QBI is pleased to welcome Leah Roe to our Fellowship Program, where early-career scientists pursue bold ideas in an interdisciplinary research environment. Her work focuses on protein backbone modification—an emerging area of chemical biology that aims to expand the chemical diversity of biologics and unlock new possibilities for therapeutic development. In this feature, she discusses the inspiration behind her research, the vision for her independent lab, and her commitment to mentoring the next generation of scientists.
My research focuses on protein backbone modification/editing—an emerging field at the intersection of chemical biology and therapeutics. The long-term vision of my work is to bring the vast chemical diversity typically used in optimizing small molecule and peptide therapeutics into the realm of biologics. Currently, biologics are restricted to natural alpha-amino acid backbones. By developing methods to efficiently produce biologics with expanded chemical diversity, we can enhance their fundamental properties and therapeutic functions. At UCSF, I plan to continue method development, study the biophysical properties of modified proteins, and translate them into real-world medical applications.
My inspiration stems from two deeply intertwined sources. Personally, I grew up in a family marked by both remarkable intelligence and unfortunate illness. Watching loved ones battle terminal diseases and endure the harsh side effects of treatments ignited countless questions about medicine and biology. Fortunately, being surrounded by PhDs and MDs allowed me to engage with these concepts early on, cementing my lifelong commitment to making a meaningful difference in medicine.
Scientifically, I've always been fascinated by a fundamental question: How does a protein know its shape and function from a simple sequence of amino acids? Perhaps the best ways to learn is to change the system and learn new rules. This field perfectly merges my intellectual curiosity with my personal mission to advance therapeutic innovation.
My ultimate dream is to see biologics with novel chemistries readily screened and, ideally, to witness a drug developed using my technology reach the market. What excites me most about this research is its multifaceted nature: method development offers creative freedom, biophysical studies satisfy my desire to understand protein folding at a fundamental level, and translational applications allow me to explore diverse fields while fulfilling my personal goal of improving medicine. I couldn't imagine a research program more perfectly aligned with my interests and aspirations.
Beyond the science, I envision my lab as a place where people genuinely enjoy research and learning. I've been fortunate to have mentors who made science fun, and I'm committed to providing that same experience for my trainees. While research can be challenging, maintaining a sense of humor and making the day-to-day enjoyable is essential.
Another major goal is to demystify the hidden curriculum of academia. I plan to create, collect, and share public resources on topics like competitive fellowship applications, efficient reading strategies, graduate school preparation, fostering positive lab culture, effective networking, etc. By making these resources openly available, I hope to level the playing field for emerging scientists.
I love traveling and outdoor activities. Each year, I make it a goal to explore at least one new national park or city. Like many chemists, I also enjoy cooking—it's the better form of chemistry because I get to eat the results! I'm also a proud dog mom to Ollie, my senior pitbull, and I cherish our time together.
Surround yourself with people who have succeeded in this path and who genuinely believe in you. Your community and environment are everything—they will support and propel you toward your goals. As you progress through your training, always pay it forward and support others on their journeys.
I've been incredibly fortunate to train with exceptional mentors who continue to support me today. Ron Zuckermann, my undergraduate PI, showed me the joy of doing science. Jaime Fraser, my post-baccalaureate PI, made me believe that pursuing a fellow position was possible. Alanna Schepartz, my PhD advisor, profoundly shaped my approach to chemical biology and scientific thinking. As part of the first generation of women in quantitative sciences, she's been a tremendous inspiration. I'm grateful for the five years I spent training in her lab.
My research is highly fundamental—focused on method development and basic biophysical understanding—which means it can be applied across diverse areas of biology. Being at UCSF and QBI provides endless opportunities to learn new topics and apply my science in unexpected ways. This interdisciplinary environment is perfect for someone who thrives on continuous learning and cross-field collaboration.
Fearless, critical, and enjoyable.
Fearless: I love a good challenge; I tend not to worry about how I will get there as long as the fundamental concepts are scientifically sound. As a result, I find myself learning any technique or topic I need to accomplish a goal.
Critical: I invest significant time in experimental design and strategic planning before execution. I try to imagine every pitfall or application so that as I move through the project, I know exactly what each piece of data means for the big picture (whether that’s good or bad). And I always have a backup plan.
Enjoyable: I wouldn't have become a scientist if I didn't genuinely enjoy the work and the environment. I understand that projects typically have more failures than successes, but I view this as part of the process rather than a reflection of my abilities or intellect. I love being surrounded by motivated people and having fun along the way. I celebrate every victory—it makes all the setbacks worthwhile.