Why I'm a Scientist: Dr. Peter Crawford

The Spark: Journey Into Science

Dr. Crawford’s path into science was anything but predetermined. Growing up without exposure to academic medicine or health sciences, he was drawn to medicine simply out of a fascination with science, though, as he admits, with “remarkably little content and insight” about what that meant.

Everything changed when he stumbled upon a summer research opportunity in college. “It was completely transformative,” he recalls. Guided by a mentor, he was captivated by the possibility of understanding the root causes of health and disease at the molecular level while also connecting that work to direct patient care. That spark, first lit in 1989, still fuels his curiosity more than three decades later.

The Drive: Motivation and Purpose

Two principles guide Dr. Crawford’s work: insatiable curiosity and unrelenting commitment to serve. “Curiosity and commitment to service are what motivate me,” he says. “They leave me with a great deal of energy and enthusiasm every day.”

His research focuses on how our genes and environment work together to shape the body’s chemistry, influencing a person’s risk for obesity, liver disease, cardiovascular disease, dementia, and more. Two-thirds of U.S. adults are overweight, and 40 percent are classified as obese. Yet not all individuals with obesity develop these complications, and some people with a healthy weight do. Understanding why could help protect health before disease takes hold.

“These are root causes of premature mortality and of conditions that strip people of their dignity,” he says. “That’s incredibly motivating.”

The Impact: Discovery and Contribution

Dr. Crawford sees his work as part of a broader mission to address common, high-impact health challenges. By studying how genetic makeup, environment, diet, and exposures interact, his team hopes to uncover why some people are more resilient to disease than others and how to use that knowledge to improve lives.

The University of Minnesota, he says, is the ideal place for this work. From the first open-heart surgery to the first bone marrow transplant, the institution has a long history of groundbreaking discovery. Today, its researchers span disciplines across medicine, engineering, biological sciences, and public health.

“This is an amazing ecosystem,” he says. “I’m surrounded by learned, thoughtful, curious people. We may not be studying the exact same thing, but we’re learning from each other.” The Medical School’s commitment to serving Minnesotans as a public land-grant institution also inspires him daily.

The Future: Vision and Inspiration

Despite challenges facing research nationally, Dr. Crawford is optimistic. He sees this as a pivotal moment to become more effective, more efficient, and more connected with the public, listening to what matters to them and showing how biomedical research improves lives, drives innovation, and fuels the economy.

His advice to aspiring scientists is simple: remain undeterred. “This is the time to invest in yourself and in science,” he says. Advances in data science, artificial intelligence, genomics, and imaging have created a renaissance in discovery. “Yes, there are new obstacles to navigate, but our generation’s responsibility is to ensure the next generation can not only persist but flourish.”

When asked to complete the sentence, “I’m a scientist because…,” Dr. Crawford’s answer is clear: “Because I have insatiable curiosity and unrelenting commitment to serve.”