Lawrence J. DeLucas

James "Larry" DeLucas

NASA Payload Specialist
Nationality	American
Born	July 11, 1950 Syracuse, New York
Other occupation	Biochemist
Time in space	13d 19h 30m
Missions	STS-50
Mission insignia

James "Larry" DeLucas (O. D., Ph.D.) is an American biochemist who flew aboard NASA Space Shuttle mission STS-50 as a Payload Specialist. He was born on July 11, 1950 in Syracuse, New York, and is currently married with three children. His recreational interests include basketball, scuba diving, bowling, model airplanes, astronomy and reading.

Education

DeLucas attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), in Birmingham, Alabama and received the following degrees:

Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry (1972)
Master of Science degree in Chemistry (1974)
Bachelor of Science degree in Physiological Optics (1979)
Doctorate in Optometry (1981)
Doctorate in Biochemistry (1982)

Organizations

DeLucas is a member of the following organizations:

American Crystallographic Association
American Academy of Optometry
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Alabama Optometric Association
American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists
National Aeronautic Association
Biotechnology Industry Organization
Biotechnology Association of Alabama
Helen Keller Eye Research Foundation

Publications

He has published over 125 research articles in refereed scientific journals, is co-author of 2 books, and co-inventor on 25 patents.

Honors

Co-Chair, Spacehab Science Advisory Board
Secretary of the Board, Council of Biotechnology Centers, Biotechnology Industry Council
Distinguished Faculty Lecturer, UAB
Howell Heflin Statesmanship Award for Technology, NASA Space Flight Medal
Recognized as one of the scientists who could shape the 21st century in an article by The Sunday Times entitled “The Brains Behind the 21st Century”
Distinguished Crystallography Lecturer for Pittsburgh Diffraction Society Lecturers
Honorary Doctor of Science degree, Ohio State University, Illinois College of Optometry, State University of New York State College of Optometry, and Ferris State University, Big Rapids, MI.

Experience

1975 – 1976: Research Associate in the Institute of Dental Research, UAB
1977 – 1982: Graduate Student, working on combined doctoral degrees in Optometry and Biochemistry
1982 – present: Member of Vision Science Research Center
1983 – present: Member, Graduate Faculty, UAB
1984 – present: Scientist, Comprehensive Cancer Center, UAB
1986 – 1992: Associate Director, Center for Macromolecular Crystallography, UAB
1987 – present: Member of NASA Science Advisory Committee for Advanced Protein Crystal Growth
1989 – present: Adjunct Professor, Materials Science, University of Alabama in Huntsville, University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of Alabama
1989 – present: Professor, Department of Optometry, UAB
1990 – present: Adjunct Professor, Laboratory of Medical Genetics, UAB
1990 – present: Adjunct Professor, Department of Biochemistry, UAB
1990 – present: Member, Executive Committee and Board of the Helen Keller Eye Research Foundation
1994 – 1995: NASA Chief Scientist for International Space Station
1994 – present: Director, Center for Biophysical Sciences and Engineering, UAB
1994 – present: Director, Cancer Center X-ray Core Facility, UAB
1996 – present: Member Research Foundation and Technology Transfer Committee, UAB
1997 – 1998: Member Metabolic Bone Disease, UAB
1997 – present: Member, Media Relations Group, UAB
2001 – present: Adjunct Professor, Physiology and Biophysics

Spaceflight

DeLucas was a member of the crew of Space Shuttle Columbia for STS-50 (June 25-July 9, 1992), the United States Microgravity Laboratory-1 (USML-1) Spacelab mission. Over a two-week period, the crew conducted a wide variety of experiments relating to materials processing and fluid physics. At mission conclusion, DeLucas had traveled over 5.7 million miles in 221 Earth orbits, and had logged over 331 hours in space.