Technical Support
The Outstanding Employee awards are chosen by nominations received by the Awards Committee from all faculty, staff, and students at VIMS. They are awarded in the categories of Facilities/Safety/Trades, Research and Advisory Service, Technical Support, and Administrative Support.
The winner of the 2014 Outstanding Employee for Technical Support is Gail Scott.
Gail Scott joined the VIMS community in 2001 and has played a vital role in maintaining the excellent quality of institute research for the past 14 years. As laboratory manager for Dr. Reece’s program in Marine and Aquaculture Molecular Genetics, Gail has expertly managed the activities of up to 13 students, post-docs, and lab technicians; and has tracked expenditures on more than a dozen grant and contract indexes simultaneously. Gail has many diverse responsibilities, including a supervisory role, and does an excellent job of juggling her many tasks.
Gail coordinates VIMS’ program for monitoring harmful algal blooms, which requires coordinating with citizens and agency personnel as well as faculty and staff both inside and outside VIMS. In addition, she has helped several new faculty set up their laboratories and navigate through eVA.
Gail has developed the billing structure for the genotyping/sequencing machines that are used by students and staff from many different programs. With the aid of other staff, she tracks machine usage, ensures that costs are charged to the right accounts, and keeps stock of materials and supplies. She works with company reps to ensure that these and other critical instruments are properly maintained and in working order, and that service contracts are up to date.
A responsibility that has recently fallen on Gail’s shoulders is running the new “next-generation” sequencing equipment. She does this for research programs in several departments and for students in lab courses.
In addition to all these responsibilities, Gail manages to do her own research. She has been a co-author on several publications and helps write numerous grant proposals and reports.
Gail is Dr. Reece’s “right hand” and has been a key for the success of that research program. This recognition of Gail’s skills and dedication is long overdue!