoset, and cell culture dish. In the final panel, there is an image of therapeutic pills and gears, representing cognitive function, above a balanced scale. Now the male and female symbols are even.

Infographic: Bridging the Sex Bias Gap

Laura Tran, PhD | Sep 13, 2024 | 3 min read

Researchers challenge a male-dominated field and advocate for more representation of female subjects.

Meet the Team: Laura Tran, PhD

Laura Tran, PhD | Sep 13, 2024 | 4 min read

Driven by her desire to concoct creative stories, Laura Tran merged her scientific knowledge with the art of storytelling.

A colorful image of a brain surrounded by outlines of a woman, rodent, and a marmoset. Lines orbit around the brain and are surrounded by stars.

XX Marks the Spot: Addressing Sex Bias in Neuroscience

Laura Tran, PhD | Sep 13, 2024 | 10+ min read

For years, neuroscience research overlooked female subjects, creating a significant bias. Today, researchers actively rebalance the scales with more inclusive and diverse studies.

Image of blue and red worms navigating across a maze from left to right. The far right depicts a finish line for the worms.

Drunk Worms Wiggle Their Way to an Ig Nobel Win

Laura Tran, PhD | Sep 12, 2024 | 4 min read

University of Amsterdam researchers claimed the 2024 Ig Nobel Prize in Chemistry for studying polymers by racing inebriated and sober worms through a chromatography maze.