Graduate Student/Postdoc Graphics, 1st Place. Sergei Rigin. The work showcases a visual resemblance between polymer structures found in the microworld and human-scale objects like a forest, reflecting nature's ability to replicate its artistic patterns across different scales.
Undergraduate Student Microscopy, Honorable Mention
Christian Shaw. This may look like something out of an alien movie, but it is in fact the sexual structure (called a chasmothecium) of a powdery mildew named Takamatsuella circinata. Powdery mildew is a very widespread group of plant pathogens that infect many agricultural plants, from cucumbers, to broccoli, to hops and more. These fungi can cause wilting, leaf dropping, and even death. Due to its reliance on its plant host, the fungus is nearly impossible to culture without the host present, making laboratory research on these pathogens very difficult. In the past, powdery mildew identification was based largely on the host and macro-morphology. Our research is concerned with reconstructing the phylogeny of powdery mildews based on DNA sequence data, which will lead to improved taxonomic ecological, and epidemiological investigations of these fungi.Graduate Student/Postdoc Microscopy, 2nd Place
Victoria Himelstein. The alloy Mo-9Si-8B (at%) was made into a powder form for printing via electron beam powder bed fusion. Our goal is to find out the best melting strategies for this type of manufacturing, which includes processing and imaging the powder for precise data collection. This alloy is being researched for printing as a hydrogen fuel cell heat exchanger due to it’s oxidation resistance capabilities. Nucleated Mo dense dendrites are visible on the outer surface of the center particle, creating a funky splotch-like effect.
Graduate Student/Postdoc Photography, 1st Place
Anukram Adhikary. In the serene yet solitary landscape of Salyan, Karnali, a Dalit woman epitomizes resilience and the evolving roles in community forestry in rural Nepal. As migration draws men and youth away in pursuit of better opportunities, women emerge as crucial stewards of their households and the local environment. This image captures their vital yet often understated role in sustaining community life through agriculture and forestry, amidst profound social and ecological transformations. This work is part of the DISES project, supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), which aims to investigate the impact of community forestry on the socio-environmental dynamics in Nepal, emphasizing the significant contributions of women in these communities.
Undergraduate Student Microscopy, 1st Place Zachary Benfield. This image shows the anterior portion of a mature Streblospio benedicti, which is a segmented worm that lives in marine ecosystems, under a microscope. This tiny worm is a bioindicator species that can be found in estuaries, including those here in NC!Graduate Student/Postdoc Graphics, Honorable Mention. Ariana Farquharson. This map geo-spatially and temporally locates historic Black churches within past and present Black communities across Raleigh and contextualizes their development within a timeline of national and local events.
Undergraduate Student Photography, 1st Place
Nicolás Galvez. Cockroaches are a familiar household encounter, and anyone who has found one in their home is probably well-aware of how fast a roach can move. In this study, roaches are placed on a small platform in front of a video camera. When shone on by a bright light, the roaches jump off, searching for a darker location. The jumping footage is then analyzed for data, such as how fast they jump and how they move their legs.
Graduate Student/Postdoc Graphics, 2nd Place
Skylar Penney. LiDAR point cloud data converted into a colorized spline to determine areas of similar elevation.Faculty/Staff Photography, 1st Place
Erin McKenney. Seniors in Field Ecology (AEC 460) use a kick net to collect aquatic insects to assess urban stream health for their independent research project.
Undergraduate Student Microscopy, 2nd Place
Lia Hunt. While studying reproductive barriers between species of flowers in the genus Mimulus, the team noticed a specimen of Mimulus guttatus with unusually small seed pods. The Medusa mutation causes the ovules to develop seedless in a twisting, snake-like pattern. The team is investigating the underlying cause of this mutation, which we theorize to be a recessive polymorphism in the BEL1 promoter.
Faculty/Staff Photography, 2nd Place
Nasir Shalizi. The Tree Improvement Program at NCSU has been diligently gathering leaf samples and cones from loblolly pine trees exhibiting witch’s broom, an abnormal growth possibly stemming from somatic mutation. This mutation raises the potential for dwarfing in the resultant open-pollinated seedling progeny. The project’s objective is to explore the feasibility of harnessing this dwarfing trait to develop dwarf rootstocks for loblolly pine seed orchards. To this end, we enlisted the expertise of a seasoned tree climber who scaled over 30 trees afflicted with witch’s broom to procure needle and cone samples from both mutant and normal branches. These collected seeds will undergo planting to analyze segregation patterns in phenotype, while needle samples are undergoing genotyping for comprehensive genomic analysis.Graduate Student/Postdoc Graphics, Honorable Mention. Daoru Wang. The Sakyamuni Pagoda of Fogong Temple, also known as the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, is China’s oldest and tallest wooden pagoda, enduring over 900 years of earthquakes, wars, and mistreatment. However, it now faces potential collapse due to severe structural distortions. Preserving this historic monument requires interdisciplinary collaboration in architectural history, material science, and engineering. This research project proposes creating a comprehensive parametric model to restore the pagoda. While not perfectly mirroring its current state, this adaptable model is essential for restoration efforts. By simulating the original construction, including its unique leaning columns, the model aids preservation and reveals the pagoda’s architectural significance. The digital model that was generated in this project serves as both a preservation tool and a means to enhance understanding of this landmark’s construction and its place in Chinese architectural history.
