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.
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)DeLucas is a member of the following organizations:
American Crystallographic AssociationAmerican Academy of OptometryAmerican Institute of Aeronautics and AstronauticsAlabama Optometric AssociationAmerican Association of Pharmaceutical ScientistsNational Aeronautic AssociationBiotechnology Industry OrganizationBiotechnology Association of AlabamaHelen Keller Eye Research FoundationHe has published 147 research articles in refereed scientific journals, is co-author of 2 books, and co-inventor on 43 patents.
Co-Chair, Spacehab Science Advisory BoardSecretary of the Board, Council of Biotechnology Centers, Biotechnology Industry CouncilDistinguished Faculty Lecturer, UABHowell Heflin Statesmanship Award for Technology, NASA Space Flight MedalRecognized 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 LecturersHonorary 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.1975 – 1976: Research Associate in the Institute of Dental Research, UAB1977 – 1982: Graduate Student, working on combined doctoral degrees in Optometry and Biochemistry1982 – 2016: Member of Vision Science Research Center1983 – 2016: Member, Graduate Faculty, UAB1984 – 2016: Scientist, Comprehensive Cancer Center, UAB1986 – 1992: Associate Director, Center for Macromolecular Crystallography, UAB1987 – 2001: Member of NASA Science Advisory Committee for Advanced Protein Crystal Growth1989 – 2016: Adjunct Professor, Materials Science, University of Alabama in Huntsville, University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of Alabama1989 – 2016: Professor, Department of Optometry, UAB1990 – 2016: Adjunct Professor, Laboratory of Medical Genetics, UAB1990 – 2016: Adjunct Professor, Department of Biochemistry, UAB1990 – 2010: Member, Executive Committee and Board of the Helen Keller Eye Research Foundation1994 – 1995: NASA Chief Scientist for International Space Station1994 – 2016: Director, Center for Biophysical Sciences and Engineering, UAB1994 – 2016: Director, Cancer Center X-ray Core Facility, UAB1996 – 2016: Member Research Foundation and Technology Transfer Committee, [[University of Alabama atBirmingham|UAB]]
1997 – 1998: Member Metabolic Bone Disease, UAB1997 – 2000: Member, Media Relations Group, UAB2001 – 2016: Adjunct Professor, Physiology and Biophysics2016 - present: Principal Scientist, Aerospace CorporationDeLucas 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.
