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The Hoos Research Champion Award shines a light on the people behind the scenes who drive our mission to transform the future of patient care through breakthrough discoveries and high-quality clinical research. Launched two years ago through the Spark Innovation Competition, this important award recognizes the critical contributions of the dedicated teams — from research lab staff and clinical research coordinators to core facility staff, vivarium teams and others — who strengthen and elevate UVA Health’s culture of research excellence.

This year, three award recipients were selected from across UVA School of Medicine, UVA School of Nursing, and the Center for Comparative Medicine. Recognized within their departments earlier this month, the winners each received $1,000 and an engraved award. Below, we take a closer look at the qualities and expertise that define what it means to be a research champion.

Vasilii Pavelko, Senior Data Analyst, Sheynkman Lab, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics

“[This award] means I'm moving in the right direction, and that my colleagues appreciate my efforts. It also shows that ASPIRE values don't just create a good, friendly atmosphere in the hospital; they can be applied to a research environment, too.” —Vasilii Pavelko

Winning Qualities

Since joining the Sheynkman Lab team in 2022, Vasilii Pavelko has become the “technical and operational backbone” of the lab’s research efforts, according to one nominator. His impact spans all four foundational pillars of UVA School of Medicine, which include education, clinical care, community engagement, and research. Vasilii is:

Knowledgeable | Driven by a contagious scientific curiosity, Vasilii takes the initiative to educate himself and become proficient in all the research processes in the lab, from cell culture to RNA sequencing. And when the opportunity arose, he went out of his way to learn the latest AI coding tools. What he did with that knowledge, however, is what truly sets him apart. To paraphrase the father of evidence-based medicine, David Sackett, MD, “the more knowledge is shared, the more it is added.” In his role within the Sheynkman Lab, Vasilii eagerly mentors and informs others on his team, passing along his latest discoveries and training new graduate students. “I enjoy helping them with proper experimental design and sharing my experience with data analysis,” he says. “It’s rewarding being able to do something others struggled with and then teaching them my ‘secret voodoo.’”

Reliable | Vasilii is the go-to for protocol and reagent questions, troubleshooting or assistance with a difficult experiment, wet bench expertise and more. With a can-do attitude and proficiency, Vasilii has taken on a variety of project management duties, including procuring dozens of cell line and tissue samples, coordinating their genomic and proteomic sequencing, maintaining the tracking infrastructure, and serving as the lab’s liaison with the UVA sequencing core. “Vasilii works exceedingly hard, never complains, and consistently goes beyond what is asked,” one nominator writes.

Supportive | Vasilii has a quiet demeanor, dry sense of humor and collaborative nature that help others feel welcome in the lab. “Vasilii has been consistently and reliably getting things done, encouraging his colleagues in the process,” shares one nominator. Vasilii says being able to count on a solid, collaborative team is what makes breakthroughs possible. “I work in a very supportive lab, where everyone supports me and I feel I should support them in return,” he says. “Having knowledgeable, experienced people on the team is what makes it possible to cure diseases and produce top-tier research.”

Amber Steen, Program Director for Compassionate Care Research, School of Nursing, Associate Director for Research and Global Programs, Center for Global Health Equity

“So much of my work and research support in general happens behind the scenes, so it means a lot that my colleagues took the time to notice and nominate me. Research doesn’t happen alone and I’m truly grateful for the wonderful teams and people across the university I get to work with that make impactful research possible.” —Amber Steen

Winning Qualities

For more than a decade, Amber Steen has demonstrated what it means to be a compassionate leader in the field of research. According to nominators, she is not only a champion of good science — but also a champion of the people who make research possible. “Research teams succeed or falter not only on methodological rigor, but on whether the people doing the work feel seen, supported, and inspired to keep going. Amber creates that environment, consistently, even during the most demanding stretches of our work together,” writes one nominator. Amber is:

Accomplished | Recently recognized as a Future of the Field Honoree by the Society of Research Administrators International, Amber has extensive expertise in research program management, and her impact spans both institutional and international boundaries, from day-to-day operations to the long-term success of research initiatives. “She has managed a complex portfolio of federally funded grants totaling over $18 million, spanning NIH Fogarty International Center training grants, NIAID research awards, and foundation funding. She understands the full arc of a research project,” one nominator writes.

