Robert Lue
{{Short description|American researcher and academic (1964–2020)}}{{Infobox scientist
| name = Robert Lue
| image = RobertLueInterview(2019).png
| caption = Lue in 2019
| birth_date = May 23, 1964
| birth_place = Jamaica
| death_date = {{death date and age|November 11, 2020|May 23, 1964}}
| death_place = Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
| fields = Cellular biology
| workplaces = Harvard University
| alma_mater = College of the Holy Cross (BA)
Harvard University (PhD)
| thesis_title = Molecular and Biochemical Characterization of Hdlg
| thesis_url = https://hollis.harvard.edu/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=01HVD_ALMA211973725720003941&context=L&vid=HVD2&lang=en_US&search_scope=default_scope&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&tab=books&query=any,contains,Lue,%20Robert&offset=0
| thesis_year = 1995
| doctoral_advisor = Daniel Branton
| known_for = The Inner Life of the Cell (2006)
| partner = Alain Viel (1990–)
}}
Robert Arnold Lue (May 23, 1964 – November 11, 2020) was a Jamaican-born American cellular biologist.[https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/uncategorized/rob-lue-05-23-1964-11-11-2020/?fbclid=IwAR21dU1j176iEwOxfw1FqSC2k_lfF_P5Z5e5lmr8b0w9tUvCCPAqyju3Qq0 ""] (November 11, 2020) He was a professor of molecular and cellular biology at Harvard University,{{Cite web |last=Lambert |first=Craig |date=2009-11-01 |title=New media transform college classrooms {{!}} Harvard Magazine |url=https://www.harvardmagazine.com/node/25911 |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=www.harvardmagazine.com |language=en}} where he was the Richard L. Menschel Faculty Director of the Derek Bok Center for Teaching.{{Cite web |last=Fandos |first=Nicholas P. |last2=Mohamed |first2=Sabrina A. |date=February 21, 2013 |title=Lue Named First Faculty Director of the Bok Center |url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2013/2/21/lue-faculty-director-bok/ |access-date=2024-08-19 |website=The Harvard Crimson}} Lue had been co-editor of the Harvard Data Science Review,{{Cite journal |last=Meng |first=Xiao-Li |date=2021-07-30 |title=Remembering Robert Lue: Giving Students "Not a Data Science Course, but a Data Science Life" |url=https://hdsr.mitpress.mit.edu/pub/51gp5ktr/release/2 |journal=Harvard Data Science Review |language=en |volume=3 |issue=3 |doi=10.1162/99608f92.5461cafb |issn=2644-2353|doi-access=free }} and was previously the university's UNESCO Chair on Life Sciences and Social Innovation.{{Cite web |title=Stories by Robert A. Lue |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/author/robert-a-lue/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=Scientific American |language=en}} Lue led LabXChange, an online learning platform, in partnership with the Amgen Foundation.{{Cite web |last=gazettejohnbaglione |date=2018-07-16 |title=Harvard collaboration to help students explore how science works |url=https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2018/07/harvard-collaboration-to-help-students-explore-how-science-works/ |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=Harvard Gazette |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2013-02-27 |title=HarvardX and edX leadership named |url=https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2013/02/harvardx-and-edx-leadership-unveiled |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=Harvard Magazine |language=en}}
Early life and education
Lue grew up in Jamaica, where he developed an interest in nature.{{Cite web |last=Parsons |first=Lian |last2=Branton |first2=Daniel |last3=Gaudet |first3=Rachelle |last4=Kahne |first4=Daniel |last5=Viel |first5=Alain |last6=Losick |first6=Richard |date=2021-10-06 |title=Robert Arnold Lue, 56 |url=https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2021/10/robert-arnold-lue-56/ |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=Harvard Gazette |language=en-US}} He was of Chinese and Romanian descent.{{Cite web |last=Maldonado |first=Brenda C. |date=December 14, 2006 |title=Bio Prof Animates Cellular World |url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2006/12/14/bio-prof-animates-cellular-world-a/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=The Harvard Crimson}} After being educated at St. George's College and graduating in 1980, Lue initially intended to study science at the University of Oxford before he "fell in love with the idea of the liberal arts" and instead chose to attend the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, on a full scholarship.
