Lens into future technology

When asked to picture a microscope, many might conjure up something close to the clunky, portable microscopes used in middle school or high school. But Srini Ramu, a junior in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Nathaniel Richmond, a junior pursuing a neurobiology major, knew otherwise and they wanted widen the imagination of their fellow students, which brought them to create the Lens Into Future Technologies (LIFT) student organization.

The spark that started LIFT

Richmond and Ramu met at the beginning of their freshman year when they had the same chemistry discussion, and the rest is history! Later on, Richmond was working with multiple advanced imaging systems at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Optical imaging Core. He shared his experience with Ramu and his growing interest in research. Richmond himself looked back and wished he had the opportunity to get hands-on experience with microscopy sooner, as early as high school even.

While the different microscopes at the Optical Imaging Core were available to all students, staff and faculty, they were usually reserved for graduates, post-docs and faculty. Richmond and Ramu wanted to give undergraduates the early opportunities that they didn’t get and provide unique access to advanced and typically inaccessible technology. With Richmond working at the Optical Imaging Core helping people use and train on the imaging systems, they had a unique opportunity to do just that. So, in the spring of 2024, they started LIFT together.

“We all value knowledge and strive to attain it. For me, giving knowledge is a gift that has a greater sense of satisfaction than using it. I want to give experiences and direction that develops others,” says Ramu.

Spark to flame

LIFT introduces this technology and provides training on the microscopes to undergraduates that they would otherwise rarely receive. By providing access to this technology while they’re students, Richmond and Ramu hope students realize the potential behind this technology and carry it into their future careers. They also hope that with microscopy skills, LIFT can empower students to join research labs across campus. For those already involved in research labs, this skill can help them further investigate their research in ways they couldn’t before.

“LIFT is a great opportunity to expand your knowledge, confidence and curiosity for microscopy. It’s such a useful skill applicable in various fields of research, and the instruments are incredible,” says Emilia Nicometo, a chemistry major and a member of LIFT.

But what’s so unique about these microscopes anyway? These microscopes are incredibly advanced and can take images at the sub-cellular level, which allows you to see the skeleton of the cell. With this kind of technology, you can see the results of drugs and other treatments on the cellular level. For example, you might add a drug treatment to a sample and analyze how the metabolism of the cell changes or if a target protein appears in the cell. With a lot of options for testing the efficacy of drug treatments, this technology has a wide range of uses.

Alex Raskin, another member of LIFT and a biochemistry major, said he enjoys giving back to the community and sparking an interest in science by showing stunning images of cells. “In a time where seeing is believe, it’s a great opportunity to help others see the excitement in science using these unique resources. Science is much more than a bunch of lectures in a classroom, and with LIFT we really get to demonstrate that,” says Raskin.

Spreading the wildfire to a younger generation

While they’re excited by the traction they’ve gained with undergraduate students, Richmond and Ramu really want to reach young students in high school. They hope that by exposing them to advanced and typically inaccessible technology, they can inspire a new generation and show them the different possibilities with research and microscopy. Richmond and Ramu are working diligently to get the right preparations to host a field trip for a local high school to visit the Optical Imaging Core and learn about the different microscopes. There’s a lot involved in the process of hosting a field trip and they’ve certainly hit some speed bumps, but they are persevering! We wish them the greatest success!

If you’re interested in getting involved, please reach out to Nathaniel Richmond at narichmond@wisc.edu or check out their student organization page.