Laura Tran, PhD

Laura Tran, PhD

Assistant Editor at The Scientist

Articles by Laura Tran, PhD

Headshot of Melissa Kay. She is wearing a black top under a red cardigan as she smiles at the camera.

Meet the Team: Melissa Kay

Image of Brussels sprouts and endives on a wooden background.

Greens and Genes: The Bitter Truth Behind Your Veggie Preferences

Image of concentric circles cut into a grass lawn.

Bacteria’s Stress Strategy: Slow Down to Avoid the Crowd

Image of an axon, with a callout box highlighting a portion of the cell membrane. It depicts three different electrodes and ion channels along the membrane.

What’s the Difference Between a Voltage Clamp and a Current Clamp?

A 3D rendered model of a glutamic acid molecule with other organic molecules floating around it.

Protein Makeover with Custom Amino Acids

Image of a showerhead with running water. There is a soap dispenser and toothbrush on a wire shelf in the shower.

A Viral Investigation of Bathroom Biomes

A person works with their sourdough starter in the kitchen.

Bakers Rise Up to Tackle Sourdough Mysteries

A male researcher looks shocked as the Erlenmeyer flask in his hand breaks and the solution leaks out onto the bench top cover.

The Great Flask-tastrophe

Image of a cone snail, Conus geographus underwater.

A Sea Snail Toxin Could Inspire New Diabetes Drugs

Image of Caenorhabditis elegans against a black background.

Worms’ Nose for Danger Helps Ward Off Pathogens 

Image of two marmosets perched on a branch.

From Marmosets to Menopause: A Primate Perspective

Two dogs stand next to each other. The dog on the left has its tail up, while the dog on the right has its tail lowered.

Why Do Dogs Wag Their Tails?

Illustration of a developing fetus surrounded by a clear fluid with a subtle yellow tinge, representing amniotic fluid.
January 2026

What Is the Amniotic Fluid Composed of?

The liquid world of fetal development provides a rich source of nutrition and protection tailored to meet the needs of the growing fetus.

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Redefining Immunology Through Advanced Technologies

Redefining Immunology Through Advanced Technologies

Ensuring Regulatory Compliance in AAV Manufacturing with Analytical Ultracentrifugation

Ensuring Regulatory Compliance in AAV Manufacturing with Analytical Ultracentrifugation

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Skip the Wait for Protein Stability Data with Aunty

Skip the Wait for Protein Stability Data with Aunty

Unchained Labs
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An Automated DNA-to-Data Framework for Production-Scale Sequencing

illumina

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