Graduate Student/Postdoc Photography, Honorable Mention. Micki Recchuiti. Sampling lava from active eruptions gives us information about how the chemistry and physics of a magma chamber can fuel an active eruption. Pairing field observations with sample data we can determine the viscosity and mineralogy of lavas.
Faculty/Staff Microscopy, 1st Place. Scott LaGreca. Powdery mildews are a group of plant diseases that affect both agricultural as well as wild plants worldwide. They cause wilting, leaf die-back and sometimes death of the host plant. Globally they are one of the most destructive diseases of crop plants and are responsible for millions of dollars of agricultural losses per year. The Bradshaw Lab is studying the evolution of these fungi–reconstructing the phylogeny of the family (Erysiphaceae) using DNA sequences to better understand their taxonomy, ecology and epidemiology. As part of this work, we are discovering many new “cryptic” species (ie, species that look very similar to each other, morphologically)–including this one, deposited in NC State’s Larry F. Grand Mycological Herbarium, of which I am curator. This photo shows one of the gorgeous, sphaeroid, symmetrical fruiting bodies (chasmothecium) of one of these new species, cracked open to reveal the spore sacs inside.Faculty/Staff Microscopy, 2nd Place. Nathan Asquith. Dr. Shelton’s lab develops microphysiological systems, or “organ-on-chip” models, to study the immune microenvironment in cancer and explore how platelets and thrombosis influence metastasis. Here we are showing platelets as they are generated from cells called megakaryocytes that reside within the bone marrow. In 2-dimensional cultures (shown here) these cells extend and release platelets in all directions, however in the human body megakaryocytes sit at the edge of blood vessels and deposit platelets into the blood stream. Developing more complex organ-on-chip systems, such as a vascularized model of bone marrow, will enable us to replicate and observe these dynamic cellular interactions, which we will use to study how megakaryocytes reorganize their microtubules to release platelets, to understand the transport of proteins such as vWF into platelets, and ultimately to determine how these processes influence metastases.
Graduate Student/Postdoc Microscopy, Honorable Mention. Sai Karthik Gade. This cross-section image of a Fraser fir needle reveals an abundance of poly phenolic cells, highlighted in blue, which were induced by the application of the defense phytohormone methyl jasmonate. The image was captured using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM), a technique that allows for the visualization of different cellular components based on their fluorescence lifetimes. Poly phenolic compounds play a crucial role in protecting trees against insects and pathogens. This study demonstrates how external application of methyl jasmonate can enhance the production of these protective compounds, potentially increasing the plant’s resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses.Undergraduate Student Photography, 2nd Place. Emily Boldor. Built to bring to the 2024 International Seismic Design Competition, the tower was meticulously modeled in computer software before construction began. Our team tested a variety of designs and then constructed the tower out of balsa wood, a very lightweight material.
Graduate Student/Postdoc Microscopy, 1st Place. Abhirup Basu. The delamination of a polymer coating on an aluminum substrate is shown. In this work, a 4 cm scribe (yellow) was made on a polymer-coated substrate (brown). Upon exposure to concentrated hydrochloric acid vapor for one hour, delamination of the coating occurred after one day at 40 degrees Celsius and 85% relative humidity resulting in the green/hairy failure zone. The image was captured using a stereo microscope and was reconstructed using artificial intelligence software (Runway) to show the supernova effect.
Graduate Student/Postdoc Microscopy, Honorable Mention. Mohammad Javad Zarei. The image shows the 3D-printed micropillars used for making super-repellent surfaces.Graduate Student/Postdoc Microscopy, Honorable Mention. Akanksha Pragya. With the growing interest in constant body vital monitoring, healthcare assistance, hyperconnectivity amongst individuals, and next-to-skin atmosphere regulation, more and more flexible and soft electronics are being created, and integrated into clothing. These electronics must be lightweight, waterproof, and capable of stretching, flexing, bending, and twisting to accommodate body movements. To address this, an electrically conductive material is being developed by distributing hollow and soft thermoplastic microscopic spheres in a pool of stretchable, rubber-like electrically conductive polymer. The presence of the hollow microspheres gives this material a closed-cell foam-like structure that can support good mechanical and electrical performance while being lightweight. Upon integration with clothing fabric, this material can provide maximum comfort to the user and ensure the durability of the flexible electronic assembly during prolonged usage.
Graduate Student/Postdoc Photography, Honorable Mention. Ana Sapp. Emma Wilson measures a turtle at her research site located within a North Carolina wetland. Navigating the terrain with the aid of a GPS and chest-high waders, she conducts her fieldwork diligently.
Graduate Student/Postdoc Video, Honorable Mention. Nidhi Diwakar. The green corona is fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) dye ejected through a rapid reaction between the crystal and surrounding fluid. This research focuses on the development of an active superdiffusive pellet, composed of FITC-coated bicarbonate salt crystals and citric acid.
Graduate Student/Postdoc Video, 2nd Place. Lily Kile. Legume plants provide a source of essential nitrogen to the soil. This study tested how legume cover crops would compare to nitrogen fertilizer as a source of nitrogen for sweet potatoes.
Graduate Student/Postdoc Video, 1st Place. Sergei Rigin. The work highlights a phase transition in a system of polymer chains attached to a surface, also known as a polymer brush. Molecular Dynamics Simulations reveal the change from mushroom conformation (clusters) to extended polymer chains in response to changing environmental conditions.
