"Camilla is an integral member of our lab - the lab wouldn't function without her! As well as working on many research projects at any one time, Camilla also manages ordering, sample shipping and inductions, amongst numerous other lab management tasks. Camilla is also my line manager and is teaching me skills needed for lab management and research project management, in addition to research techniques. This is especially valuable to me, as Camilla is a highly knowledgeable and experienced researcher, and I am fairly new to the Neuroimaging field. Thanks so much Camilla, for everything you do for the lab and for being a great line manager!"

Esther Walters, Neuroimaging, King's College London, UK

"Camilla knows so much about all the projects running at the BRAIN centre, which spans many different experimental models and techniques.

Alongside her day-to-day duties of making sure the lab is stocked, and that we have all the tools we need, she also creates bespoke hardware for experiments. She recreated a testing arena from a paper's methods section out of plexiglass for one set of behaviour experiment and 3D-printed objects for another. I’ve also seen her recreate bespoke tools for other experiments, including for elastography measurements (to jiggle tissue with sound waves).

She has also taught me numerous tasks: how to set up the hardware for protocols that were fundamental to my PhD, how to use the cryostat, how to carry out surgical procedures. She is also happy to share her best tips for animal handling techniques (at which she also excels!)."

Eilidh MacNicol, BRAIN Centre, Department of Neuroimaging, King's College London, UK

"Camilla is always helping me sort through any problem that occurs in the lab, she is our saviour and a hero to us all!"

Alexandra Hertz, Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, King's College London, UK

"Camilla is by far the best trouble shooter there is, sets up techniques for everyone and is massively helpful and experienced."

Diana Cash, BRAIN, KCL, UK

"Camilla is one of the most helpful people I have ever met: she is always available to give you a hand, and she knows a lot of techniques and procedures. Without her, most of the projects wouldn't be successful, and we would get lost in million of administrative procedures that she is able to sort out in 5 seconds. She deserves this award."

Maria Elisa Serrano Navacerrada, Neuroimaging, King's College London, UK

"Camilla is consistently uber-professional and incredibly supportive of all lab members whether highly experienced or beginners. She always goes the extra mile to ensure that our science is delivered in a timely fashion and that modern bureaucracy doesn't stifle progress. She is cripplingly modest, enthusiastic and has a "can do" attitude which is a shining example to one and all."

Steven Williams, King's College London, UK

"Camilla is a skilled experimentalist and a creative problem solver with a lot of experience and energy. She is a perennial presence in everyone’s projects. She grew up in the countryside of Scotland, so I would be surprised if she would care much for any formal accolades. I hope she doesn't mind then that we mention here how much we appreciate her work."

Hannah Lemmik, King's College London, UK

"Camilla is an incredible scientist, but unlike many, she is absolutely superb in actually running the experiments (not just designing them). This is a skill very few have. Due to that, Camilla is absolutely indispensable in the lab and has made many projects actually doable. The latter is also attributable to Camilla's great organizational skills, she makes sure that everybody who would like to run a project in the lab, actually gets it done in a timely manner. Camilla is a real-life hero for many PhD students and colleagues, who would otherwise be struggling for months while trying to set up their experiments. Her expertise, friendliness and collaborative spirit make Camilla a real Lab Hero."

Marija Petrinovic, Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, King's College London, UK

"Camilla is the backbone of the lab, helping with every project, from planning, executing and administrative work."

Mattia Baraldo, Neuroimaging, King's College London, UK

"Ever since I arrived at King’s College, my go-to person is Camilla. In all fairness, she is everyone’s go-to person as she simply knows everything. Whether is it how to order things, how to perform surgeries, how to organize datasheets, or go through safety procedures, she is the one with all the answers. I honestly believe that we would all be lost without her. But more than being an ocean of knowledge and skills, she is a truly amazing and good person, always ready to help all PhD students and postdocs. She is incredibly patient and goes to extra lengths to make sure everyone knows what they should do. She is not a stranger to staying late in the lab to help whoever needs it and will never leave you until you are comfortable doing things on your own. She truly is one of a kind and a proper KCL’s Lab Hero."

Katarina Ilic, Brain Centre, Neuroimaging, IoPPN, King's College London, UK

"Kaitlyn is integral to our lab's function. She has a hand in training every student and tech that comes through the lab. In every lab meeting, Kaitlyn goes over the housekeeping announcements to ensure that the lab environment is one that everybody loves. I truly appreciate the environment that Kaitlyn has created for us. In addition, Kaitlyn takes the time to meet with lab members one-on-one to ensure that the lab's experiments are running smoothly and that we are being respectful to everyone's need for different supplies in the lab. Without Kaitlyn, the whole thing would be a HUGE mess. I am so humbled by the work she does everyday to keep the lab running so smoothly. She is in fact the mortar that keeps our bricks together."

Diana Rotaru, Neuroimaging, King's College London, UK

Nomination Category: Lab Supporter

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Who's your Lab Hero?

This is your chance to give back to the scientists who make – or who have made – a positive difference to your life, career, and workplace. That might be putting in extra effort in the lab, supporting their colleagues in difficult times, producing incredible results through their work, or making the lab a better place for everyone...

NOMINATE YOUR LAB HERO NOW!

Nominations close 8th December 2021. T&Cs apply.