Rhona Feltzer, Laboratory Program Manager for the Mobashery and Chang laboratories, has been selected as the 2023 winner of the Best Lab Manager Award, given annually by Proteintech. This award, accompanied by a $1,000 research grant, recognizes lab managers from the US, Canada, and Europe, who go above and beyond to ensure that the laboratory operates efficiently and effectively.
Rhona’s nomination cited her “exceptional dedication, leadership, and unwavering commitment to our scientific community.” Professors Mobashery and Chang also highlighted her expertise at fostering a collaborative and inclusive atmosphere that has facilitated the lab becoming a hub of innovation where creativity thrives. Rhona’s outstanding success as a mentor was also recognized, with graduate students in the lab commenting that she “inspires us to excel and pursue groundbreaking research.”
Rhona has worked at the University of Notre Dame since 2019. After receiving a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas, she completed two postdoctoral fellowships and her PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Louisville. Rhona then worked as a scientific curator at both Cognia and Proteome, prior to moving to the South Bend area, where she taught science at St. Pius X Catholic School in Granger, IN. She first joined the university as a research assistant and was then promoted to her current role of Laboratory Program Manager.
When asked about being selected for this honor, Rhona said “I’m lucky to work with such a great group of supportive people. I really love my job, and I feel blessed to return to scientific research after following a non-traditional career path. I’m thrilled that I won.”