Each year at the Retreat, Broadies eagerly anticipate announcements of the winners of the Excellence and Achievement Awards. Here are the Broadies who took home awards at the Fifteenth Annual Broad Retreat.
Conferred annually, these awards form Tier 3 of the institute's Reward and Recognition Program. They recognize truly exceptional contributions by individuals and teams that have been critical to the continued success of the institute, and are based on nominations from throughout the Broad community.
Excellence in Science/Engineering
Yan-ling Zhang
Stanley Center & Chemical Biology platform
Yan-ling’s impact has been both deep and wide: remarkably, in her ten years here, she has contributed significantly to every major drug discovery project in the Stanley Center’s entire history. Yan-ling has collaborated widely not only within the Stanley Center therapeutic programs, helping to identify and test new, badly needed potential therapies for psychiatric illness, but also with scientists across the Broad. Colleagues praise her teamwork, rigor, thoroughness, persistence, and genuine intellectual curiosity, and note she is an excellent role model for younger scientists in her team.
Excellence in Collaboration/Support of Science
David Hoffman
Office of Sponsored Research
David meticulously manages our grant applications and reporting requirements, allowing scientists in our group to focus on our science. His nominators describe him as “the best kind of helpful: productive, knowledgeable, flexible, responsive, and timely.” Whether he is coordinating submission of a grant with unusual requirements or moving the partner agreements for the Human Tumor Atlas Pilot Project over the finish line, David is unfailingly calm and positive, even and especially under pressure.
Andrew “Tex” Teixeira
BITS
From single-handedly creating Prometheus to Firehose and Firecloud, both of which Tex contributed, it’s difficult to find an IT project powering Broad science that hasn’t involved Tex along the way. In addition to his significant contributions, his colleagues praise the way he amplifies his team’s focus, and his upbeat demeanor and sense of humor, even under pressure.
Excellence in Management
Maegan Harden
Genomics Platform
Maegan’s colleagues note she approaches project management like the best actors approach their craft: consistently excellent without being showy, she makes management of complex projects look effortless. Her endless energy, regulatory knowledge, and ability to network within the Broad have helped many a GP collaborator fulfill their research objectives while complying with regulatory requirements. Her love for her work makes what could otherwise be tedious processes enjoyable for her clients, and her generosity with knowledge and insight helps other project managers to grow.
Sam Bryant
Stanley Center
Sam has earned the NeuroDev data management team the nickname “The Little Engine that Could” for his commitment and drive to solve difficult problems with rational solutions. No matter what it takes, he gets the job done with efficiency and good cheer and is never discouraged, even when the mountain he has been climbing crumbles. Multiple nominators note how professional Sam is, and how easy to work with, no matter the challenges the project brings.
Michael Parker
Development Office
Michael brings discretion, thoughtfulness, and “quiet clarity” to the Development team at times when it is needed most in his role as Director of Prospect Development and Operations. His sensible, sensitive, diplomatic leadership guides them through challenging times and helps them to see the path clearly when opportunities are at hand. Because of these strengths, he has emerged as a trusted advisor on operational issues across the institute and as a thought leader within the greater development philanthropic ecosystem, where he is collaborating with leaders at other institutions to conceive of rigorous, collaborative research on topics in philanthropy where data and analysis are scarce.
Grace Tiao
MacArthur Lab’s Methods Group
Grace is deeply invested in the career development and work of members of her team from day one, setting clear expectations and regularly checking in with her team to ensure they are growing in their roles. And she takes feedback seriously, constantly striving to improve in her already excellently executed role of manager. Her colleagues also praise her sensitivity in challenging times; Grace handles even the most difficult situations with incredible professionalism and poise.
Excellence in Mentorship, Teaching, and Training
Colin Garvie
CDoT
Colin values the growth of the people around him: he will not just provide answers to questions but will respond with questions to get people thinking and learning, even though it would take less of his time and be far easier for him to just provide the answer. He takes care that the junior scientists in his group do not merely receive to-do lists to execute, but grow as scientists and learn to generate plans of their own. On top of this, Colin’s group members also greatly appreciate his concern for work-life balance and their personal well-being. By treating his mentees as collaborators and fostering their growth, he has enhanced both their productivity and sense of ownership of their projects, as well as the achievements of CDoT as a whole.
Ben Deverman
Stanley Center
As the Stanley Center’s Director of Vector Engineering, Ben urges the junior scientists he works with to never to be afraid to disagree with him; makes time to discuss every scientific idea, no matter who is proposing it; and admits his own mistakes and encourages others to learn from them. His generosity has helped his mentees win grants, overcome personal difficulties to shine as scientists, and develop as leaders in their own right. Driven by science and not by ego, Ben fosters an environment in his lab that is collaborative and not competitive and inspires others around him to adopt his style of leadership.
Steve McCarroll
Stanley Center
Steve’s trainees say he “sees the scientist that he thinks you will become, not necessarily the one that you are today.” Additionally, he takes as much pride in their professional development as he does in the science that comes out of his lab. Besides being intellectually generous, Steve is unabashedly enthusiastic, unpretentious, and easy to approach about challenges both inside and outside the lab.
Excellence in Community Engagement
Rachel Gesserman
Office of Diversity, Education, and Outreach
In Rachel’s work leading K-12 programming in the Office of Diversity, Education, and Outreach, she has built programs that connect students with Broad scientists and inspire students at a range of academic stages. During the last five years, nearly 1,000 eighth-graders in the Cambridge Public Schools have interacted with Broad scientists during a unit on Genetics and Evolution through a partnership that Rachel leads. She also oversees the very popular “Take Your Little Broadie to Work Day” as well as two new programs, “Broadie for a Week” and “Broad Bio coding club,” both of which Rachel launched. Her colleagues note that she “exemplifies the Broad values by fostering collaboration, building partnerships, and promoting inclusion.”
Roeshana Moore-Evans
HR
A leader of Shades@Broad, Roeshana is effective and tireless in advocating for diverse members of the Broad community, and for a better, more just world, both in her role in HR and as an affinity group leader. Her infectious leadership, energy, enthusiasm, and results-driven approach motivate those around her to improve the culture and diversity of the Broad. She cultivates an environment in which contributors feel welcome and comfortable sharing new ideas, and are empowered to implement them, all with her warmth, good humor, and integrity.
Broad Institute Award
Bronwyn MacInnis
Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program
Bronwyn stands out for her work as a scientist, mentor, collaborator, and a community builder who brings people together from across Boston, around the world, and of course, here at the Broad. She is a world-leading expert in the use of viral and malarial genomic data for pathogen surveillance, pandemic preparedness, outbreak response, and overall public health decision-making; she also serves as a technical expert for the W.H.O. and works with national and international public health and policy communities around the world. She has brought together large segments of the malaria community in Boston to develop important tools and resources for the community. At the Broad, she is currently co-leading a new Institute-wide initiative in global health. She spearheaded the first-ever Broad Global Health Symposium last year and has led or co-led numerous research projects in Pardis Sabeti’s group, and is currently leading a project with Dan Neafsey evaluating a new dosing regimen of the malaria vaccine. Bronwyn also works closely with trainees to sharpen their communication skills and serves on several Broad committees, including the retreat committee. She is a pillar of the Institute and we are very fortunate to have her.
