Colorado State University Researchers Earn International Recognition for Microscopy Video Competition
Colorado State University's Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology received an honorable mention in the prestigious 2025 Nikon Small World in Motion Video Competition for their time-lapse video showing mouse embryonic fibroblasts reforming their cellular layer after being scratched.
The research team of Scott Burlingham, Dr. Soham Ghosh, Gabriel Galindo and Dr. Hiroshi Kimura created a 24-hour time-lapse video using confocal fluorescence microscopy at 40X magnification to capture the cellular repair process. Their work was recognized among entries from researchers across more than 80 countries in what is considered the world's leading contest for scientific microscopic photography and videography.
The Nikon Small World in Motion Competition, launched in 2011 as an extension of the photomicrography contest that began in 1975, receives thousands of entries annually from professionals, academics, and hobbyists worldwide. CSU's recognition marks a notable achievement for Fort Collins and represents the first major placement for a Larimer County research institution in this international competition.
The winning entry from Michigan-based retired engineer Jay McClellan captured the self-pollination process of a thymeleaf speedwell, a common wildflower. Second place went to Benedikt Pleyer from Germany for his video of volvox algae swimming in a water drop, while third place was awarded to Dr. Eric Vitriol from Augusta University for his video of actin and mitochondria in mouse brain tumor cells.
CSU's Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, founded in 1966, has established itself as a leader in interdisciplinary bioscience research with major contributions spanning cellular biology, imaging technology, and molecular analysis. The department played a pivotal role in establishing the university's Microscope Imaging Network, which evolved from the Fluorescence Microscopy and Image Analysis Center started in 1990.
The recognition reflects CSU's significant investment in advanced microscopy infrastructure and research capabilities in Fort Collins. The department received national accreditation from the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in 2018 and currently enrolls over 300 undergraduate students in its biochemistry program.
According to competition records, Colorado research institutions typically receive recognition in the Nikon Small World competitions only every few years, making CSU's achievement particularly significant for Northern Colorado's scientific visibility. In 2014, the University of Colorado Boulder's Dr. John Hart won third place in the motion competition for his video of volatile oil film on water.
The advanced confocal fluorescence microscopy work that earned CSU this recognition requires sophisticated imaging technology, extensive computing resources, and robust laboratory infrastructure typically supported through federal research grants from agencies like the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation.
Eric Flem, Senior Manager of Communications at Nikon Instruments, noted that this year's winners "showcase the extraordinary choreography of life unfolding at a scale beyond ordinary sight" and reflect the competition's purpose "to inspire wonder, fuel discovery, and showcase the artistry inherent in scientific exploration."
For more information about the competition and winning entries, visit www.nikonsmallworld.com.