Microscopy Society of America Announces Newly Elected Leadership for 2026
The Microscopy Society of America (MSA) is pleased to announce the election of its new leadership for 2026: Masashi Watanabe, President-Elect; Yang Yang, Director, Physical Sciences; and Kevin Elceiri, 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, 2026, and will guide MSA in its mission to promote the development and application of microscopy techniques for the advancement of science, technology, and education.
Masashi Watanabe, President-Elect
Dr. Masashi Watanabe is a Professor at Lehigh University and Tohoku University and a leader in the field of electron microscopy. His research focuses on advanced materials characterization using techniques such as XEDS, EELS, and atomic-resolution STEM, including the development of quantitative and multivariate analysis methods.
A longtime member of the Microscopy Society of America, Dr. Watanabe has served in numerous leadership roles, including Physical Sciences Director, program co-chair, symposium organizer, and editor for Microscopy and Microanalysis. He is also a past President of the Micronalysis Society and a long-standing instructor at the Lehigh Microscopy School and ASU HRTEM Winter School.
With over 30 years of engagement in the microscopy community, Dr. Watanabe is dedicated to advancing education, collaboration, and innovation across the field.
Dave Tomlin, Treasurer
Dr. David Tomlin is a Senior Scientist at Core4ce with extensive expertise in materials characterization and failure analysis using optical, electron, and ion microscopy techniques. He earned his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Miami University and has built a career focused on applying advanced microanalytical methods to real-world challenges in semiconductor and electro-optic technologies.
A dedicated leader within the Microscopy Society of America, Dr. Tomlin has been an active member since 1998 and is a recipient of the MSA Fellow distinction and the Morton D. Maser Distinguished Service Award. He has served the Society in numerous leadership roles, including Chair of the Education Committee, Coordinator of the MSA MegaBooth, and Director of Local Affiliated Societies. He currently serves as Treasurer of MSA and is deeply committed to responsible financial stewardship, long-term sustainability, and supporting the Society’s educational and scientific mission.
Kevin Eliceiri, Director, Biological Sciences
Dr. Kevin Eliceiri is a Professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a leader in the field of biological imaging and computational microscopy. His research focuses on developing and applying advanced imaging and image analysis methods, including multidimensional fluorescence microscopy and image informatics, to better understand complex biological systems.
Dr. Eliceiri has been deeply engaged in the microscopy and imaging community through his leadership in national and international initiatives. He has served as a symposium organizer and speaker at multiple Microscopy & Microanalysis meetings and is an active contributor to collaborative imaging networks, including BioImaging North America, where he serves as co-chair. His work emphasizes cross-disciplinary collaboration among biologists, physicists, engineers, and technologists.
Committed to advancing open, collaborative science, Dr. Eliceiri advocates for strengthening connections between biological imaging communities and the broader microscopy field to accelerate innovation, education, and scientific discovery.
Yang Yang, Director, Physical Sciences
Dr. Yang Yang is an Assistant Professor at The Pennsylvania State University whose research focuses on understanding materials behavior under extreme conditions using advanced electron microscopy and computational modeling. His work integrates experimental and data-driven approaches to reveal structure–property relationships in materials for energy, transportation, and electronic applications.
Dr. Yang earned his Ph.D. in Nuclear Science and Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Science and Technology of China. He has been actively involved in the Microscopy Society of America as a symposium organizer and contributor to community-building efforts. Through his research, teaching, and service, Dr. Yang is committed to advancing microscopy education, fostering collaboration, and supporting the next generation of scientists.
