"I am delighted to nominate Katy Barwick as our (I am writing on behalf of the entire group) Amazing Super Lab Hero. Katy is a Research Assistant at University College London (UCL), Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (GOS-ICH) in the group of Professor Manju Kurian. Katy is engaged in several research projects aiming to discover the genetic cause of severe neurological disorders affecting children. Her work brings new hope to the patients and their families, which can finally understand the reasons of a mostly unknown life-limiting disease that has changed forever their life. But Katy's superpowers go even behind this. She is the most amazing kind and warm hearted lab member. Always available to help, Katy will never deny her support to any of the group members, and she will always try to provide the optimal laboratory environment for us to perform at our best. Not only, Katy has a sweet joyful and playful character, which lights even the most frustrating moments in our day-to-day lab life.

If this does not sound already great to you, Katy is also trying very hard to provide a healthier planet to all of us and future generations. Indeed, she is fully involved in sustainability projects across UCL, she is the chair of the GOS-ICH Green Team and one of the UCL Green Champions. The purpose of her role is to drive and support the implementation of more sustainable lab practices across the institute with regards to waste, travel, energy usage, water usage, procurement, and research quality. To achieve this, together with the institutional management team, she has made it requirement for all lab-based groups at GOS-ICH to participate in the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework  initiative, and for all office based teams to participate in UCL’s Green Impact Scheme. Last, but not least, Katy is currently the fire marshal of UCL GOS-ICH The Zayed Centre for Research, where our group is located.

Now, aren’t you also amazed by Katy’s superpowers? She is able to benefit the life of several people, from us in the group, the patients and their families, up to the planet and future generations. These are the reasons why I think Katy should win: she is a Superhero."

Serena Barral, GOS-ICH, University College London

Nomination Category: Lab Leader

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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.