The MSR facilitates cancer research by providing access to a full range of specialized instrumentation and comprehensive technical support to OSUCCC investigators. Highly qualified faculty and staff provide premier training and guidance for sample preparation, sample processing, basic and advanced microscopy, and the imaging of live samples. Consultation and support is offered for experimental design and implementation to support high-level cancer research with the latest techniques in microscopy and analysis.
MSR Directors
- Robert E.A. Williams, PhD – Director of CEMAS, Ohio Research Scholar, Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering
- Jeffrey Tonniges, PhD – Interim Director of CMIF
MSR Team Members
- Binbin Deng, PhD – Senior Research Associate (CEMAS)
- Giovanna Grandinetti, PhD – Cryo-EM Researcher (CEMAS)
- Brian Kemmenoe, BS – Senior Electron Microscopist (CMIF)
- Sarah Mikula, BS – Laboratory Supervisor (CEMAS)
- Yoshie Narui, PhD – Senior Cryo-EM Researcher (CEMAS)
- Stephanie Amici, PhD – Microscopy Specialist (CMIF)
Binbin Deng, PhD, joined CEMAS in November 2013 with electron microscopy application experience in both biological science and physical science. She has a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and polymer science from Tsinghua University, and a master’s degree in physics from the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. She earned her PhD in molecular pathology from The University of Texas (UT) MD Anderson Cancer Center and the UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. At CEMAS, Dr. Deng's work was focused on cryo-electron tomography (CryoET), STEM tomography, CryoTEM characterization of biomaterial, correlative 3D microscopy, analytical TEM for biological tissue, etc. Her multidisciplinary training in engineering, electron microscopy and biomedical science is well-suited to assist users in developing and applying electron microscopy approaches in biological materials.
Giovanna Grandinetti, PhD, received her bachelor's degrees in biology and chemistry from Walsh University in 2006. She earned her PhD in chemistry from Virginia Tech in 2011. After that, Dr. Grandinetti worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the Cleveland Clinic and as a postdoctoral fellow and scientist at the National Institutes of Health. She then served as an assistant professor of chemistry at Muskingum University prior to joining CEMAS in 2020.
Brian Kemmenoe, BS, is the senior electron microscopist at the Campus Microscopy & Imaging Facility (CMIF). He received his bachelor’s degree in applied biology from North East London Polytechnic in England and brings nearly 30 years of professional experience to this shared resource. He provides training for wide-field and confocal microscopes, and also supports sample preparation and training for SEM imaging.
Sarah Mikula, BS, came to CEMAS with 15 years of histology experience, 10 years of which were focused on electron microscopy sample preparation. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Oregon. Sarah has experience with a broad range of TEM and SEM sample types, with a focus on neural tissues, in part because of her interest in the mind and brain.
Yoshie Narui, PhD, joined the CEMAS staff in October 2018 after spending four years as a postdoctoral researcher at The Ohio State University, where she received training in a wide range of research areas, including molecular biology, protein expression, X-ray crystallography and molecular dynamics simulations. Previously, she earned her PhD in biomolecular chemistry at Emory University and her master’s degree in chemistry from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). As a cryo-EM researcher at CEMAS, Dr. Narui assists in the operation and maintenance of two cryo-electron microscopes and relevant support equipment. She assists users with all aspects of the cryo-EM workflow, from negative staining to data analysis.
Steph Amici, PhD, has worked in research for over 20 years. She has an undergraduate degree in Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology from OSU and a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Florida. Her primary areas of study are cellular and molecular neurobiology and immunology. She has imaging expertise in light and confocal microscopy, as well as live-cell imaging and transmission electron microscopy. She is excited to work with people to help them realize their imaging goals.