ABOUT MIKE SEPANSKI
Photo by Ren Dodge
Mike Sepanski has been an electron microscopist for over 40 years. He started working for the Carnegie Institution for Science, Department of Embryology in 1984, specializing in transmission electron microscopy. He has produced thousands of images and contributed to many scientific breakthroughs, including Andrew Fire's Nobel Prize-winning discovery of RNAi, and Allan Spradling's pioneering work in the field of developmental genetics.
Sepanski retired from Carnegie Science in January 2021, leaving behind a formidable legacy of work. The images he produced can be appreciated for their aesthetic beauty as well as their scientific significance. In retirement, he will not be far from Carnegie, living across Stony Run creek in the Hampden neighborhood of Baltimore. He looks forward to riding his bicycle and sailing in the Chesapeake Bay.
"When I start a project, I focus on what I have to do to produce quality images that convey the entirety of the sample as well as what the investigator hopes to see. Also, in the back of my mind is how to do this while avoiding faults in the sample as well as "artistic" considerations. If it is something I haven't done or seen before, I try to work with the investigator to determine how to prepare and image what is necessary to get the desired result. One of the best aspects of the job has been working with so many people who were excited about their work and what I could offer to help them achieve the desired results. It was gratifying to hear from them after a meeting in which some of my images were shown regarding the positive feedback they received.
I also had the opportunity to look at a wide variety of specimens throughout my career. I couldn't say there was any particular specimen/project that I could call a favorite, though I especially enjoyed attempting new and challenging work that I hadn't tried before. All in all, I have had a great career at Carnegie and have enjoyed the people, the environment, and the various projects I worked on."
The Carnegie Institution for Science, Department of Embryology has become recognized worldwide as one of the premier research centers in cellular, developmental, and genetic biology. The department has a unique atmosphere and research style that have allowed a small enterprise to have a disproportionately large impact on science. We revere this atmosphere as the source of our inspiration and strive to further improve it as the department evolves within the current milieu of intensive activity, investment, and opportunity in the biological sciences.