Clemson graduate student recognized in Nikon microphotography competition

Published: September 28, 2011

Chick embryo intestine image by: Poulomi Ray

By Mary Mattox

CLEMSON — Clemson University graduate student Poulomi Ray, a student in biological sciences, had two microphotography entries chosen among the top 115 images out of thousands of submissions in Nikon’s Small World Microphotography Competition.

The competition elicited submissions from across the globe. Started in 1974, the competition now is the leading forum for microphotography in the world. To view and vote on Ray’s images and others in the competition, visit http://www.nikonsmallworld.com/vote.

Ray earned a degree in biotechnology from West Bengal University of Technology in Kolkata, India, before coming to Clemson. She is focusing her research on the middle ear and how it develops in an embryo and her photographs document this work. She works mainly with chicks and mice because they have developmental patterns in the embryo that are similar to humans and thus act as models to study congenital birth defects. The ultimate goal of her research is to identify the mechanisms involved in normal middle ear development. This will help to determine why one out of every 300 to 500 infants is born with moderate to severe hearing impairment.

Ray also studies the broader significance of other defective development in embryos, such as craniofacial defects.

“To understand how this process happens is very fascinating to me,” she said.

Ray has followed the Nikon Small World Competition for the last couple of years, but the internationally recognized images that she submitted this year weren’t taken with the intent of submission.

“Taking the picture was purely out of scientific curiosity," she said. "I had amazing pictures and I just wanted to share them with the scientific community. I didn’t expect to have my images chosen as some of the best in the competition."

The microphotograph images are taken in a three-step process. First, the tissue is acquired and processed. This involves sectioning the tissue into very thin slices at the region of interest. Next, the tissue is stained with various fluorescent proteins that bind specific proteins. The third step involves using confocal microscopy to take the image and using software to do post-processing.  

All of Ray’s imaging is conducted in Clemson University’s Imaging Facility in Jordan Hall. The Imaging Facility soon will be moved to the new Life Science building, which is under construction. The manager of the Imaging Facility is Terri F. Bruce, who works directly with students, training them how to use the equipment, helping them to find the best method to image their samples and highlight the significant findings in the images.

“Poulomi's work, using the outstanding facilities in the Jordan Hall Imaging Facility, demonstrates that Clemson University is at the cutting edge of modern developmental biology,” said Susan Chapman, an assistant professor in biological sciences and Ray’s major adviser. “Clemson is an excellent place for graduate students to train in life sciences. Clemson faculty perform both top-quality research and use their expertise to teach undergraduate and graduate students. This means that South Carolina benefits from having the most up-to-date training and facilities for its students in higher education, thereby contributing to the success of individuals and the development of the state.”

END