Outstanding Research Staff Awards
The Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) seeks nominations for the Outstanding Research Staff Awards. OVPR recognizes that the expertise, dedication, and professionalism of our diverse research support staff contributes essentially to the success of UNM’s research mission. The Outstanding Research Staff Awards are a component of our holistic commitment to promote a dynamic research support system via enhanced employee wellness, job satisfaction, and career advancement.
Award eligibility is limited to research administrators and similar support staff, including employees of the OVPR, Office of Sponsored Projects, Contract and Grant Accounting, Faculty Research Development Office, Office of Research Integrity & Compliance, Category III Research Centers, and other main and branch campus staff whose primary function is supportive of UNM’s research mission. Research support staff at all levels, including students and part-time employees, are eligible. This does not include research assistants or technicians working on behalf of a single investigator. Staff who receive an award will be ineligible in the subsequent 2 years.
Nominations may be made by any UNM staff, faculty, or student, but self-nominations are not permitted. Individuals may submit multiple nominations, one per award category.
Award winners will be selected by the OVPR executive committee. Each winner will receive $1000 and will be recognized during the Research Administrator’s Symposium in October.
For questions, and if you have any problems submitting a nomination, contact Melissa Emery Thompson, Assistant VP for Research memery@unm.edu.
Awardees
| Staff Member | Award Category |
|---|---|
| Manuel Lopez Ainza (Office of Sponsored Projects) | Outstanding New Staff Member |
| Max Landman (Transformation Network) | Outstanding New Staff Member |
| Deanna Sprunk (CASAA) | Exceptional Support to Researchers |
| Christine Marquez (COEHS) | Exceptional Support to Researchers |
| Valery Estabrook (ARTSLab) | Exceptional Support of Research Training |
| Selena Connealy (EPSCoR) | Special Achievement in Research Administration |
| Staff Member | Award Category |
|---|---|
| Lucas Reynolds, Business Analyst | Outstanding new research staff member |
| Renee Brown, Information Manager | Exceptional support to researchers |
| Jill Okun, Sr Contract and Grants Administrator, Cradle to Career Policy Institute | Exceptional support to researchers |
| Linda Mayo, Executive Director of Research Integrity and Compliance | Exceptional research staff mentorship |
| Harpo Faust, Senior Collections Manager, Museum of SW Biology | Exceptional support of research training |
| Daron Vigil-Scott, Sponsored Projects Officer | Special achievement in research administration |
| Staff Member | Award Category |
|---|---|
| Hannah Yohalem (Faculty Research Development Office) | Outstanding New Staff Member |
| Timothy Wester (Office of Sponsored Projects) | Exceptional Support to Researchers |
| Karen Walker (Center for High Technology Materials) | Exceptional Support to Researchers |
| Monica Fishel (Faculty Research Development Office) | Exceptional Research Staff Mentorship |
| Dr. Nicu-Viorel Atudorei (Center for Stable Isotopes) | Exceptional Support for Research Training |
| Katelin Fisher (Center for Water & the Environment) | Exceptional Support for Research Training |
| Valerie Crooker-Flint (Office of Research Integrity & Compliance) | Special Achievement for Research Administration |
| Vincent Sarracino (Faculty Research Development Office) | Special Achievement for Research Administration |
