2025 Photomicrography Competition

In Their Own Words

What does being a winner of the Nikon Small World competition mean to you?

It is a huge honor! Every Small World image is a snapshot of years of hard work, training, and trial-and-error.

Can you describe in further detail (beyond what’s written in the caption), in a way the general public would understand, what is happening in your winning image?

The image shows a collection of cardiac myocytes, which are the beating cells of heart muscle. Emphasizing this, muscle fibers can be seen in surrounding cells. In the center of the image however, one of the cells is dividing, and chromosomes (DNA) are seen being pulled into two daughter cells. This represents a part of the cell cycle known as anaphase, which is the shortest of all of the cell division phases. Moreover, while many cell types divide frequently, heart muscle cells rarely divide. Considering this, this image captures an exceedingly rare and short-lived event, which is why I liked it so much.

As Nikon Small World celebrates its 51st anniversary, how do you feel about being part of such a long-standing tradition that highlights the beauty and importance of scientific discovery through microscopy?

I feel fortunate to be where I am in my career. I wouldn’t be here without the outstanding mentorship and training I’ve received along the way, and consistent support from family.

Why do you think competitions like Nikon Small World, and scientific communication in general, are important?

Scientific communication shapes public discourse, policy, and trust in healthcare professionals. All of those things directly impact each and every one of us in some way. Nikon Small World brings cutting edge science a little closer to the public sphere, and I appreciate that about it.