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Lawrence J. DeLucas is a pioneering structural biologist whose research bridges high-throughput protein production and the unique environment of space. His key contributions lie in advancing structural genomics, particularly through large-scale protein expression and crystallization. DeLucas led the Southeast Collaboratory for Structural Genomics, a high-throughput "gene to structure" factory that produced proteins from organisms like *Pyrococcus furiosus*, *C. elegans*, and humans, enabling rapid X-ray crystallography and structure determination. His work on the high-throughput expression of *C. elegans* proteins (103 citations) has been foundational for proteome-scale studies, aiding both basic biology and drug development. Additionally, DeLucas is renowned for his investigations into protein crystal growth in microgravity (38 citations), exploring how spaceflight can improve crystal quality for structural analysis. His achievements include directing NASA’s protein crystal growth program and serving as a payload specialist on Space Shuttle missions, where he conducted experiments in orbit. With over 200 citations across his most influential papers, DeLucas’s work has profoundly impacted structural biology, demonstrating how combining automation with space-based research can unlock new insights into protein function and therapeutic design.