Mathew named 2005 Research Tech of the Year

Rose Mathew, Genetics and Tumor Cell Biology, was named the 2005 Research Tech of the Year. She was chosen from a field of more than 250 St. Jude research technologists.

"This has been a really big thing for me," she said. "It's special to know that my bosses appreciate my efforts. I work with a great team."

Mathew joined the laboratory of Martine Roussel, PhD, and Charles Sherr, MD, Phl), in 1997 as a senior research technologist and was promoted to laboratory specialist in 2002. She was described by nominators as "technically superb," "highly dedicated" and that she "generates impeccably beautiful data even when the procedures are technically demanding and complex."

Mathew began her career in India where she earned degrees in botany, as well as a gold medal for academic achievement and a state government merit scholarship from St. Teresal College at Mahatma Gandhi University in Cochin.

Rose has coauthored two papers and has been acknowledged in 23 other peer‑reviewed publications. Recently she coauthored a manuscript published in Nature Structural and Molecular Biology that represented the culmination of a collaboration with Brenda Schulman, Phl), Structural Biology.

Mathew was instrumental in completing investigations of the biology of the E2 conjugating enzyme for the ubiquitin‑like molecule, Nedd8. She cloned this E2, called UBC12, in a genetic screen several years ago and then characterized mutants and performed biologic assays that were critical to Schulman's studies. Roussel and SherT agree that "Rose is what every investigator hopes to find‑a gem and a simply outstanding performer! "

Mathew was presented with a certificate and two round‑trip airline tickets. The Research Tech of the Year runners‑up are Rashid Abdulle, Molecular Pharmacology, and James Ynowles, Hematology‑Oncology. Other finalists include Twala Hogg, Developmental Neurobiology; Jennifer Moore, Pathology; Melissa Mann, Genetics and Tumor Cell Biology; and Christina Guibao, Structural Biology. Each employee received a certificate and token of appreciation. Nominations were based on one's contributions to research, team work, reliability, work attitude and volunteer work, among other considerations. A faculty panel assessed the candidates based on these criteria.