#  Jennifer C Waters 

Instructor in Cell Biology, HMS

Director, Microscopy in the Department of Cell Biology, HMS

 

 

 



   ![Jennifer Waters is holding up a split section of an objective lens. She is wearing a green shirt and white cardigan.](/sites/g/files/omnuum11411/files/styles/hwp_4_5__480x600/public/2026-05/101.Jennifer-C-Waters-Questions.jpg?h=16f098c7&itok=Nu3XTICw) 

 



 





 

**What inspires or motivates you in your role at HMS/HSDM?**  
Simply put, I love microscopes and I love teaching. I feel very fortunate to have found a role where I can indulge in my passions every day, in an intellectually-stimulating and exciting research environment.

**What are you most proud of about your work at HMS/HSDM?**  
I'm very proud of the dedicated team I have the pleasure to work with: Lauren Alvarenga, Talley Lambert and Anastasha Echavarri. Each member of "Team NIC", as I like to call them, plays a critical role in the Nikon Imaging Center's core mission: enabling biomedical research at HMS by providing well-maintained, state-of-the-art instruments and excellent training in microscopy.

**What is the significance of the object you brought with you to the photo shoot?**  
I'm holding an objective lens, the main imaging-forming lens in a microscope. I had the HMS Quad Machine Shop cut this objective lens in half, so the internal lens elements are visible. I use it as a teaching tool in my courses, and it symbolizes my goal when teaching microscopy: to demystify the microscope for my students, so they feel confident that they are using microscopes properly in their research.



 

 

 



 [ View all Dimensions of HMS participants arrow\_circle\_right ](https://occe.hms.harvard.edu/dimensions-harvard-medical-school) 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

- ## Person Categories
    
     [Dimensions](/person-categories/dimensions)
- ## Institution
    
     [Harvard Medical School](/institution/harvard-medical-school)