Lab Professionals Profile: Cindee & Brenda
The first in a series of Lab Professionals profiles
The Brain Repair Centre is supported by an amazing team who facilitate the conditions for great research to happen. They bring a variety of expertise and experience and collaborate with members across the network to make the work of the BRC possible. Research Technicians, Brenda Ross and Cindee Leopold, are just two of the indispensable support team members working with researchers and trainees within the BRC network.
Lab Professionals
Cindee Leopold (Rafuse Lab)
& Brenda Ross (Akay Lab)
Brenda Ross has been with Dalhousie for 37 years, originally starting in the Anatomy Department (now called Medical Neuroscience) with Dr. Bill Currie. She has also worked in the Departments of Pathology and Immunology as a micro surgeon for the Transplant lab, directed by Dr. Tim Lee, and currently manages the lab for Dr. Turgay Akay.
“My work experience has helped me oversee experiments, produce detailed protocols, and create functional workstations for students,” says Brenda. “In my current work with Dr. Akay, as in previous labs, the students are keen, and they have become well trained and independent. It’s very rewarding to feel you contributed to their success. I can honestly say I’ve loved my 37 years of work. Each day brings new challenges that keeps the job interesting.”
“Brenda is the backbone of my lab,” says Dr. Akay. “She makes everything run smoothly, coordinates the research activity and often helps the trainees with their experiments. Not only that, but she manages all the bureaucratic workload and takes care of our very large mouse colonies. We couldn’t do this work without her.”
Brenda and Cindee started with Dalhousie at about the same time and, between them, have expertise in many different areas. Together, they have created a very open and amenable working environment that allows researchers and trainees to work, learn and grow. “It’s nice to be a senior member of staff now,” says Brenda. “We don’t know all the answers, but we probably know someone who can help us find the correct answer.”
Cindee Leopold has worked with Dr. Vic Rafuse since he first joined Dalhousie in 2000 and witnessed the building of the Brain Repair Centre from the ground up. “It’s a beautiful building and institute,” she says. “The whole idea has been such a good thing for the university, especially the annual conference – it’s a valuable opportunity for the trainees and faculty, particularly those who are new to Canada.”
Cindee credits Dr. Rafuse, Diana Nichols Nelson and Eleanor Seaman-Bolton for the hard work they have put in to make great things happen at the BRC. “It’s tough trying to bring people and organizations together, arrange events and raise funds,” she says. “The three of them work really well together and I’ve seen great strides and improvements over the years.”
Cindee’s own work involves supporting the Rafuse team by maintaining and manipulating cells that can be used in ALS studies. “Not everyone gets to grow neurons for a living!” she says. “Research can be so interesting, it draws you in and before you know it, it’s been 35 years!”
Dr. Rafuse can’t say enough about the value Research Technicians bring to the success of the labs and the BRC. “They are an integral part of the research program,” he says. “They keep everyone together and on the same page, and the labs in optimal working order.”
“Cindee is the go-to person, not only for me, but for everyone,” says Dr. Rafuse. “She is exceptionally smart and loves the research. She is an equal partner with me in this work and the expertise and experience she brings to the table is invaluable”.
Cindee and Brenda agree that a big part of what keeps them here is their care for the students. “They are what make it fun,” says Cindee. “They join the labs as undergrads, and we often see them right through their PhDs. They come from all over the world and it’s wonderful to get to know them, form friendships and learn about their different cultures. We love helping them succeed.”
Another big reason Cindee and Brenda stay is the support they get from one another and the other techs, many of whom have worked together for years. “We help and rely on each other, go to each other to problem solve and have great relationships,” says Cindee. And Brenda agrees. “I’m still here because we have established great working relationships. That is the BRC. It’s about helping one another. We are there for each other, within our own labs and beyond.”