2026 MSA Council Candidates

Title/Affiliation: 
Professor, Lehigh University / Tohoku University

Platform Statement:
The field of Microscopy encompasses two essential aspects: scientific progress driven by researchers and instrumental advancements led by manufactures. The Microscopy Society of America has successfully integrated these aspects through the annual Microscopy and Microanalysis conference, leading the initiative in collaboration with other societies.
 
I intend to enhance this vital mission by organizing symposia, workshops and webinars especially for new learners to maintain membership. I am equally committed to supporting various activities led by next generation microscopists. My goals are to expand the Society’s membership and to promote the significance of microscopy across other scientific disciplines in this challenging time.
 
This year marks my 30^th attendance at the Microscopy and Microanalysis meeting, i.e. the Society has shaped my scientific career. It is now my privilege to give back by serving as the President honoring the Society, the senior Senseis, contemporaries, future generations, and all the members of the Society.

Degree(s):
Ph.D., Metallurgy, Kyushu University
MS, Metallurgy, Kyushu University
BS, Metallurgy, Kyushu University

MSA Activities:
Physical Science Director: 2020-2022
Program co-chair: M&M2011
Symposium organizers: M&M2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019
Award committee member: 2021-present
Microscopy and Microanalysis journal editor: 2016-present

Other Professional Societies:
Micronalysis Society: President (2016-2018), Director (2006-2008)
Lehigh Microscopy School: Director (2024-present), co-director (2009-2023), instructor (2001-present)
Arizona State University HRTEM Winter School: instructor (2008-present)

Research Interests:
My research emphasizes materials characterization using various electron microscopy approaches involving analysis via XEDS and EELS, and atomic-resolution imaging in aberration-corrected STEMs with some technique development including the zeta-factor method for quantitative X-ray analysis and implemented multivariate statistical analysis (MSA) for XEDS and EELS spectrum images.

Title/Affiliation: 
Senior Scientist, Core4ce

Platform Statement:
Current and past MSA Councils have worked hard to remain fiscally conservative in managing the affairs of the Society. Through their efforts, MSA has built up a long-term reserve fund to make sure the Society can continue to flourish in the event of a catastrophic meeting year. Net Operating Revenue continues to fluctuate yearly because of higher operating costs. Excess reserves from the Operating Revenue will continue to be reinvested into the Society and will fund Strategic Initiatives and travel awards for our students, post-docs, and technical staff. I will work with Council, our accountant, the MSA Finance Committee, to rein in costs where appropriate and align our investment portfolio to match or exceed the returns of key industry benchmarks. I will continue to ensure that our financial policies reflect the operating and investment objectives, policies, and guidelines of the Microscopy Society of America and its Council.

Degree(s):
Ph.D, Physical Chemistry, Miami University
B.S., Chemistry, Miami University

MSA Activities:
MSA member since 1998
MSA Fellow (2024)
Morton D. Maser Distinguished Service Award (2017)
Chair of the Education Committee (2013-2015)
Coordinator of the MegaBooth (2015-present)
Co-Coordinator of the MegaBooth (2003-2014)
Placement Office Chair (2015-2018)
Co-Placement Office Chair (2012-2014)
Director-Local Affiliated Societies (2009-2011)
Symposium Organizer (2007)
MSA Logo and Website Redesign Team (2009)
Website Redesign Team (2015)
Technologist Forum member

Other Professional Societies:
Member of MAS, ACS, and MSORV (Microscopy Society of the Ohio River Valley)

Research Interests:
My research interests are focused on utilizing optical, electron, and ion microscopies, as well as microanalysis to investigate failures in semiconductor and electro-optic devices, which are of particular interest to our customers.

Title/Affiliation: 
Professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Platform Statement:
I am passionate about the development and sharing of imaging and computational technologies for biologists. I believe to best accomplish this we need open and active communities where biologists, physical scientists, technologists and companies all collaborate. I believe there is a great opportunity for M&M to serve a hub for the dissemination of new imaging technology for biologists and that there is great synergy with its strong electron microscopy and materials base. I would like to see M&M not do this alone but in concert with other imaging centric communication networks such as ABRF, BINA, OSA and SPIE. I am an active member of these organizations and have also enjoyed my interactions with M&M as a speaker and organizer at past events. I see great opportunity for a M&M led effort to leverage its current strengths with input from other communities to best benefit the imaging efforts of biologists.

