The Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) is proud to announce the winners of the Research Technical Staff Award, which recognizes staff for their distinguished service to the University of Minnesota research community and celebrates exemplary leadership that positively impacted their colleagues and advanced the University's mission. Each winner received a personal honorarium of $1000.
“This is an important and essential opportunity for us to recognize technical research staff for their many contributions in the sustainability and advancement of research enterprise, which, despite their importance, often go largely unnoticed beyond the research teams they support,” said Vice President for Research Shashank Priya. “Research staff function similar to a backbone, providing guidance, support, and strength for a research program. Through their countless unspoken contributions, they continue to improve the safety and quality of our institutional outcomes.”
Read on to learn about the winners, their roles at the University, and quotes from the colleagues that nominated them.
Eric Buchanan directs the renewable energy program at the West Central Research and Outreach Center (WROC), where he develops new project ideas, leads grant-funded projects, and provides oversight to junior scientists. He has led and participated in several high-profile, complex, multi-disciplinary research projects. Over the past two years, he has been a key part of a team that has produced over 57 refereed journal articles and was awarded over $17 million in research funding.
“Eric recognizes that the success of all the WCROC research programs only strengthens the impact and visibility that the WCROC has within the agricultural and renewable energy industry. Without his ideas and collaboration, the research programs would not be as strong and effective as they are today. Additionally, Eric is forward thinking and always searching for ideas that will increase the research at the WCROC. He has worked collaboratively with numerous Minnesota companies to provide leadership in the renewable energy industry.”