Microscopy Society of America Announces Newly Elected Leadership for 2025
The Microscopy Society of America (MSA) is pleased to announce the election of its new leadership for 2025: Grant Jensen, President-Elect; Juan Carlos Idrobo, Director, Physical Sciences; and Elizabeth Villa, Director, Biological Sciences. These esteemed individuals bring a wealth of expertise, experience, and passion for advancing microscopy and microanalysis across diverse scientific disciplines.
The newly elected leaders will take office on January 1, 2025, and will guide MSA in its mission to promote the development and application of microscopy techniques for the advancement of science, technology, and education.
Grant Jensen, President-Elect
Dr. Jensen serves as the Dean of the College of Computational, Mathematical, and Physical Sciences at Brigham Young University. He earned his Ph.D. in Biophysics from Stanford University and his B.Sc. in Physics from BYU. Dr. Jensen is a pioneer in electron cryotomography, specializing in imaging intact cells and viruses at high resolution. With over 250 cryo-tomograms recorded and a history of cryo-EM innovation, he brings extensive experience to MSA. A former Caltech research leader and educator, Dr. Jensen is committed to advancing MSA's mission by enhancing its impact and supporting the microscopy community.
Juan Carlos Idrobo, Director, Physical Sciences
Dr. Idrobo is an Associate Professor at the University of Washington and Director of Physical Sciences. He earned his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of California, Davis, and his M.Sc. from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Idrobo's research focuses on developing advanced electron spectroscopy and imaging techniques to study material properties at the atomic scale. He has contributed to MSA through leadership roles and as a symposium organizer at numerous M&M Annual Meetings. He aims to empower the next generation of microscopists by integrating machine learning and AI into microscopy practices.
Elizabeth Villa, Director, Biological Sciences
Dr. Villa is a Professor and Investigator at UC San Diego and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. She holds a Ph.D. in Biophysics and Computational Biology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a B.Sc. in Physics from Universidad de las Américas Puebla. Her research centers on observing macromolecular complexes in their natural cellular environments using electron microscopy, coupled with image processing and physical modeling. As an MSA Council Director, Dr. Villa aims to bridge the gap between materials and biological sciences in microscopy, fostering innovative interdisciplinary collaborations.
The newly elected leadership team will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the Society by driving innovative initiatives, expanding educational opportunities, and advocating for the microscopy community.
