Unlocking the Secrets of Small Science: A Visual Learner’s Guide to Mastering the Microscopic World

Ashley Lenhart in her Beckman lab. Photo provided by Lenhart.

Research can be tough, especially when you’re studying something so small, you can’t even see it. Meet Ashley Lenhart, a postdoctoral researcher at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology. She focuses on molecules linked to inflammation—key players in diseases like cancer and heart conditions.

Even though her work happens on a tiny scale, Ashley expresses her ideas through creative sketches. She uses sticky notes, chalkboards, and cardboard boxes to visualize her research, turning her journey from student to scientist into a colorful storytelling experience.

One pivotal moment in her journey was when her mentor illustrated neurons on a sticky note to spark her interest in neuroscience. “That little pad got me so excited to learn about neuroscience, and one day teach others,” Ashley recalls.

After earning a degree in chemistry, Ashley pursued a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry. Throughout her graduate years, she maintained her love for drawing, finding it easier to clarify her thoughts on paper rather than just thinking about them. Whiteboards and cardboard became her creative canvases, where ideas flowed freely.

As Ashley approached the end of her Ph.D., her drawings caught the eye of academic publishers. The journal ACS Measurement Science not only published her study, but they also featured her artwork on the cover. Collaborating with her husband, they transformed her ideas into visually appealing graphics.

Now, as a postdoc at the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Chicago, Ashley helps develop new tools to study inflammation at a molecular level, working with researchers from multiple universities. She utilizes advanced equipment like a cryostat, which slices tissue samples, and a mass spectrometer that maps out the chemical structures within those samples.

Ashley’s research involves a series of detailed experiments. She prepares a solution using sugar, salt, and water, then adds tissue samples. By using a small probe, she collects chemicals released by the cells. The analysis focuses on tiny drops of this solution to understand what’s happening at a microscopic level.

She compares the size of a droplet to a liter of water, emphasizing the extreme precision of her work. “Ideally, we want to get even smaller,” she notes.

As her research advances, Ashley also emphasizes the importance of visual communication, striving to explain complex information in simple terms. She now mentors both undergraduate students and high school students in a program aimed at nurturing young scientists, appreciating the impact of guidance she received earlier in her career.

“Giving back and playing that role for others is incredible,” she shares. “The neatest moments are when students ask for my input on achieving their goals because I remember having similar conversations myself.”