Dedicated, knowledgeable, stubborn

"It is with great enthusiasm that I nominate our technician, Ms. Diana Steinhart, for the Lab Hero Award. Diana is the person who makes sure that everything and everyone in the lab is taken care of. She expertly manages instruments, reagents, schedules, and staff, often seeming to pack 48 hours of work into a 24-hour day. Thanks to her in-depth technical knowledge, attention to detail, experiments run reliably and data is trustworthy. Colleagues at all levels rely on her when it comes to protocols or troubleshooting. Diana's commitment to supporting others is exceptional. She is the first to jump in when a colleague is struggling with a method, deadline, or broken equipment, without hesitation or complaint. She brings new team members quickly up to speed: she takes the time to carefully train them, share best practices, and follow up to ensure they feel confident and integrated. Diana combines drive and a healthy dose of tenacity in the best possible way, such that she approaches me, her PI, and discussed even unpleasant topics, that need to be resolved fast. She doesn't settle for “good enough” when she knows the lab can be even better, whether it's refining protocols, improving safety and workflows, or advocating for the resources the team needs. For her outstanding commitment to both science and people, and for the profound, daily difference she makes in our lab, I am fully endorsing Diana Steinhart, as she truly deserves the recognition as a “Lab Hero.”"

Nominated by Markus Diefenbacher, Experimental Oncology, HMGU, Germany