“I’ve been fortunate to manage multiple global studies with partners around the world. Working as a part of global teams leads to a diversity of viewpoints, life experiences, and cultural backgrounds that provides rich perspectives and creative solutions and approaches. I love learning how different people approach a problem and figuring out how to pull all the ideas together to achieve the best outcome,” says Amber. “The most rewarding part of research is the impact it has on people's lives. Whether it's informing policy that expands access to life-saving HIV medication or increasing the number of women screened, tested, and treated for HPV to reduce cervical cancer, I am proud to be part of these collaborative teams.”

Empowering | Amber earned a Compassionate Leadership Certificate from the Center for Compassionate Leadership for her dedication to creating a workplace culture built on psychological safety, connection, and belonging. “Amber has a true gift for ‘building people up.’  She does this by meeting faculty, staff and students where they are, clearly and patiently walking them through procedures and processes, advocating for them when they need additional resources, and genuinely celebrating their successes and achievements,” writes one nominator.

“My goal is to connect people in ways that lead to meaningful change and equitable collaboration. In my experience, the strongest research teams are built on trust and welcome feedback, so investing in relationships where people feel seen, heard, and valued will always be central to my work,” says Amber.

Committed | With complex research studies come a variety of unexpected hurdles and setbacks. Yet, no matter what challenges come her way, Amber remains focused and committed to doing everything possible to make a study successful. “Amber never loses sight of why the work matters. She brings energy and optimism even when compliance hurdles multiply or a submission timeline compresses,” writes one nominator.

Rory Laman, Gnotobiotic Facility and Laboratory Supervisor and Senior Laboratory Technologist, UVA Center for Comparative Medicine

“It's an honor to be nominated. I just try to do my job. I don't look for accolades and awards, but it's nice to be recognized for your hard work.” —Rory Laman

Winning Qualities

Six years ago, Rory Laman helped launch UVA’s gnotobiotic mouse facility and laboratory. As supervisor and sole caretaker, he now oversees the highly specialized care, maintenance and quality control required to support research using germ-free and gnotobiotic mice. “Our lab’s microbiome research program would not be able to succeed as it has without Rory,” writes one nominator. Rory is:

Diligent | UVA has around 50 gnotobiotic mice born and raised in sterile conditions. In this environment, where even minor deviations could compromise long-term research, Rory’s technical mastery, consistency and attention to detail help ensure that researchers can conduct complex studies with confidence in the quality and reproducibility of their work.

“Whether addressing unexpected issues, helping optimize procedures and quality control, or ensuring that critical experimental timelines stay on track, Rory approaches every task with exceptional care and attention to detail. His impact extends beyond any single project or laboratory; he strengthens the broader research ecosystem at UVA through the expertise and reliability he brings to his work every day,” one nominator writes.

Versatile | Rory’s investment in the success of research studies extends beyond the technical aspects of lab management. “What distinguishes Rory is his deep investment in the scientific mission behind the work. He approaches each experiment not as a routine responsibility, but as an important step in expanding our knowledge of the microbiome in human health. He actively seeks to understand experimental goals, anticipates potential challenges, and contributes thoughtful insights that improve our study outcomes,” writes one nominator.

Collaborative | In spite of his behind-the-scenes role, Rory actively engages with team members to offer guidance and support. “Rory fosters a collaborative and supportive research environment. He is generous with his knowledge, approachable to trainees and faculty alike, and deeply invested in helping others accomplish their scientific goals,” writes one nominator. “[Rory’s] contributions are indispensable to our research efforts, and his impact extends far beyond the scope of his current role.”

“I want to give my thanks and appreciation to all of the people who work for the Center for Comparative Medicine. Without their help, I couldn't do what I do,” says Rory.