CISR’s Life Is Beautiful Image Contest 2026

Contest Details:

The Cell Imaging Shared Resource is hosting its third annual Life Is Beautiful Image Contest. The contest, which features stunning scientific imagery of the inherent beauty of life at the microscopic level, is open to anyone who has captured an image using a CISR microscope.

Submissions will be accepted from now until Aug. 3, 2026, and winners will be announced on Sept. 1, 2026. Cash prizes will be awarded to winning images. A panel of judges will evaluate submissions on scientific relevance, artistic composition/aesthetic value, and originality. Winners will have their images showcased in various digital and print displays across the university. Selected entries may also be featured in promotional materials or future outreach events. See below for full guidelines.

CISR, which has approximately 250 unique microscope users per year, is a School of Medicine Basic Sciences fee-for-service advanced light and electron microscopy resource. Not only does the CISR provide state-of-the-art imaging equipment, but the Vanderbilt core offers technical support for advanced microscopy and analysis from its many experts. The results of these biomedical research projects that use CISR equipment are stunning scientific images.

James Hayes, Rekha Nagarajan, and James Costanzo are the winners of the 2025 Cell Imaging Shared Resource Life Is Beautiful Image Contest. They worked with Jenny Schafer, CISR managing director and research associate professor of cell and developmental biology, Oleg Kovtun, research assistant professor of chemistry, and CISR senior research specialists Kari Seedle and Tegy Vadakkan to create these images as part of their individual research projects. Their winning images were featured throughout campus and celebrated for their powerful blend of scientific insight and artistic expression.

Submit images through our form.

Guidelines:

• Image must have been acquired on a CISR light or electron microscope.
• Image must not have been previously published or copyrighted.
• Image may have been processed (rendered) in post-processing software.
• Individuals may submit up to three entries.
• All images must be submitted by the person who acquired the images or by a person with explicit permission to submit the images.
• Images must be submitted as JPG, PNG, or TIFF files.
• Images must be submitted at resolution high enough for large format printing (large projector, website, wall print, etc.).
• Images must be accompanied by an artistic and scientific title and description of the image.
• All images submitted to the CISR Life Is Beautiful Image Contest may be used for Vanderbilt University, School of Medicine Basic Sciences, and CISR promotional content.
• Images will be judged by CISR faculty and staff and the School of Medicine Basic Sciences Office of the Dean.
• Submission window will be open from June 22, 2026–August 3, 2026.
• Winners will be announced on September 1, 2026.
• First place will receive $100, second place will receive $50, and third place will receive $25.
• An individual may only receive one monetary prize.
• Additional recognition certificates may be awarded at the judges’ discretion.
• Full terms and conditions are available as a PDF.