High school student uses CEMAS experience to guide future career

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Ohio State’s Center for Electron Microscopy and Analysis (CEMAS) enables academic, non-profit, and industry partners to “see” more than ever before. And that vision extends to the next generation of microscopists.

Kendall Gonya, a student at St. Francis DeSales High School, is mentored by Research Associate Nuria Bagues Salguero at CEMAS
Kendall Gonya, a student at St. Francis DeSales High School, is mentored by Research Associate Nuria Bagues Salguero at CEMAS.

 

Kendall Gonya, a junior at St. Francis DeSales High School in Columbus, Ohio, exemplifies this mission. Her passion for the field of electron microscopy was sparked when she visited CEMAS on a tour of the facility. 

Fueled by a desire to learn more, Gonya connected with the team at CEMAS to see if opportunities were available to shadow researchers and view samples she produced for the state science fair under an electron microscope. She then connected with Carley Goodwin and Nuria Bagues Salguero, both research associates at CEMAS. 

“I had such a great experience working with Carley and Nuria at CEMAS last winter,” Gonya shared. “I came in once a week for six weeks. In the first portion of my time there, I worked with Carley on the HeliScan. I shadowed her as she completed a large scan for a client and took the time to walk me through the process.”

After an introduction to the HeliScan instrument and process, Gonya brought in her own sample to scan.

A rendering of Gonya's coral sample from CEMAS's HeliScan

“I brought in a piece of coral to perform my scan on,” Gonya said. “Carley and I worked together to improve the resolution of my scan and minimize artifacts. Once the scan was completed, we used the image to create an animation sample. It included a 360-degree turn of the sample, as well as a cross-section of the sample’s inside. 

“Carley explained to me the value of the HeliScan and accurate data when presenting a product to a customer,” Gonya continued. “Carley was very accommodating and willing to answer any questions I had. I learned a lot from her and hope to continue doing so in the future.”

Toward the end of her initial stint at CEMAS, Gonya gained experience working alongside Bagues Salguero on CEMAS’s transmission electron microscopes (TEM).

“I was fascinated by the fact that I could actually see the atomic makeup of the sample I was looking at,” Gonya said. “In this case, it was a computer chip. Nuria walked me through the process of mounting the sample and completing the scan, along with what they were looking for in the sample. She showed me different functions of the TEM and the multiple filters that could be used.

"I hope to work with TEMs in my electron microscopy career.”

Gonya is planning to return to CEMAS for continued educational sessions soon.

“I appreciate both Nuria and Carley for taking time out of their busy schedules to work with me and help fuel my passion for the field of electron microscopy,” Gonya shared. 

Are you interested in learning more about CEMAS? Our experts host tours of our world-class facility and extend outreach through speaking engagements. Start the process by filling out a tour request form or connecting with our team.