Nathan Chasen doesn’t just see parasites within the infectious diseases he studies. He sees art.
Blending his scientific background with some industrial-grade artistic chops, Chasen creates metal cast sculptures of the parasites he studies for the mentors who have guided him throughout his academic career.
“I’ve had some great mentors who have really gone to bat for me in my career,” said Chasen, a senior research associate in the lab of Karl Lechtreck, professor of cellular biology in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences.
Indeed, Chasen takes artistic inspiration from his mentors and colleagues. In their work, he said, they often produce beautiful electron microscopy images.
“I try to tailor it to the projects they work on,” he said.
Among Chasen’s many sculptures, he has produced recent pieces for Christine Clayton, a professor at the University of Heidelberg, Germany, and the keynote speaker at the recent Molecular Parasitology Meeting XXXV; Donald Harn, professor and director of UGA’s interdisciplinary Faculty of Infectious Diseases; David Peterson, professor of infectious diseases in the College of Veterinary Medicine; and cellular biology Professor Silvia Moreno.
Chasen uses Sculpey, a polymer clay, to handcraft each sculpture’s mold. He creates an impression of the clay sculpture in oil sand, then pours liquid metal into the mold. After the metal cools, he extracts the sculpture, removes the excess material, and polishes it, making it ready to be gifted to a mentor.
“All the small imperfections become a part of the art,” Chasen said.