Degree(s):
PhD, Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin at Madison
MS, Biotechnology, University of Wisconsin at Madison
BS. Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin at Madison

MSA Activities:
Co-Organizer 2016 Image Analysis Symposia at M&M
Co-Organizer 2015 Multiscale Symposia at M&M
Speaker at six other M&M midwest and national meetings.

Other Professional Societies:
ASCB, ABRF, SPIE, Optica, BINA (co-chair)

Research Interests: 
I have been conducting research on computational imaging two decades, with a focus on multidimensional fluorescence
approaches for cell studies and image informatics tools for image analysis. I am also co-chair of BioImaging North
America which is an international image expertise sharing network between the US, Canada and Mexico.

Title/Affiliation: 
Assistant Professor, The Pennsylvania State University

Platform Statement:
I am deeply grateful to the MSA, which supported my professional growth from a postdoctoral researcher to a faculty member. My first symposium-organizing opportunity came at an M&M Annual Meeting when I was a postdoc, and that experience helped shape my academic path. Since then, I have organized more than ten symposia across major conferences, and I continue to appreciate MSA’s welcoming culture that values and empowers early-career scientists.
If elected Physical Sciences Director, my goal is to build on this strong foundation. I will work to support the education and training of the next generation of microscopists and materials scientists, promote opportunities for students and postdocs, and foster collaborative and inclusive community engagement.
As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms scientific research, I also aim to encourage thoughtful discussions and educational initiatives that help our community use AI responsibly and creatively, ensuring that future scientists remain leaders in innovation and discovery.

Degree(s):
PhD, Nuclear Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Bachelor, Nuclear Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC)

MSA Activities:
Lead organizer of microscopy symposia of M&M Annual Meetings 2020 and 2022:
1)    M&M 2020: Symposium P06, “In-situ TEM at the extremes”.
2)    M&M 2022: Symposium P07, “Correlative Microscopy and High-Throughput Characterization for Accelerated Development of Materials in Extreme Environments”.

Other Professional Societies:
Vice-chair of the Corrosion and Environmental Effects Committee (CEEC) of The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS)

Research Interests: 
My research integrates electron microscopy and computational modeling to understand mechanisms of materials degradation and the origins of extreme performance, providing fundamental insights to guide the design of next-generation materials for energy, transportation, and electronics. Our recent work develops techniques to probe how short-range order in nonequilibrium materials influences their properties.

Title/Affiliation: 
Distinguished Professor, University of Texas at Dallas

Platform Statement:
Microscopy has been at the heart of my academic journey, fueling my passion for discovery. My first encounter with electron diffraction—patterns that reminded me of constellations—sparked a lifelong fascination with the power of visualization at the nanoscale (Nano to Space!). As the Microscopy Society of America has evolved from the Electron Microscopy Society of America to a broader, more inclusive community, I envision a future that deepens collaboration across scientific and engineering disciplines while celebrating the intersection of art and science. As Physical Science Director, I will champion microscopy’s pivotal role in addressing emerging scientific and technological challenges. I aim to strengthen education and academic efforts while fostering collaboration between the physical and biological sciences to advance cross-disciplinary research and innovation. In addition, I am committed to outreach initiatives that highlight the beauty and creativity of microscopy—engaging and inspiring the next generation while expanding our field’s impact on society.

Degree(s):
Ph.D., Materials Science, Arizona State University
M.S., Materials Science, Arizona State University
B.S., Materials Science, Arizona State University

MSA Activities:
M&M Symposium Organizer: 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2024
FIG: Aberration Corrected Electron Microscopy: 2020-2024

Other Professional Societies:
Materials Research Society (MRS), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

Research Interests: 
My research focuses on nanoscale fabrication and atomic-level characterization of functional nanostructures for applications in nanoelectronics, power electronics, energy devices, and nanopore-based biomolecule sequencing. Additional interests include heterogeneous integration via wafer bonding, in-situ TEM/STEM analysis, NanoArt, and advanced 3D visualization techniques such as tomography and virtual/augmented reality.