September 2025 Newsletter

September 09, 2025

By Joseph Dragavon

Contents

3D organoid
3D organoid image winning first place in Bruker Light Sheet Image competition.

It’s that time of year again! CU Up Close Image Competition

Fall is here and with it comes our favorite annual tradition: the CU Up Close Image Competition! This year is especially special as we are in the 10th year! Who would have thought that our fun little event has flourished to become the extravaganza it now is! Read on to find out more about our competition and the recent successes of our investigators.

Bruker Light Sheet Image wins 1st Place in international competition

Recently, Bruker held their own light sheet-focused image competition. After receiving images from around the world, we are proud to announce that the first-place image was produced by our very own Nolan Petrich (Anseth Lab) using our Bruker TruLive3D light sheet microscope that is part of the Beckman Center for Advanced Light Sheet Microscopy and Data Science. Assisted by Evolene Premillieu, Nolan’s image demonstrates the robust 3D imaging capabilities of a large, live intestinal-mimicking organoid. Taking advantage of the novel illumination path of the light sheet, Nolan can localize the individual nuclei of the organoid under low phototoxicity conditions. Congratulations Nolan!

CU Up Close Image Competition: Year 10 Addition

In 2015, we launched a little, fun, and light-hearted event that celebrates the art in our science. Every year since, the CU Up Close Image Competition has grown in quality, competitiveness, and in reputation. We have evolved from a 3rd floor cookie hour event, where the images were propped up on chairs, to now occupying large lecture halls while probably breaking multiple occupancy limits and fire codes. Additionally, our images are highlighted throughout Boulder and beyond, a major testament to the quality of the technology and the excellence of our capabilities found within our facility. Let’s continue to have fun with our research, take a moment to reflect upon the quality and awesomeness of our images, and see what the 2025 CU Up Close Image Competition brings us!

  • Now - October 10: Submit your images
  • October 27 - 31: Open Voting
  • December 11: Awards Ceremony