Jane DeVasure is Gold U recipient

Jane DeVasure, a research technologist in the UNMC Division of Internal Medicine-Pulmonary, is the recipient of the Gold U.

DeVasure, who first started in UNMC in 1978 at the Eppley Institute, has worked at several positions at UNMC before taking on her current role.

DeVasure said she has always loved working in the field of science, and UNMC is a great place to do this type of work.

“It’s hard to go other places and do science like this,” she said, pointing to UNMC’s medical mission. “And the lab is a community — even though we work for different people doing different things, if someone needs something, the first reaction is always, ‘Hey, can I help?'”

DeVasure has more than 40 years of laboratory experience, and her supervisor, Todd Wyatt, Ph.D., said she has witnessed — and embraced — a continued revolution in research technology in order to creatively answer challenging research questions.

“Throughout her career, she has successfully researched for, and found new ways of, answering tough research challenges using molecular, biochemical, cellular and animal models,” Dr. Wyatt said.

During her career, she has selflessly made others look great — molding students, residents and fellows who had little or no exposure to basic laboratory research into research scientists — through her experienced teaching skills and endless patience, he added.

“Everyone who has ever trained in our extended pulmonary research laboratories instantly respects, admires and loves Jane,” Dr. Wyatt said.

And DeVasure values the people she works with, as well.

“This is a great department. They value people,” she said. “My own supervisor, Dr. Wyatt, but also Dr. (Joseph) Sisson, (chief of the division of pulmonary, critical care, sleep & allergy) and Dr. (Debra) Romberger, (chair of the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine) — they all really value the person. And that’s great, and it doesn’t happen everywhere.”