Organised, talented, patient

"Dr Tsaponina is a core senior technician in our department, as part of Sussex Neuroscience she has had a massive impact on the work in multiple labs and has contributed to all of our successes. Since she joined us she has rapidly learnt a number of complex and technically challenging methods including stereotaxic surgeries, immunohistochemistry, behavioural methods. With he background in molecular biology she has been able to introduce us to new methods and tools as well as troubleshoot these for us. She has invested so much time in improving our labs. She is a patient, thorough and dedicated trainer to masters and PhD students, postdoctoral researchers and technicians alike. She is meticulous in her work and is truly exceptional in the lab. She not only supports the day to day running of multiple labs but she has also contributed to our work directly, including our recently published paper in Neuropsychopharmacology where she made significant contributions. She consistently goes above and beyond to support grants with preliminary data, perform surgeries and procedures in times of high demand and in ensuring our labs are up to date on health and safety procedures through her work on our risk assessments. It is very rare to have a technician with such a high level of skill and expertise who really does enhance our department. She brings professionalism and conscientiousness to all she does. Above her talents in the lab she is a genuinely kind, supportive and understanding person and an all round good human. She is always there in times of stress and when everything is just going wrong, to pick you up with a coffee and a chat. As a scientist, a technician and a friend Olga is truly exceptional and we are lucky to have her here at Sussex."

Nominated by Kate Peters, Psychology, University of Sussex, England