Ahmet Karabulut, a predoctoral researcher in the lab of Matt Gibson, Ph.D., was recently awarded third place in the Nikon Small World in Motion competition for his video showing a time-lapse of neurons and stinging cells in the body column of the sea anemone, Nematostella vectensis.

Nikon Small World recognizes the artistic creativity and technological prowess of microscopists. “This is a huge honor,” Karabulut said. “I hope my video has a positive impact and inspires others to pursue exciting work that shows the beauty of life in exquisite detail”

Karabulut, a cell and developmental biologist, captured the video while working as a predoctoral researcher at the Graduate School of the Stowers Institute.

Fascinated by the biology of living things at scales not accessible to the human eye, Karabulut has been taking photographs through a microscope for more than 10 years and has used advanced microscopy techniques for the last five years.

When asked about the winning video Karabulut explained, “It provides a window into the complex and ever-changing events in the live animal, which are only observable under the microscope.”