Igor Siwanowicz

Dr. Igor Siwanowicz is an accomplished biochemist and neurobiologist who has placed in Nikon’s Small World Competition 17 times. Siwanowicz started his career in biochemistry, but his love for animals, nature, and a desire to see the bigger picture drove him to re-focus his scientific discipline to neurobiology. By the time he made his career shift, digital photography had drastically improved, and microscopy was a key tool in neurobiological research. His love for nature, the improved tools available, and its importance to his work made beginning to practice microscopy seem like a natural progression for Siwanowicz.

Scientist and photographer Igor Siwanowicz has made a name for himself documenting the phenomenal range of shapes, colors, and structures of creatures in the natural world.

His many images of unique caterpillars include wild variations like feathery blue spikes, curling burnt-orange horns, and long black whiskers. Siwanowicz also works as a neurobiologist at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Janelia Farm Research Campus in Virginia