RGC Winner 2022

We are pleased to announce the winner of the 8th Annual Richard Carroll Excellence in Research Award.  

This year’s winner is Mathilde Poussin.  Mathilde is the Lab Manager of the Powell Lab. 

Mathilde is special in so many ways.  For more than a decade, Mathilde has continually brought her contagious sunny disposition to the Center for Cellular Immunotherapies (CCI) as she reliably manages day-to-day lab operations for the Powell Lab. A pleasant personality coupled with a strong interest in research, an ability to handle important responsibilities, and the capacity to work collaboratively with others, has made Mathilde a key member of multiple research project teams. This is exemplified by her contribution to nearly 20 published scientific reports since she joined the CCI, including those that were later translated to therapies for patients. She maintains an excellent rapport with various institutional review committees, cores and management groups that are critical to lab operations. By doing so, Mathilde undoubtedly keeps the Powell lab out of jail. Beyond job excellence, Mathilde also is known for her collection of snarky t-shirts that often bring a smile to the face of center members who have the opportunity to read them.  Mathilde’s passion for science, unwavering dedication and refreshing sense humor make the Powell lab and the CCI a better place for performing research. 

The purpose of this award as you may remember is to acknowledge the folks behind the scenes that make things happen but often do not get recognized for their efforts-like the award’s namesake Richard Carroll.   Richard was a wonderful scientist who had an infectious love of science and working in the lab. Richard often did the jobs that did not get much fanfare to make the entire CCI program more successful in getting therapies to patients.  Richard would have been impressed with Mathilde’s passion and persistence, sense of humor, and her humility.  Mathilde is a quintessential team player who is truly following in Richard’s footsteps by making the CCI output greater than the sum of its individual parts.

Mathilde will get a plaque acknowledging her as the winner of the award and her name will join Shannon’s, Hong’s, Simon’s, Cynthia’s, Tony’s, January’s and Sophia on wall near the elevator.   Mathilde will also be able to attend a meeting or workshop of her choice, at the post-pandemic timing of her choice, to improve her skills as a scientist.  Richard was a firm believer that everyone doing science should always be learning new things and by allowing folks who normally don’t attend meetings to go, we further pay tribute to Richard’s ideals and values.

Please join us in congratulating Mathilde on being recognized by this award.

All the best,

Richard Carroll Award Selection Committee.