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������ at Stark student Kendall Myers and Matt Lehnert, Ph.D., professor of biological sciences at Kent State Stark, recently earned honorable mention in the 2025 Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition, one of the world’s most prestigious contests celebrating the art and science of photography through the microscope.

Myers, a biology and psychology major from Doylestown, was recognized for her image titled “Hook-like Crochets on the Larva of an Io (Automeris io) Moth.” The annual competition drew thousands of entries from nearly 100 countries.

Myers captured the image while working alongside Lehnert, who serves as her research mentor. The duo spends a great deal of time using advanced microscopy techniques to study the intricate structures of insects.

“Insect structures are not only fascinating from a functional perspective, but they’re also visually stunning at high magnifications,” Lehnert said. “We’ve taken several images that blend science and art, and Kendall’s work stood out on the international stage.”

For Myers, the recognition is the culmination of years of curiosity and dedication. 

“I’ve always been interested in biology, but it became a much bigger part of my life when I joined the research lab as a high school student,” Myers said. “Winning an international imaging competition sets us on the same stage as other scientists from around the world, which is an amazing feeling.”

A Chippewa Jr./Sr. High School graduate, Myers first connected with Kent State Stark as a College Credit Plus (CCP) student.

“That experience had a big impact on my decision to attend KSU Stark,” she said. “It allowed me to meet professors, get involved in research early and see what it’s like to be a Kent State student.”

At Kent State Stark, research in the Department of Biological Sciences ranges from the study of insect mouthparts to the integration of metals into insect cuticles. Despite the campus’s focus on teaching, Lehnert said faculty and students remain committed to producing impactful research.

“Kendall has all the traits professors look for in research students,” Lehnert said. “She’s bright, passionate and a great science writer. I have no doubt she’ll become a world-renowned scientist.”

Myers’ academic achievements are supported by multiple scholarships, including the American Electric Power Educational Trust Scholarship; the Wadsworth-Rittman Memorial Hospital Scholarship; the David Jaspers and Debra Pyer Honors Endowment Scholarship; and the Bobbitt Family Scholarship.

As she looks to the future, Myers plans to attend graduate school and continue research in functional morphology, the study of the relationship between an organism’s structure and its function.

“Wherever I go, I hope to keep doing similar work,” she said. “It’s where my passion for science and art truly meet.”

Lehnert and Myers already plan to enter next year’s competition.

“This award puts Kent State Stark on the map,” Lehnert said. “It shows that we have the technology, expertise and creativity to produce award-winning microscopy images.”

  
Learn more about Biological Sciences at Kent State Stark.