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Dr. Lawrence Uricchio is Assistant Professor and the Youniss Family Professor of Innovation in the Department of Biology at Tufts University. He completed his bachelor’s degree in physics at Carleton College, received master’s degrees in biophysical sciences and computer science from the University of Chicago, and was awarded his PhD in bioinformatics from the University of California, San Francisco. While at UCSF, he was named a Discovery Fellow. Afterwards, Lawrence conducted postdoctoral research at Stanford University under a Center for Computational, Evolutionary and Human Genomics (CEHG) Fellowship and an NIH Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award (IRACDA). He also conducted postdoctoral research at the University of California, Berkeley before joining the faculty at Tufts in 2021. In this interview, Lawrence shares more about his life and science.
People Behind the Science Podcast Show Notes
Life Outside of Science (2:24)
Lawrence is a devoted family man who loves spending time with his nine-year-old son, often shuttling him between soccer practices and games. He also enjoys being outdoors and running, a passion that has stayed with him since his days as a middle-distance runner in high school and college.
The Scientific Side (3:21)
Research in Lawrence’s lab focuses on modeling how evolutionary and ecological processes work. They use a combination of experimental and observational approaches to generate data, and then they develop mathematical models to explain the observations they make in nature.
A Dose of Motivation (4:27)
Get it done.
What Got You Hooked on Science? (7:58)
In high school, Lawrence was particularly interested in history, English, writing, and reading. He didn’t really gravitate towards science until college. There, challenging courses like physics sparked his curiosity and his competitive nature. Lawrence got involved with physics research as an undergraduate student, but he shifted his focus to biology and biophysics when looking for his first job after college.
After two years working as a lab tech in an immunology lab, he enrolled in a biophysics graduate program. This program turned out not to be the right fit for Lawrence, but he discovered he really enjoyed coding. This prompted him to switch to a computer science program. While in this new program, Lawrence also worked in a genetics lab, and this helped rekindle his interest in research. Taking a course taught by a preeminent population geneticist exposed him to a new area of research that captivated him. Lawrence decided to return to graduate school to get his PhD. He continued to develop his research interests and expertise throughout his PhD and postdoc training, ultimately landing a faculty position at Tufts University.
The Low Points: Failures and Challenges (23:39)
It isn’t easy to build a career in academia while trying to stay true to your own interests and values. The modern academic landscape can be demanding and unforgiving, requiring scientists to balance research, teaching, mentoring, service, and an increasingly difficult funding environment. This has been challenging, even for Lawrence who is studying important questions with global relevance, such as how species will evolve in changing climates and which species will be able to evolve fast enough to keep up with their changing environments. A portion of his research has also focused on education, identity, and how students decide to become scientists, and this work is particularly difficult to get funded right now.
In terms of failures, Lawrence still hasn’t fully understood why he wasn’t successful in the biophysics PhD program that he initially enrolled in. He entered the program with a lot of energy, motivation, and hope that this path would allow him to combine biological questions he was excited about with his existing physics skills. It all sounded great on paper. Though he is a very persistent person, Lawrence got progressively less engaged in the program over time. Despite short bursts of reinvigorated interest and effort, it ultimately became clear that he was not happy in the program. Years later, the reason it didn’t work out is still somewhat of a mystery, but the experience played a role in shaping the path Lawrence ultimately pursued.
A Shining Success! (29:27)
Some of the successes that Lawrence is most proud of are the successes of the graduate students he mentors. Currently, there are two graduate students in Lawrence’s lab who are in their fifth year, and watching them grow into independent scientists has been really rewarding. They came in with very different backgrounds, and each has learned and accomplished so much during their time in the lab. One now has a first-author paper published, and the other is preparing to submit their first paper. In one of the projects, the student used mathematical modeling approaches to provide insights on how communities assemble in sourdough microbiomes and why certain species coexist, while others don’t.
Book Recommendations (34:52)
Population Genetics: A Concise Guide by John H. Gillespie, Population and Quantitative Genetics by Graham Coop
Most Treasured Travel (36:40)
Recently, Lawrence had the opportunity to travel to London to speak at a conference hosted by the Linnean Society, which is steeped in the history of the field of biology. The Society is closely tied to figures like Charles Darwin and is housed in a remarkable historic building. Although walking the storied halls and seeing the famous portraits on the walls was inspiring, being immersed in that legacy also brought on a sense of imposter syndrome. Beyond presenting his work, being in the bustling city of London was a wonderful experience, and it was cool to see how the city beautifully blends old and new. However, Lawrence didn’t have much time to explore London. He packed up and headed home after the event to see his family and cheer on his son at his soccer tournament.
Quirky Traditions and Funny Memories (38:42)
Lawrence is committed to making computational biology more welcoming and accessible for students who may feel intimidated by coding, math, or computer science. He teaches an undergraduate course where there is no expectation of coding experience for students who enroll. Through the course, Lawrence helps students connect with the human side of science by giving them an assignment to find and share an example of a diverse scientist whose personal stories, perspectives, and work challenge traditional stereotypes about who belongs in science. They also reflect on the value of diverse perspectives in science and the big picture of the importance of curiosity, why we do science, and what has led us to answering the questions we are investigating now.
Advice For Us All (46:03)
Curiosity is critical for being a successful scientist, but you also have to have determination and passion to pursue that curiosity and advocate for the importance of your ideas. There are many ways to engage with science, both through a career or a hobby. Science is a deeply enriching way to connect with the natural world and our experiences, and it can bring great joy.
Guest Bio
Lawrence graduated from UCSF with a PhD in bioinformatics in 2014, where he was supervised by Ryan Hernandez. He followed this up with a highly stimulating but nearly interminable postdoc at Stanford and UC Berkeley. He is interested in the ecological and evolutionary processes that drive adaptation. Why are some species (apparently) fast-adapting and why are some slow(er)-adapting? How will adaptation affect loss of biodiversity and community composition in our rapidly changing world? His lab approaches these questions through a combination of experiments and computational approaches. Lawrence’s favorite hobbies include running, kayaking, biking, and hiking, usually with his family.
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