NIGHTSEA and EMS Launch 2nd Annual KEY Award in Fluorescence Microscopy for New Faculty

Fluorescence is increasingly central to many fields of research, not only in the life sciences but also in geology, chemistry, and semiconductors. However, fluorescence microscopy equipment can be very expensive, often out of the reach of young faculty members setting up their first labs. During the introduction of their economical Stereo Microscope Adapter (SFA), NIGHTSEA quickly recognized this problem and decided to do something about it, partnering with well-known accessories supplier, EMS-Diatome, to launch the KEY Award.

The winner of this award, now in its second year, will receive a NIGHTSEA Stereo Microscope Fluorescence Adapter system with two excitation/emission combinations plus $750 in equipment or supplies selected from the full EMS catalog to help establish his/her first lab. According to NIGHTSEA’s founder, Dr. Charles Mazel, “The KEY award is our way of giving back to the community.”

The KEY Award is open to individuals entering their first faculty position at a U. S. (including U. S. territories) non-profit college or university in calendar year 2016. The deadline for application is June 3 with the winner being announced August 1. Equipment will be sent to the awardee at their new institution.

Last year’s winner, Dr. Robert Mitchell, now at UW Oshkosh, uses his NIGHTSEA system to confirm the presence of fluorescence in his samples before making the 100-mile trip to UW Madison to use their confocal microscope.

The KEY award acknowledges the mentors who had a profound impact on Dr. Mazel’s own R&D career:

‘K’: Dr. Les Kaufman, Professor of Biology at Boston University;

‘E’: Dr. Harold E. ‘Doc’ Edgerton of MIT and Dr. Thomas Eisner of Cornell University.

‘Y’: The remarkable husband and wife team of Drs. Charlie and Clarice Yentsch.

Find more information here or apply here.