(From left) Xia Wang, Research & Graduate Studies Lab Technician, receiving the February 2026 Staff member of the Month award from Dean M. Daniel Givens
(From left) Xia Wang, Research & Graduate Studies Lab Technician, receiving the February 2026 Staff member of the Month award from Dean M. Daniel Givens. Photo by Andrew Mann for Virginia Tech.

Xia Wang

Lab Technician, Veterinary Teaching Hospital

Nominations

I am nominating Xia Wang for Staff Member of the Month in recognition of her truly exemplary and sustained contributions to my research program, the College, and the broader research community. Xia has served as the lab manager for my laboratory continuously since its founding in 2012, and she has been instrumental to every aspect of its success. Simply put, she is the backbone of my research enterprise.

Over more than a decade, Xia has played a central role in all funded grants and peer-reviewed publications generated by my laboratory. With over 20+ publications as co-author, her role as a technician goes above and beyond and speaks volumes about her skill set and independence in molecular and cellular neurobiology in addition to her role in running the lab and training students. Her scientific rigor, technical expertise, and consistency have ensured the reproducibility, quality, and integrity of our research output. Her institutional knowledge and attention to detail have been critical to maintaining continuity across projects, trainees, and funding cycles.

Xia has also been an exceptional educator and mentor. She has trained and supervised more than 40 undergraduate students in essential laboratory skills, including animal colony management, genotyping, PCR techniques, laboratory maintenance, and research compliance. Many of these students entered the lab with little prior experience and left with strong technical foundations, confidence, and a deep appreciation for rigorous scientific practice. Her patience, clarity, and commitment to training have had a lasting impact on their professional development.

Beyond her direct support of my laboratory, Xia provides valuable service to the College and Research and Graduate Studies through her role in technical and operational support. She is consistently dependable, solutions-oriented, and generous with her time and expertise. Colleagues regularly rely on her for troubleshooting equipment in LS1, reliant on her for reagent and sometimes experimental protocol support, as well as guidance, and institutional memory.

Despite her extraordinary contributions and long record of excellence, Xia has never been nominated for this award. Her sustained dedication, behind-the-scenes leadership, and unwavering professionalism make her an ideal candidate for Staff Member of the Month. This recognition would be a well-deserved acknowledgment of the profound and lasting impact she has had on our research mission and academic community.