Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering

2024 Science Image Challenge winners announced

3/6/2025

Written by

2024 SCS Science Image Challenge

The annual School of Chemical Sciences (SCS) Science Image Challenge is held for researchers to engage the public with images that are educational and inspirational. This competition is open to undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral associates/fellows, and staff. Posters from the challenge are displayed in Noyes Laboratory, Roger Adams Laboratory, and the Willard Airport.  

All SCS students, faculty and staff are welcome to attend the award ceremony:
Monday, March 17 at 3:30 pm
Chemistry Library (Director’s remarks at 4:00 pm)

See this year's winners below. To learn more about the SCS Science Image challenge and to see winners from previous years, visit the SCS SIC webpage.

2024 Winner, Main Category

Polymer mosaic
Xiaolin Liu, Moore Lab
Department of Chemistry

An orange, yellow and black center resembling fire sitting inside a larger gold circle, with a random pattern of white cracks overlaying the center
Polymer mosaic: A thin, cracked polymer film resembling a stained-glass mosaic was observed after removing dichloromethane from a polymer solution with compressed air. Its delicate, irregular pattern and non-uniform thickness scatter light dynamically, producing a colorful display with striking contrast and a vibrant, ethereal effect. Image: Xiaolin Liu, Moore Lab

2024 Winner, Cover Art Category

PNAS Cover
Sanghyun Jeon, Diao Lab
Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering

<strong>A 3D-printed recreation of van Gogh’s “Starry Night.”</strong> Image created using a UV-assisted direct-ink-writing 3D printer and self-assembling bottlebrush block copolymer inks. This system enables the production of a wide range of structural colors and gradients in a single print with a single ink. Image: <strong>Sanghyun Jeon</strong>, Diao Lab
A 3D-printed recreation of Vincent van Gogh’s “The Starry Night.” Image created using a UV-assisted direct-ink-writing 3D printer and self-assembling bottlebrush block copolymer inks. This system enables the production of a wide range of structural colors and gradients in a single print with a single ink. Image: Sanghyun Jeon, Diao Lab

2024 Finalists

The rise of Godzilla from the sea
Ching-Yu Chen, Su Lab
Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering

<strong>The rise of Godzilla from the sea: </strong>Presented is an SEM image of self-assembled aniline oligomers on top of a layer of polyaniline. The arrayed spikes consist of oligoaniline, a by-product of aniline electropolymerization reaction. Free oligoanilines in the solution can self-assemble through supramolecular forces and form diverse morphologies depending on the assembly conditions. <strong>Image: Ching-Yu Chen, Su Lab, CHBE</strong>
The rise of Godzilla from the sea: Presented is an SEM image of self-assembled aniline oligomers on top of a layer of polyaniline. The arrayed spikes consist of oligoaniline, a by-product of aniline electropolymerization reaction. Free oligoanilines in the solution can self-assemble through supramolecular forces and form diverse morphologies depending on the assembly conditions. Image: Ching-Yu Chen, Su Lab

The threads of cognitive decline
Aurosish Sharma, Zhao Lab
Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering

<strong>The threads of cognitive decline: </strong>Amyloid-beta (Aβ) plays a complex role in Alzheimer’s disease. Toxic even before aggregating, soluble Aβ oligomers disrupt synaptic function by binding to neuronal receptors, impairing communication. Aggregated plaques (yellow color), an advanced hallmark of AD, cause neural damage, memory loss, and cognitive decline, emphasizing critical therapeutic targets to mitigate progression. Image: <strong>Aurosish Sharma</strong>, Zhao Lab
The threads of cognitive decline: Amyloid-beta (Aβ) plays a complex role in Alzheimer’s disease. Toxic even before aggregating, soluble Aβ oligomers disrupt synaptic function by binding to neuronal receptors, impairing communication. Aggregated plaques (yellow color), an advanced hallmark of AD, cause neural damage, memory loss, and cognitive decline, emphasizing critical therapeutic targets to mitigate progression. Image: Aurosish Sharma, Zhao Lab

Tangled Restoration
Kyle Timmer, Harley Lab
Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering

<strong>Tangled Restoration:</strong> The microstructure of a collagen sponge designed to promote tendon-to-bone healing is captured with SEM and colorized. Because the body often struggles to heal musculoskeletal injuries, we fabricate materials with precise architectures that mimic the original tissue, guiding our cells to recognize and regenerate what was lost. Image: <strong>Kyle Timmer</strong>, Harley Lab
Tangled Restoration: The microstructure of a collagen sponge designed to promote tendon-to-bone healing is captured with SEM and colorized. Because the body often struggles to heal musculoskeletal injuries, we fabricate materials with precise architectures that mimic the original tissue, guiding our cells to recognize and regenerate what was lost. Image: Kyle Timmer, Harley Lab

Journey of a Phospholipid
Yupeng Li, Tajkhorshid Lab
Center for Biophysics & Quantitative Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Beckman Institute

<strong>Journey of a Phospholipid: </strong>The LetAB complex in Gram-negative bacteria is functioning as a unidirectional tunnel to transport phospholipids from inner to outer membrane. Captured is the moment when one phospholipid is extracted from the inner membrane, while another is positioned to transition from LetA into the envelope-spanning LetB tunnel. Image: <strong>Yupeng Li</strong>, Tajkhorshid Lab
Journey of a Phospholipid: The LetAB complex in Gram-negative bacteria is functioning as a unidirectional tunnel to transport phospholipids from inner to outer membrane. Captured is the moment when one phospholipid is extracted from the inner membrane, while another is positioned to transition from LetA into the envelope-spanning LetB tunnel. Image: Yupeng Li, Tajkhorshid Lab

More News

Share this story

This story was published March 6, 2025.