Inspiring, Honest, Leader

"Dr. Rawat is truly deserving of the Lab Hero Award for his exceptional qualities and unwavering dedication. He is an incredibly friendly, supportive, and inspiring presence in the lab, always ready to lend a hand and offer a positive perspective in any situation. Dr. Rawat stands out as a clear leader, generously dedicating his time to mentor and assist fellow lab members, greatly enhancing the lab's productivity. His selflessness and willingness to help have not only propelled multiple projects forward but also created a collaborative and uplifting atmosphere for everyone. Beyond his supportive nature, Dr. Rawat’s insatiable scientific curiosity consistently drives our research forward. He provides critical insights that deepen our understanding and push our work to new heights. His research on identifying metabolic vulnerabilities in breast tumors holds immense potential to advance women’s health. Notably, his discovery of uric acid’s antagonistic effect on the experimental therapeutic rigosertib sheds light on why this promising drug, despite performing well in preclinical models, failed in clinical trials. This finding, backed by his award from the Foundation for Women’s Wellness Fellowship, offers crucial implications for future cancer therapies. Dr. Rawat balances his demanding scientific role with grace, excelling not only as a dedicated postdoc but also as an incredible husband, father, and friend. His resilience, passion, and generosity make him a remarkable asset to the lab and a truly inspiring role model."

Nominated by Miriam Rodriguez Esquivel, Sant Lab/ Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Illinois Chicago, United States

Compassionate, Driven, Motivational

"Vipin has been one of the best mentors I have ever worked with! He has been ever-supportive and so helpful in guiding me as an undergraduate researcher in the Coloff Lab. When I joined the lab 3 years ago, I was very confused and worried that I would be unable to contribute to the lab's research. However, Vipin guided me step-by-step, teaching me various different assays, and giving me several opportunities to try experiments out on my own. He was always there to redirect me when I was confused and never doubted me in my ability to be a successful researcher. He made sure I felt part of the project, always keeping me in the loop on drafting of the manuscript and giving me the chance to share my ideas and insight as well. Whenever I made a mistake in an experiment, Vipin never made me feel out of place or ashamed, he simply gave me advice to avoid the mistake in the future. He has always supported me in applying for research grants and in presenting our research at undergraduate conferences, even sending new opportunities my way to take advantage of. Finally, Vipin cares about his mentees outside of their research work, checking in to make sure they are taking care of their physical and mental health, and supporting students in their extracurricular endeavours. Vipin has come to support me in many of my Indian Classical Dance performances and even has helped me in my MCAT preparation, always wishing the best for me. I really hope you will consider this nomination, as I could not have asked for a more driven, kind, and compassionate mentor!"

Nominated by Prarthana Prashanth, Coloff Lab, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States