A photo of magnified cells earned Barbara Danowski, assistant professor of biology, and her former research student, Kenny Lee '95, an honorable mention in Nikon's 21st annual International Small World Competition.
The cells, labeled with bodipy phalloidin and alpha-actinin, were photographed at a magnification of 250 times under fluorescent light. The cells appear red with yellow
borders on a black background. The sample was prepared by Lee, now a research technician at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Danowski, a cell biologist
specializing in microscopy, took the photos.
“Undergraduate research has greatly influenced my plans to pursue a Ph.D. in cell biology,” Lee said. “It was the greatest experience during my four years at Union and I owe it all to Professor Danowski.”
Danowski and Lee were honored recently at an awards ceremony at the United Nations.
Nikon sponsors the annual contest, which is intended to recognize excellence in photography through the microscope. Christian Gauthier of LeMans, France, was overall winner. Of the hundreds of submissions worldwide, there were 20 prize winners and 12
honorable mentions.