At Holy Cross, Lue specialized in philosophy, science, and studio arts. He graduated from Holy Cross with a degree in biology and philosophy in 1986.{{Cite web |last=Nair |first=Meera S. |date=November 30, 2020 |title=Biology Prof. Lue, Visionary in Life Sciences Pedagogy, Dies at 56 |url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2020/11/30/robert-lue-obituary/ |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=The Harvard Crimson}} After graduation, he considered pursuing either a doctorate in science, a doctorate in philosophy, or obtaining a Master of Fine Arts, ultimately deciding to spend a year painting and researching at Brandeis University.
After researching at Brandeis, Lue pursued graduate studies at Harvard University and obtained a Ph.D. in cellular biology in 1995. His dissertation was titled "Molecular and biochemical characterization of Hdlg: the human homologue of the Drosophila discs-large tumor suppressor protein."{{Cite web |title=Dissertation: Molecular and biochemical characterization of Hdlg |url=https://hollis.harvard.edu/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=01HVD_ALMA211973725720003941&context=L&vid=HVD2&lang=en_US&search_scope=default_scope&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&tab=books&query=any,contains,Lue,%20Robert&offset=0 |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=Hollis — Harvard Library |language=en}} In 1996, Lue completed his postdoctoral studies at Harvard. He was mentored by Daniel Branton, a professor of biology.{{Cite web |title=The 21st Century Pedagogue {{!}} News {{!}} The Harvard Crimson |url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2014/5/29/rob-lue-profile-commencement/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=www.thecrimson.com}}
Career
Lue joined the faculty of molecular and cellular biology at Harvard in 1999.{{Cite web |last=Reuell |first=Peter |date=2013-02-21 |title=New leader in teaching, learning |url=https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2013/02/new-leader-in-teaching-learning/ |access-date=2024-08-19 |website=The Harvard Gazette |language=en-US}} Beginning in 2008, Lue was the Faculty Director of the Harvard-Allston Education Portal. He was recognized for his contributions to molecular animation.{{cite news |last1=Olsen |first1=Erik |date=15 November 2010 |title=Molecular Animation: Where Cinema and Biology Meet |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/16/science/16animate.html |accessdate=7 June 2017 |work=The New York Times}} Lue's research was supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He served as dean of Harvard Summer School and co-authored two textbooks on biology, researching science visualization.
On March 1, 2013, Lue became the inaugural Richard L. Menschel Faculty Director of the Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning at Harvard University.{{Cite web |date=2013-02-22 |title=Robert Lue named Bok Center director at Harvard |url=https://www.harvardmagazine.com/node/40483 |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=Harvard Magazine |language=en}} He was formerly professor of the practice of molecular and cellular biology, and the director of life sciences education at Harvard University.{{cite web |title=Dept of MCB, Harvard U: Faculty and Research |url=http://www.mcb.harvard.edu/Faculty/faculty_profile.php?f=robert-lue-a |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081114004709/http://www.mcb.harvard.edu/Faculty/faculty_profile.php?f=robert-lue-a |archive-date=2008-11-14 |website=www.mcb.harvard.edu}}
Lue developed multiple award-winning media animations about science, including Understanding HIV and AIDS (1999), Biochemistry: Interactive Learning (2000), The Inner Life of the Cell (2006), and Powering the Cell: Mitochondria (2010).{{Cite web |title=Robert Lue {{!}} Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC) |url=https://empac.rpi.edu/events/2011/robert-lue |access-date=2024-08-19 |website=empac.rpi.edu |language=en}}
Personal life
Lue died on November 11, 2020, of cancer at the age of 56.{{cite web |date=13 November 2020 |title=Biologist Rob Lue, founding HarvardX faculty director, dies at 56 |url=https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/11/biologist-rob-lue-founding-harvardx-faculty-director-dies-at-56/ |access-date=17 November 2020 |website=Harvard Gazette}} He was survived by his husband, Alain Viel.
Selected publications
- {{Cite journal |last=Lue |first=Robert A. |date=2019-11-01 |title=Data Science as a Foundation for Inclusive Learning |url=https://hdsr.mitpress.mit.edu/pub/rye9y1w0/release/6 |journal=Harvard Data Science Review |language=en |volume=1 |issue=2 |doi=10.1162/99608f92.c9267215 |issn=2644-2353|doi-access=free }}
Notes
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Category:People from Queens, New York
Category:Harvard University faculty
Category:College of the Holy Cross alumni
Category:Harvard University alumni
Category:American cell biologists
Category:American people of Chinese descent
Category:American people of Romanian descent
Category:Deaths from cancer in New York (state)
Category:People educated at St. George's College, Jamaica
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