From left are Ph.D. students Ed Miller and Jeramy Baum, Dean Leonidas G. Bachas and post doctoral associate Elsayed Zahran.

UM News

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (January, 24, 2014) — The chemistry research lab of College of Arts and Sciences Dean Leonidas G. Bachas was named 2013 Lab of the Year on the Gables campus by the University of Miami Office of Environmental Health and Safety. Three labs tied for the same honor on the Miller School campus.

The Office of Environmental Health and Safety chose the four labs after conducting rigorous assessments of the more than 1,000 labs on all three campuses to ensure their compliance with federal, state, and local policies and procedures. Earning the top honor on the medical campus, home to the overwhelming majority of University labs, were Dr. Phillip Ruiz’s immunomonitoring and histocompatibility laboratory, Michael Kim’s molecular and cellular pharmacology laboratory, both at the Rosenstiel Medical Science Building; and Krishna Komanduri’s hematology and oncology lab at the Biomedical Research Building.

“The Bachas Lab was selected for exceptional cooperation and compliance with local, state, and federal regulations regarding laboratory safety, as were the labs on the medical campus,” said Jairo Betancourt, biosafety manager for the office, noting each of the labs have a history of excellent reviews, and of submitting paperwork well in advance of every deadline.

The office’s mission is to ensure the University’s compliance with health, safety, and environmental regulations, and provide support and training in an effort to avoid occupational, biological, and chemical hazards. Through its Laboratory Safety Program, the office has the responsibility of ensuring compliance with all applicable regulations and to ensure good laboratory practices are implemented for the protection of laboratory employees, the community, and the environment.

In addition to Dean Bachas, researchers in the Bachas lab include Elsayed Zahran, Megan Gillespie, Jeramy Baum, and Ed Miller. Their research focuses on the use of nanoparticles to break down environmental contaminates.

“I am honored to share this award with an exceptional team who works hard every day to ensure the lab environment meets the highest standards of safety,” Bachas said.

Komanduri’s lab is staffed by Despina Kolonias , Eric Wieder, Daniel Dammrich, Dietlinde Wolf, and Cara Benjamin. The Ruiz lab includes Nicole Lergier, Alex Amador, Yasmine Perez,  and Fola Amole. The Kim lab includes Kimberly Rowland.

For more information on the Office of Environmental Health and Safety, visit the office website.