Ed Rau, the chief electronics technician and building maintenance specialist for the Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases in the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, is the most recent recipient of the Gold U Award.
Rau, who has been at UNMC more than 31 years, drew letters of support from across the Eppley Institute and the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center when he was nominated for the award, perhaps because of what his supervisor Matt Winfrey describes as his “vital role” at the institute.
“There is no doubt that the work Ed has put into supporting faculty and staff in the cancer research labs in the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center has contributed significantly to uninterrupted, progressive research, which ultimately benefits patients,” Winfrey wrote in Rau’s nomination letter. “Ed continuously goes above and beyond to assist cancer researchers, which allow them to spend more time investigating cures and treatments for cancer and less time on lab and equipment maintenance and repair.”
A Navy veteran of 28 years, active and reserve, Rau came to UNMC when his active duty ended. Although he continued in the Naval Reserves, he also found at UNMC and the Eppley Institute (and later the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center) a new career that also offered a sense of mission.
“When I was hired in 1987 my title was lab technician, and at that time Eppley was almost a separate entity here on campus,” Rau said. “We did all of the maintenance within the Eppley buildings — heating, air conditioning, refrigeration, and did a lot of the renovations on the labs and offices.
“That’s what I did when I first arrived on campus, which afforded me the opportunity to learn a lot about the researchers and how to best support them.”
That lesson is something he’s learned consummately well, according to Ken Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the cancer center.
“A variety of internationally renowned researchers at the Eppley Institute rely heavily on Ed and the staff he supervises for their help on a daily basis with various laboratory and equipment needs,” Dr. Cowan wrote of Rau. “He is a team player and a star performer dedicated to excellence who follows through on any assignment given to him.”
And as Winfrey points out, Rau has skin in the game.
“As a cancer survivor, Ed truly appreciates the importance of cancer research,” he wrote. “His contribution to the mission of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center is not only on a high professional level, it’s personal.”
Congratulations Ed!
Congratulations Ed, so well deserved! The Child Health Research Institute and Dr. Durden's lab certainly appreciates all you have done for us too.
Congratulations Ed, well deserved, I couldn't agree more with the comments made having had the opportunity to work with you over the last 6 years.
Marvin Olson, Facility Zone Manager, Research
Congratulations, Ed!
Congratulations Ed. You are always looking out for others and concerned about others safety. Keep up the fantastic work.
Congratulations Ed!
Congratulations Ed! VERY well-deserved. We appreciate all of the help and assistance you provide to us.
Well deserved Ed! Congratulations!
Congratulations, Ed!
Congratulations from the Shcherbakova/Pavlov labs…you have come to our rescue more times than I can count 🙂
Congratulations! You are always such a joy to work with!
Congratulations Ed
Well deserved
Well deserved! Congrats.
Absolutely well deserved! Ed's amazing service has been felt across the entire campus.
Congratulations, Ed!
Congratulations Ed! Well deserved.
Congrats Ed…you are a gem within the FPBCC workforce. Great recognition for all your hard work and dedication to those around you enabling them to achieve their best!
Congratulations Ed! Thank you so much for all of your help with setup of the Durden lab!
Congrats! Well-deserved!
Congratulations from members of Tahirov's lab! Your hard work and timely response are very much appreciated!
Congratulation
Congratulations, Ed…..A recognition so well-deserved !!
Thank you to everyone for the kind words and email response.